As Filed With the Securities and Exchange Commission on
November 12,
2019
Registration No.
333-233852
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO
FORM F-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
CHINA NATURAL RESOURCES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Not Applicable
(Translation of Registrants name into English)
British Virgin Islands |
| Not Applicable |
(State or other jurisdiction of |
| (I.R.S. Employer Identification |
incorporation or organization) |
| Number) |
Room 2205, 22/F, West Tower, Shun Tak Centre
168-200 Connaught Road Central
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
011-852-2810-7205
(Address and telephone number of Registrants principal executive offices)
Yue Ming Wai Bonaventure, Chief Financial Officer
China Natural Resources, Inc.
Room 2205, 22/F, West Tower, Shun Tak Centre
168-200 Connaught Road Central
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
011-852-2810-7205
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
Copies to:
Steven I. Weinberger, Esq.
Steven I. Weinberger, P.A.
1200 N. Federal Highway, Suite 200
Boca Raton, FL 33432
Telephone: (561) 210-8516
Facsimile: (888) 825-6417
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time as described in the Prospectus.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ¨
If any of the securities being registered on this Form to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. þ
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.C. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.C. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933.
Emerging Growth Company ¨
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U. S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registration has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards* provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ¨
* The term new or revised financial accounting standard refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of each class of securities to be registered (1) |
| Amount to be Registered (1)(2) |
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| Proposed maximum offering price per unit (1)(2) |
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| Proposed maximum aggregate offering price (1)(2) |
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| Amount of registration fee |
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Common shares, no par value (4)(9) |
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Preferred shares, no par value (5)(9) |
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Debt Securities (6) (9) |
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Warrants (7) (9) |
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Units (8) (9) |
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Total |
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| $ | 100,000,000 |
|
| $ | 12,120.00 | (3) |
________________
(1) | Not specified as to each class of securities to be registered pursuant to General Instruction II.D to Form F-3. |
(2) | The proposed maximum aggregate offering price per unit will be determined from time to time by the registrant in connection with the issuance by the registrant of the securities registered hereunder. |
(3) | Previously paid. Estimated solely for the purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act). |
(4) | Subject to note (9) below, there is being registered an indeterminate number of common shares in connection with the offer and sale of common shares by the registrant. |
(5) | Subject to note (9) below, there is being registered an indeterminate number of preferred shares. |
(6) | Subject to note (9) below, there is being registered an indeterminate principal amount of debt securities, excluding accrued interest and accrued amortization of discount, if any, to the date of delivery. |
(7) | Subject to note (9) below, there is being registered an indeterminate amount and number of warrants. The warrants may represent the rights to purchase common shares, preferred shares or debt securities of the registrant. |
(8) | Subject to note (9) below, there is being registered an indeterminate number of units. Each unit will represent an interest in a combination of one or more of the securities registered hereunder. |
(9) | Subject to note (10) below, this registration statement also covers an indeterminate amount of securities as may be issued in exchange for, or upon conversion or exercise of, as the case may be, the preferred shares or warrants registered hereunder. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder. No separate consideration will be received for any securities registered hereunder that are issued in exchange for, or upon conversion of, as the case may be, the preferred shares or warrants. |
(10) | In no event will the aggregate initial offering price of all securities issued from time to time pursuant to the prospectus contained in this registration statement exceed $100,000,000 or the equivalent thereof in one or more foreign currencies or foreign currency units. Such amount represents the offering price of any common shares or preferred shares, the principal amount of any debt securities issued at their stated principal amount, the issue price rather than the principal amount of any debt securities issued at an original issue discount, the issue price of any warrants and the exercise price of any securities issuable upon the exercise of warrants. If any debt securities are issued at an original issue discount, then the offering price of such debt securities shall be equal to any such greater principal amount due at maturity, such aggregate principal amount not to exceed $100,000,000 less the value of securities previously issued hereunder. Any offering of securities denominated other than in United States dollars will be treated as the equivalent of United States dollars based on the exchange rate applicable to the purchase of such securities at the time of initial offering. The securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder. |
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 this registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
Subject to Completion
Dated
November 12,
2019
CHINA NATURAL RESOURCES, INC.
$100,000,000
We may offer and sell from time to time up to $100,000,000 of any combination of the securities described in this prospectus, either individually or in units. We may also offer common shares upon conversion of preferred shares, common shares or preferred shares upon conversion of debt securities, or common shares, preferred shares or debt securities upon the exercise of warrants. The specific terms of these offerings and securities will be set forth in one or more supplements to this prospectus. We will bear all expenses of registration incurred in connection with these offerings. This prospectus provides a general description of the securities.
This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to the securities and the general manner in which they may be offered. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of the securities we are offering and the specific manner in which we will offer the securities. The net proceeds we expect to receive from any such sale will also be included in the applicable prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement may add to, update or change the information in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in our securities. This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by the applicable prospectus supplement.
We may offer and sell the securities directly to or through one or more underwriters, dealers, agents, or directly to purchasers, or through any combination of these methods. If any underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of any of the securities, their names and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between or among them will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The amount of securities that we may sell under this prospectus during any 12-month period is limited by General Instruction I.B.5. of Form F-3 to one-third of the aggregate market value of our outstanding voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates (Public Float). The aggregate market value of our Public Float
is
$24,376.86
(calculated by multiplying the 9,448,397 shares in our Public Float by the
$2.58
market price of our common shares on September
13,
2019). During the prior 12 calendar months that ends on, and includes the date of this prospectus, we did not offer any securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.5.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See Risk Factors at page 1 of this prospectus and in documents that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission that are incorporated into this prospectus by reference, and the risks we describe in any accompanying supplement, for factors you should consider before buying our securities.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is _________, 2019.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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19 | |
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25 | |
34 | |
34 | |
Enforceability of Civil Liabilities and Indemnification Policies | 34 |
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i
Investing in our securities involves risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks and other information that we include or incorporate by reference into this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. In particular, you should consider the risk factors under the heading Risk Factors included in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F, as revised or supplemented by our subsequent filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. These risk factors may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC in the future, or by a prospectus supplement relating to a particular offering of our securities. The risks and uncertainties we have described are not the only ones facing our company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business operations. If any of the risks or uncertainties described in our SEC filings or any prospectus supplement or any additional risks and uncertainties actually occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. In that case, the trading price of our securities could decline and you might lose all or part of your investment.
In this prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires, CHNR, the Company, we, us, and our are references to China Natural Resources, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form F-3 that we filed with the Commission utilizing a shelf registration, or continuous offering, process. Under the shelf registration process, subject to certain limitations depending on the market value of our Public Float, we may issue and sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus, for cash, in one or more offerings with a maximum offering price of up to $100,000,000.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of the offering. A prospectus supplement may include a discussion of risks or other special considerations applicable to us or the securities being offered. A prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement, you must rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. Please carefully read both this prospectus and the related prospectus supplement in their entirety together with additional information described under the heading Where You Can Find More Information in this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell any securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement, and we take no responsibility for any other information that others may give you. This prospectus is not an offer to sell, nor is it a solicitation of any offer to buy, the securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front cover of those documents, or that information contained in any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of a security. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
1
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file or furnish annual reports, current reports and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any reports, statements and other information, as well as the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, at the SECs public reference room at 100 F Street, NE, Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may request copies of these documents by writing to the SEC and paying the required fee for copying. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information about the operation of the public reference room. The SEC also maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information filed electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is www.sec.gov.
Each statement made in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement concerning a document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement is qualified in its entirety by reference to that exhibit for a complete description of its provisions.
We make available, free of charge, on or through our web site, copies of our annual reports on Form 20-F, our current reports on Form 6-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act) as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file them with or furnish them to the SEC. We maintain a web site at www.chnr.net. The information on this website is not and should not be considered part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, and is not incorporated by reference herein or therein, other than that information specifically incorporated by reference below.
We are a foreign private issuer within the meaning of Rule 3b-4 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). Foreign private issuers are not required to provide all of the disclosure required to be included in reports filed under the Exchange Act by companies that are not foreign private issuers. In addition, as a result of an exemption from NASDAQ rules applicable to foreign private issuers, among other things (i) our proxy solicitations are not subject to the disclosure and procedural requirements of Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, (ii) transactions in our equity securities by our officers and directors are exempt from Section 16 of the Exchange Act, (iii) we are not subject to Regulation FD promulgated by the SEC, (iv) our related party transactions are not negotiated at arms-length and may not receive the type of independent review process that other NASDAQ-listed companies receive, and (v) we have adopted IFRS accounting principles, which are different from accounting principles under U.S. GAAP.
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference into this prospectus information that 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 with or furnish to the SEC following the date of this prospectus will automatically update and supersede this information.
The following documents are hereby incorporated into this prospectus:
·
Our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2018, as filed with the SEC on April 30, 2019.
·
Our interim financial statements as at June 30, 2019 included in our current report on Form 6-K, as filed with the SEC on October 31, 2019.
·
Our 2019 annual information statement furnished as an exhibit to our current report on Form 6-K, as filed with the SEC on November 7, 2019.
·
The description of our common shares contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A, as filed with the SEC on May 9, 1995, and as most recently amended hereby.
We are also incorporating by reference all subsequent annual reports on Form 20-F that we file with the SEC and certain reports on Form 6-K that we furnish to the SEC after the date of this prospectus (if they state that they are incorporated by reference into this prospectus) and prior to the termination of the offering of securities under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. In all cases, you should rely on the later information over different information included in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.
Unless expressly incorporated by reference, nothing in this prospectus shall be deemed to incorporate by reference information furnished to, but not filed with, the SEC. We will provide, free of charge, annual reports on Form 20-F and current reports on Form 6-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. Requests for copies should be directed to our principal executive offices at Room 2205, 22/F, West Tower, Shun Tak Centre, 168-200 Connaught Road Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong. Our telephone number there is 011-852-2810-7205.
2
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ON FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION
This prospectus contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Federal securities laws. These statements appear in a number of places throughout this prospectus and include, without limitation, statements regarding the intent, belief and current expectations of the Company, its directors or its officers with respect to our policies regarding investments, dispositions, financings, conflicts of interest and other matters; and trends affecting the Company's financial condition or results of operations. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statement as a result of various factors. Among the risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements are our intent, belief and current expectations as to business operations and operating results, uncertainties regarding the governmental, economic and political circumstances in the Peoples Republic of China, uncertainties associated with metal price volatility; uncertainties related to our ability to fund operations; uncertainties associated with our reliance on third-party contractors, uncertainties related to possible future increases in operating expenses, including costs of labor and materials, and other risks detailed from time to time in our filings with the SEC, including without limitation the information set forth contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus under the heading Risk Factors. With respect to forward-looking statements that include a statement of its underlying assumptions or bases, the Company cautions that, while it believes such assumptions or bases to be reasonable and has formed them in good faith, assumed facts or bases almost always vary from actual results, and the differences between assumed facts or bases and actual results can be material depending on the circumstances. When, in any forward-looking statement, we, or our management, expresses an expectation or belief as to future results, that expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and is believed to have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that the stated expectation or belief will result or be achieved or accomplished.
Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They use words such as anticipate, estimate, expect, project, intend, plan, believe or words of similar meaning. They may also use words such as, would, should, could or may. Factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially include the risks described herein. These risks and uncertainties are not the only ones we face. There may be additional risks and uncertainties that are not known to us or that we do not consider to be material at this time. If the events described in these risks occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
3
Because this is a summary, it does not contain all the information about us that may be important to you. You should read the more detailed information and the financial statements and related notes which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
Business Activities
Mineral Exploration
On November 30, 2017, CHNRs subsidiary Yangpu Shuanghu entered into separate agreements with Feishang Enterprise and Shenzhen Chaopeng Investment Co., Ltd. (Shenzhen Chaopeng), each of which is a related party. Pursuant to the agreement with Feishang Enterprise (the Feishang Enterprise Agreement), the Company consummated its acquisition of approximately 98.32% of the issued and outstanding capital shares of Bayannaoer Mining. Pursuant to the agreement with Shenzhen Chaopeng (together with the Feishang Enterprise Agreement, the Acquisition Agreements), the Company consummated its acquisition of approximately 1.68% of the issued and outstanding capital shares of Bayannaoer Mining. The Acquisition Agreements are identical to each other except as to the name of seller, the amount of consideration and similar information.
The purchase price for all of the issued and outstanding capital shares of Bayannaoer Mining (the BM Acquired Shares) was CNY716,900, which is approximately equal to the net asset value of Bayannaoer Mining as of September 30, 2017. The purchase price was paid by delivery to Feishang Enterprise and Shenzhen Chaopeng of Yangpu Shuanghus several promissory notes (the Notes) in the aggregate principal amount of CNY716,900, payable without interest. The Notes were paid in December 2017.
Bayannaoer Mining holds an exploration permit issued by the Land and Resources Department of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region covering the Wulatehouqi Moruogu Tong Mine, located in Wulatehouqi, Bayannaoer City, Inner Mongolia (Moruogu Tong Mine) .. Based upon preliminary geologic surveys, it is believed that Moruogu Tong Mine contains minable amounts of lead and silver resources, with the prospect that further surveying and exploration may indicate the presence of other minable ore such as copper.
Pursuant to a mutual cooperation agreement with Bayannaoer Jijincheng Mining Co., Ltd. (Jijincheng Mining), an unrelated third party, operating expenses at Moruogu Tong Mine are borne by Jijincheng Mining, in exchange for a percentage interest in resources discovered at Moruogu Tong Mine. During 2019, activities at Moruogu Tong Mine include: measuring the coordinates of 15 drilling holes; measuring portions of sections of the exploration area for radioactivity; the taking of nine additional combination samples; on-site inspection; applying for extension of Bayannaoer Minings exploration permit until at least September 2020; green exploratory work in the local area; and the completion of an initial draft of the detailed geographical exploration report for submission to government authorities for review and comment. At this stage of exploratory activities, we cannot predict whether sufficient ore of acceptable quality will be found at Moruogu Tong Mine to warrant further exploration and/or extraction.
Feishang Enterprise and Shenzhen Chaopeng are each beneficially owned by Mr. Li Feilie, the principal beneficial owner of the Company, and members of his family. Mr. Li is also the former Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Company and currently serves as an executive officer and director of certain subsidiaries of the Company. Wong Wah On Edward, our Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board, and Bonaventure Yue, the Companys Chief Financial Officer and a Director, are each also executive officers of Feishang Enterprise and/or certain of its affiliates.
Copper Ore Trading
During the second quarter of 2019, Bayannaoer Mining identified opportunities to trade copper ore in the PRC. Copper ore trading involves:
·
The purchase and sale of copper ore to fill a customer order. In this case, upon receipt of a customers request, Bayannaoer Mining personnel will search for the most competitive supplier and place a purchase order against the request of our customer. Our risk is primarily limited to failure to perform on the part of our customer.
·
The purchase of copper ore for our own account, for resale. In this case, the opportunity may arise for us to purchase copper ore at prices we deem attractive; and we may purchase the copper ore for our own account, for resale. We assume the risk of changes in the market price of the copper ore while we hold it in inventory.
4
We may purchase copper ore from one of several local suppliers who deliver the ore to a warehouse facility located in Bayannaoer City, Inner Mongolia, which we rent on an as-needed basis. Copper ore trading is currently being conducted on a small scale, as and when opportunities arise. We are currently targeting only local customers, i.e., Bayannaoer City and surrounding areas. Buying and selling copper ore is permitted by the business license held by Bayannaoer Mining and there are no additional regulations limiting its copper ore trading activities.
Copper (chemical element symbol Cu) is a ductile metal with excellent electricity conductivity and is rather supple in its pure state and has a pinkish luster. Copper was one of the first metals used by man. It is now primarily used as a heat conductor, an electrical conductor, a building material, and a constituent of various metal alloys. Copper alloys have excellent mechanical properties and low resistivity, among which bronze and brass are the most important. Copper is also a durable metal that can be recycled many times without losing its mechanical properties. Coppers properties of high electrical and thermal conductivity, together with good workability, allow it to be used in a wide range of applications, of which wire and cable and other electrical uses are by far the most prevalent. The primary uses of copper are in electrical and electronic products, the building and construction industry and, to a lesser extent, industrial machinery and equipment, consumer and general products and transportation.
Copper is an internationally traded commodity, the price of which is effectively established on commodity markets throughout the world. The price of copper is closely related to economic cycles and largely determined by demand and supply. China has relatively small copper reserves but is the largest copper consuming country, so it has been reliant on copper imports. Although Inner Mongolia is rich in natural resources including some copper reserves, supply is not abundant.
Buying and selling copper ore is being conducted by Bayannaoer Mining under the supervision of Mr. Yu Jun, its general manager. We anticipate that Mr. Yus local knowledge and business contacts will be a valuable component of the growth and success of Bayannaoer Minings copper ore trading. Mr. Yu became the general manager of Bayannaoer Mining in January 2015; and served as its finance manager and chief finance officer since 2005.
We have only recently commenced buying and selling copper ore and there is no assurance that we will be able to do so on a profitable basis. In addition to the risks generally associated with the start-up of a new business opportunity, buying and selling copper ore will subject us to specific risks including but not limited to:
·
Limitations based on the availability of capital and attractive opportunities to purchase copper ore.
·
We are not a party to any supply agreements with copper ore suppliers and we may not be able to purchase copper ore at advantageous prices or at all.
·
Our opportunistic purchase of copper ore for our own account subjects us to the risk of declines in the market price of copper ore that we hold for resale.
·
We will compete for customers for copper ore with third parties, some of whom may have greater financial and human resources and more widespread reputations in the local community.
·
Other risks identified from time-to-time in our filings with the SEC.
Share Information
Our common shares are listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “CHNR. A description of the securities we are authorized to issue is contained elsewhere in this prospectus.
Exchange Rates
The Companys reporting currency is Renminbi. Translations of amounts from Renminbi to U.S. Dollars are for the convenience of the reader. The following table provides information concerning the exchange rate of Renminbi for U.S. Dollars for each of the preceding five years, and for each month during the preceding six months. The rates of exchange for 2014 are the rates quoted by Bloomberg L.P. The rates of exchange for 2015 are the rates quoted by www.oanda.com. The rates of exchange for 2016 to 2018 and the preceding six months are the rates quoted by www.ofx.com. The Renminbi is not freely convertible into foreign currencies and the quotation of exchange rates does not imply convertibility of Renminbi into U.S. Dollars or other currencies. All foreign exchange transactions take place either through the Bank of China or other banks authorized to buy and sell foreign currencies at the exchange rates quoted by the People's Bank of China, the PRCs central bank. No representation is made that the Renminbi or U.S. Dollar amounts referred to herein could have been or could be converted into U.S. Dollars or Renminbi, as the case may be, at the CNY Exchange Rate or at all.
The exchange rate on
October
31, 2019 was US$1.00 =
CNY7.0387.
5
The following table reflects the high and low exchange rates for each month during the previous six months:
MONTH |
| May-19 |
| Jun-19 |
| Jul-19 |
| Aug-19 |
| Sep-19 |
| Oct-19 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
High |
| 6.9186 |
| 6.9310 |
| 6.8936 |
| 7.1654 |
| 7.1791 |
| 7.1485 |
Low |
| 6.7346 |
| 6.8519 |
| 6.8517 |
| 6.8987 |
| 7.0673 |
| 7.0387 |
The following table reflects the average exchange rate for each of the preceding five years, calculated by using the average of the exchange rates on the last day of each month during the period:
YEAR |
| 2014 |
| 2015 |
| 2016 |
| 2017 |
| 2018 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
High |
| 6.2598 |
| 6.4917 |
| 6.9597 |
| 6.9610 |
| 6.9758 |
|
Low |
| 6.0406 |
| 6.0933 |
| 6.4490 |
| 6.4642 |
| 6.2637 |
|
Average for period |
| 6.1711 |
| 6.2436 |
| 6.6551 |
| 6.7404 |
| 6.6363 |
|
6
INFORMATION ABOUT THE OFFERING
The Offer and Listing; Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable
The securities we may offer pursuant are described elsewhere in this prospectus. We may offer the securities described in this prospectus at an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $100,000,000.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of the offering. A prospectus supplement will provide applicable disclosure about the specific details of any offering of securities including such matters as pricing, terms of the offering, restrictions on transferability of the securities, subscription rights, pre-emptive rights, the engagement of underwriters and the plan of distributing the securities. A prospectus supplement may also include a discussion of risks or other special considerations applicable to us or the securities being offered; and may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus.
If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement, you must rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. Please carefully read both this prospectus and the related prospectus supplement in their entirety together with additional information described under the heading Where You Can Find More Information in this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell any securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement. It is anticipated that the securities covered by this prospectus may be offered for a period of not longer than three years from the date of this prospectus.
The amount of securities that we may sell under this prospectus during any 12-month period is limited by General Instruction I.B.5. of Form F-3 to one-third of the aggregate market value of our Public Float. The aggregate market value of our Public Float
is
$24,376.86
(calculated by multiplying the 9,448,397 shares in our Public Float by the
$2.58
market price of our common shares on September
13,
2019). During the prior 12 calendar months that ends on and includes the date of this prospectus, we did not offer any securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.5. This limitation will only apply until such time, if any, as our Public Float exceeds $75,000,000.
Capitalization and Indebtedness
The following table sets forth as of
June 30,
2019,
our capitalization and indebtedness on an actual basis:
|
| As of
(in thousands, except share and per share data) |
| |||||
|
| CNY |
|
| US$ |
| ||
CURRENT LIABILITIES: |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Due to related
|
|
| 4,747 |
|
|
| 691 |
|
Due to the Shareholder |
|
| 6,977 |
|
|
| 1,016 |
|
Lease liabilities |
|
| 1,265 |
|
|
| 184 |
|
Sub-total |
|
| 12,989 |
|
|
| 1,891 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 37 |
|
|
| 5 |
|
Sub-total |
|
| 37 |
|
|
| 5 |
|
Total Debt |
|
| 13,026 |
|
|
| 1,896 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EQUITY: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issued capital |
|
| 312,081 |
|
|
| 45,448 |
|
Other capital reserves |
|
| 692,518 |
|
|
| 100,850 |
|
Accumulated losses |
|
| (1,025,583 | ) |
|
| (149,353 | ) |
Other comprehensive losses |
|
| (3,791 | ) |
|
| (552 | ) |
Total Equity |
|
| (24,775 | ) |
|
| (3,607 | ) |
For the convenience of the reader, amounts in Renminbi (CNY) have been translated into United States dollars (US$) at the applicable rate of US$1.00 =
CNY6.8668
as quoted by www.ofx.com as of
June 30,
2019.
No representation is made that the CNY amounts could have been, or could be, converted into US$ at that rate, or at all.
7
Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds
Unless otherwise indicated in an accompanying prospectus supplement, the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered hereby will be used for general corporate purposes. We have not allocated any portion of the net proceeds for any particular use at this time. The net proceeds may be invested temporarily until they are used for their stated purpose. Specific information concerning the use of proceeds from the sale of any securities will be included in the prospectus supplement relating to such securities.
Interests of Experts and Counsel
No named expert of or counselor to us was employed on a contingent basis, or, to our knowledge, owns an amount of our shares (or those of our subsidiaries) which is material to that person, or has a material, direct or indirect economic interest in us or that depends on the success of the offering.
Offer and Listing Details; Markets
The principal United States market for our common shares, our only class of outstanding equity securities, is the NASDAQ Capital Market. Our common shares have been listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market since November 22, 2004, under the symbol CHNR. From August 7, 1995 until November 22, 2004, our common stock was listed on the NASDAQ Small Cap market under the symbol CHRB. We are not aware of any principal market for any of our securities outside of the United States.
Plan of Distribution
A discussion of the Plan of Distribution is included elsewhere in this prospectus under the heading Plan of Distribution. Additional information relating to the plan of distribution covering a specific offering may be contained in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Selling Security Holders
This prospectus does not cover the resale of securities by selling security holders.
Dilution
The specific transaction or terms upon which shares covered by this prospectus may be issued is not known at this time. Each time we sell securities covered by this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain certain specific information about the terms of that issuance. In the event that there is substantial disparity between the public offering price of the securities to be issued and the effective cost to directors or senior management or affiliated persons, of equity securities acquired by them during the last five years, or which they have the right to acquire, a comparison of the public contribution in the proposed public offering and the effective cash contributions of such persons, as well as the amount and percentage of immediate dilution resulting from the offering, will be contained in the prospectus supplement.
Expenses of the Issue
The following table sets forth the estimated costs and expenses payable by us in connection with the registration of the securities being registered hereunder. All of the amounts shown are estimates, except for the SEC Filing Fee.
Description |
| Amount |
| |
|
|
|
| |
SEC Filing Fee |
| $ | 12,120.00 |
|
Legal Fees and Expenses |
|
| 23,000.00 |
|
Accounting Fees and Expenses |
|
| 4,000.00 |
|
Printing and Filing Expenses |
|
| 1,000.00 |
|
Transfer Agent and Registrar |
|
| 1,000.00 |
|
Miscellaneous |
|
| 3,880.00 |
|
TOTAL |
| $ | 45,000.00 |
|
8
The descriptions of the securities contained in this prospectus summarize the material terms and provisions of the various types of securities that we may offer. The particular terms of the securities offered by any prospectus supplement will be described in that prospectus supplement. If indicated in a prospectus supplement, the terms of the securities may differ from the terms summarized below. The applicable prospectus supplement will also contain information, where applicable, about material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the securities, and the securities exchange, if any, on which the securities will be listed.
We may sell from time to time, in one or more offerings:
| · | common shares; |
| · | preferred shares; |
| · | debt securities; |
| · | warrants; or |
| · | units. |
If we issue securities at a discount from their original stated principal or liquidation amount, then, for purposes of calculating the total dollar amount of all securities issued under this prospectus, we will treat the initial offering price of the securities as the total original principal or liquidation amount of the securities.
This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
9
The following is a summary of the terms of our common shares and preferred shares that we may issue from time to time pursuant to this prospectus. We may also create new classes or series of preferred shares that may be issued pursuant to this prospectus. Common shares and preferred shares may be offered independently, with each other or together with other securities. When we offer common shares or preferred shares in the future, a prospectus supplement will explain the terms of any common shares and/or preferred shares to be issued.
The summary descriptions in this prospectus and any summary descriptions in the applicable prospectus supplement do not purport to be complete descriptions of the terms and conditions of any class or series of preferred shares and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the designations, powers, preferences and rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions which are fixed by our directors at the time of issuing the relevant preferred shares or class or series of preferred shares, pursuant to which each such class or series was created and issued, as set out or described or otherwise approved by resolutions of our board of directors, and any other documents referenced in such board resolutions, including any certificates of designation. We urge you to read the applicable description of the terms of any such preferred shares, which have been or will be filed with or furnished to the SEC on or before the time of any sale of preferred shares, because they, and not this description, will define the rights of holders of such securities
General
We are currently authorized to issue up to 210,000,000 shares consisting of (a) 200,000,000 common shares, without par value, and (b) 10,000,000 preferred shares, without par value. As of the date of this prospectus, there were 24,910,916 common shares issued and outstanding, and no preferred shares issued or outstanding.
Common Shares
Subject to the dividend rights of preferred security holders, holders of common shares participate in dividends on a proportionate basis, as may be declared by the board of directors. Upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, after payment to creditors and holders of our outstanding preferred shares, if any, our remaining assets, if any, will be divided proportionately on a per share basis among the holders of our common shares.
Each common share has one vote. Holders of our shares do not have cumulative voting rights. This means that the holders of a majority of the votes which are cast at any shareholders meeting can pass a resolution of members, including a resolution to appoint directors. In that event, the holders of the remaining shares will not be able to appoint any directors. Our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provides that, except in limited circumstances, shareholders (also referred to as members) entitled to exercise at least fifty (50) percent of the voting rights of the shares of each class or series of shares entitled to vote as a class or series thereon, and the same proportion of the votes of the remaining shares entitled to vote thereon, constitutes a quorum to transact business at a meeting of members. Our common shares have no preemptive, subscription or conversion rights.
Shares may be issued on the terms that they are redeemable or, at the option of the Company, liable to be redeemed, on such terms and in such manner as the directors before or at the time of the issue of such shares may determine. The Company may purchase, redeem or acquire its own shares for such consideration as may be determined by the directors, subject to the written consent of all the members whose shares are to be purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired, and such shares may, at the direction of the directors, be cancelled or held as treasury shares; provided, however, that the Company may not purchase, redeem or acquire its shares unless, immediately following the purchase, redemption or acquisition (a) the value of the Companys assets exceeds its liabilities and (b) the Company is able to pay its debts as they become due.
Preferred Shares
Our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provides that preferred shares shall carry such designations, powers, preferences and rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions as shall be fixed by our board of directors at the time of issuing the relevant preferred shares or class or series of preferred shares, as the case may be. In the event that our board of directors so designates preferred shares for issuance, we may issue any such preferred shares that are properly authorized in transactions covered by this prospectus. A description of the terms of any such preferred shares and the transaction in which the preferred shares are to be issued will be included in a prospectus supplement delivered at the time of the applicable transaction.
10
In connection with our change in domicile to the British Virgin Islands in December 2004, the board of directors designated and issued, and thereafter, exchanged (for 320,000 common shares) and retired, 320,000 of the Companys Series B preferred shares. No other preferred shares have been designated or issued by the Company and, on September 19, 2019, the board of directors adopted a resolution cancelling the designation of the Series B preferred shares, and restoring such shares to the status of authorized but unissued preferred shares.
Warrants
We have, from time-to-time in the past, issued warrants in connection with our acquisitions and our equity financing activities. As of the date of this prospectus there are no outstanding warrants to purchase common shares or any other security.
2014 Equity Compensation Plan (the Plan)
The Plan is administered by the board of directors or a committee designated by the board (the Plan Committee). The Plan allows the Plan Committee to grant various incentive equity awards not limited to stock options. The Company has reserved a number of common shares equal to 20% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company, from time-to-time, for issuance pursuant to options granted (Plan Options) or for restricted stock awarded (Stock Grants) under the Plan. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted as a means of allowing participants to pay the exercise price of Plan Options. Stock Grants may be made upon such terms and conditions as the Committee determines. Stock Grants may include deferred stock awards under which receipt of Stock Grants is deferred, with vesting to occur upon such terms and conditions as the Committee determines.
The Committee will determine, from time to time, those of our officers, directors, employees and consultants to whom Stock Grants and Plan Options will be granted, the terms and provisions of the respective Stock Grants and Plan Options, the dates such Plan Options will become exercisable, the number of shares subject to each Plan Option, the purchase price of such shares and the form of payment of such purchase price. Plan Options and Stock Grants will be awarded based upon the fair market value of our common shares at the time of the award. All questions relating to the administration of the Plan, and the interpretation of the provisions thereof are to be resolved at the sole discretion of the Committee.
No awards have yet been made under the Plan. The Plan terminates on June 19, 2024.
Transfer Agent
The transfer agent for our common shares is Pacific Stock Transfer Company, 6725 Via Austi Parkway, Suite 300, Las Vegas NV 89119.
11
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The following description is a general summary of the terms of the debt securities we may issue from time to time pursuant to this prospectus. When we offer debt securities in the future, a prospectus supplement will explain the particular terms of the securities and the extent to which these general provisions may apply. If any particular terms of a debt security described in the applicable prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described in this prospectus, then the terms described in this prospectus will be deemed superseded by the terms set forth in that prospectus supplement.
As required by Federal law for all bonds and notes of companies that are publicly offered, any debt securities we issue will be governed by a document called an indenture. An indenture is a contract between us and a financial institution acting as trustee on behalf of the holders of the debt securities, and is subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. The trustee has two main roles. First, the trustee can enforce holders rights against us if we default. There are some limitations on the extent to which the trustee acts on holders behalf, described in the second paragraph under Description of Debt SecuritiesEvents of Default. Second, the trustee performs certain administrative duties, such as sending interest and principal payments to holders.
The summary descriptions in this prospectus and any summary descriptions in the applicable prospectus supplement do not purport to be complete descriptions of the terms and conditions of each debt security and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the related indenture and any other documents referenced in such summary descriptions and from which such summary descriptions are derived. The summary descriptions of the indenture contained in this prospectus are derived from a form of indenture
included as an exhibit to the registration statement
of which this prospectus forms a part. The form of indenture will likely
vary from the
indenture
we actually enter into. We urge you to read the applicable indenture, which will be filed with or furnished to the SEC at the time of any offering of debt securities, because it, and not this description, will define the rights of holders of such debt securities.
If any debt securities we issue are to be listed or quoted on a securities exchange or quotation system, the applicable prospectus supplement will so indicate.
We can issue an unlimited amount of debt securities under the indenture that may be in one or more series with the same or various maturities, at par, at a premium, or at a discount. We will set forth in a prospectus supplement (including any pricing supplement or term sheet) relating to any series of debt securities being offered, the aggregate principal amount and the following terms of the debt securities:
| · | the title and ranking of the debt securities (including the terms of any subordination provisions); |
| · | the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount) at which we will sell the debt securities; |
| · | any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities; |
| · | the date or dates on which principal will be payable; |
| · | the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or the method used to determine the rate or rates (including any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the debt securities will bear interest, the date or dates from which interest will accrue, the date or dates on which interest will commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date; |
| · | the place or places where principal of, and interest, if any, on the debt securities will be payable (and the method of such payment), where the securities of such series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, and where notices and demands to us in respect of the debt securities may be delivered; |
| · | the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which we may redeem the debt securities; |
| · | any obligation we have to redeem or purchase the debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a holder of debt securities and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which debt securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation; |
| · | the dates on which and the price or prices at which we will repurchase debt securities at the option of the holders of debt securities and other detailed terms and provisions of these repurchase obligations; |
| · | the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof; |
| · | whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of certificated debt securities or global debt securities; |
| · | the portion of principal amount of the debt securities payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity date, if other than the principal amount; |
12
| · | the currency of denomination of the debt securities, which may be United States dollars or any foreign currency, and if such currency of denomination is a composite currency, the agency or organization, if any, responsible for overseeing such composite currency; |
| · | the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of principal of, premium and interest on the debt securities will be made; |
| · | if payments of principal of, premium or interest on the debt securities will be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which the debt securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to these payments will be determined; |
| · | the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities will be determined, if these amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies other than that in which the debt securities are denominated or designated to be payable or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index; |
| · | any provisions relating to any security provided for the debt securities; |
| · | the provisions, if any, relating to conversion or exchange of any securities of such series, including, if applicable, the conversion or exchange price and period, provisions as to whether conversion or exchange will be mandatory, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion or exchange price and provisions affecting conversion or exchange; |
| · | any addition to, deletion of or change in the Events of Default described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities and any change in the acceleration provisions described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities; |
| · | any addition to, deletion of or change in the covenants described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities; |
| · | any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to the debt securities; and |
| · | any other terms of the debt securities, which may supplement, modify or delete any provision of the indenture as it applies to that series, including any terms that may be required under applicable law or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of the debt securities. |
We may issue debt securities either separately, or together with, or upon the conversion or exercise of, or in exchange for, other securities described in this prospectus. Debt securities may be senior, senior subordinated or subordinated obligations and, unless otherwise specified in a supplement to this prospectus, the debt securities will be our direct, unsecured obligations and may be issued in one or more series. The debt securities may be secured or unsecured obligations. Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, principal, interest and premium, if any, will be paid by us in immediately available funds.
We may issue debt securities that provide for an amount less than their stated principal amount to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of their maturity pursuant to the terms of the indenture. We will provide the debt holder with information on the federal income tax considerations and other special considerations applicable to any of these debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.
If we denominate the purchase price of any of the debt securities in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, or if the principal of and any premium and interest on any series of debt securities is payable in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, we will provide the debt holder with information on the restrictions, elections, general tax considerations, specific terms and other information with respect to that issue of debt securities and such foreign currency or currencies or foreign currency unit or units in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The indenture may provide that any debt securities proposed to be sold pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement relating to such debt securities (offered debt securities) and any debt securities issuable upon conversion or exchange of other offered securities (underlying debt securities) may be issued under the indenture in one or more series.
For purposes of this prospectus, any reference to the payment of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on debt securities will include additional amounts if required by the terms of the debt securities.
13
Debt securities issued under an indenture, when a single trustee is acting for all debt securities issued under the indenture, are called the indenture securities. The indenture may also provide that there may be more than one trustee thereunder, each with respect to one or more different series of securities issued thereunder. At a time when two or more trustees are acting under an indenture, each with respect to only certain series, the term indenture securities means the one or more series of debt securities with respect to which each respective trustee is acting. In the event that there is more than one trustee under an indenture, the powers and trust obligations of each trustee described in this prospectus will extend only to the one or more series of indenture securities for which it is trustee. If two or more trustees are acting under an indenture, then the indenture securities for which each trustee is acting would be treated as if issued under separate indentures.
We have the ability to issue indenture securities with terms different from those of indenture securities previously issued and, without the consent of the holders thereof, to reopen a previous issue of a series of indenture securities and issue additional indenture securities of that series unless the reopening was restricted when that series was created.
Conversion and Exchange
If any debt securities are convertible into or exchangeable for other securities, the related prospectus supplement will explain the terms and conditions of the conversion or exchange, including the conversion price or exchange ratio (or the calculation method), the conversion or exchange period (or how the period will be determined), if conversion or exchange will be mandatory or at the option of the holder or us, provisions for adjusting the conversion price or the exchange ratio and provisions affecting conversion or exchange in the event of the redemption of the underlying debt securities. These terms may also include provisions under which the number or amount of other securities to be received by the holders of the debt securities upon conversion or exchange would be calculated according to the market price of the other securities as of a time stated in the prospectus supplement.
Payment and Paying Agents
We will pay interest to the person listed in the applicable trustees records as the owner of the debt security at the close of business on a particular day in advance of each due date for interest, even if that person no longer owns the debt security on the interest due date. That day, often approximately two weeks in advance of the interest due date, is called the record date. Because we will pay all the interest for an interest period to the holders on the record date, holders buying and selling debt securities must work out between themselves the appropriate purchase price. The most common manner is to adjust the sales price of the debt securities to prorate interest fairly between buyer and seller based on their respective ownership periods within the particular interest period. This prorated interest amount is called accrued interest.
Transfer
Each debt security will be represented by either one or more global securities registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company, or the Depositary, or a nominee of the Depositary (we will refer to any debt security represented by a global debt security as a book-entry debt security), or a certificate issued in definitive registered form (we will refer to any debt security represented by a certificated security as a certificated debt security) as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Except as set forth under the heading Global Debt Securities and Book-Entry System below, book-entry debt securities will not be issuable in certificated form.
Certificated Debt Securities. The registered debt holder may transfer or exchange certificated debt securities at any office we maintain for this purpose in accordance with the terms of the indenture. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of certificated debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with a transfer or exchange. The registered debt holder may effect the transfer of certificated debt securities and the right to receive the principal of, premium and interest on certificated debt securities only by surrendering the certificate representing those certificated debt securities and either reissuance by us or the trustee of the certificate to the new holder or the issuance by us or the trustee of a new certificate to the new holder.
Global Debt Securities and Book-Entry System. Each global debt security representing book-entry debt securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, the Depositary, and registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary.
14
Covenants
We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement any restrictive covenants applicable to any issue of debt securities.
No Protection In the Event of a Change of Control
Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not contain any provisions which may afford holders of the debt securities protection in the event we have a change in control or in the event of a highly leveraged transaction (whether or not such transaction results in a change in control) which could adversely affect holders of debt securities.
Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets
We may not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets to any person (a successor person) unless:
| · | we are the surviving corporation or the successor person (if other than us) is a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of any U.S. domestic jurisdiction and expressly assumes our obligations on the debt securities and under the indenture; and |
| · | immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Default or Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing. |
Notwithstanding the above, any of our subsidiaries may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties to us.
Events of Default
Holders of debt securities of any series will have rights if an Event of Default occurs in respect of the debt securities of such series and is not cured, as described later in this subsection. The term Event of Default in respect of the debt securities of any series means any of the following:
| · | default in the payment of any interest upon any debt security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of the payment is deposited by us with the trustee or with a paying agent prior to the expiration of the 30-day period); |
| · | default in the payment of principal of any debt security of that series at its maturity; |
| · | default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due; |
| · | default in the performance or breach of any other covenant or warranty by us in the indenture (other than a covenant or warranty that has been included in the indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than that series), which default continues uncured for a period of 90 days after we receive written notice from the trustee or the Company and the trustee receive written notice from the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series as provided in the indenture; |
| · | certain voluntary or involuntary events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company; and |
| · | any other Event of Default provided with respect to debt securities of that series that is described in the applicable prospectus supplement. |
No Event of Default with respect to a particular series of debt securities (except as to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization) necessarily constitutes an Event of Default with respect to any other series of debt securities. The occurrence of certain Events of Default or an acceleration under the indenture may constitute an event of default under certain indebtedness of ours or our subsidiaries outstanding from time to time.
15
If an Event of Default with respect to debt securities of any series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing, then the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, by a notice in writing to us (and to the trustee if given by the holders), declare to be due and payable immediately the principal of (or, if the debt securities of that series are discount securities, that portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all debt securities of that series. In the case of an Event of Default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, the principal (or such specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding debt securities will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holder of outstanding debt securities. At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to debt securities of any series has been made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may rescind and annul the acceleration if all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal and interest, if any, with respect to debt securities of that series, have been cured or waived as provided in the indenture. We refer you to the prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities that are discount securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of a portion of the principal amount of such discount securities upon the occurrence of an Event of Default.
The indenture provides that the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture unless the trustee receives indemnity satisfactory to it against any cost, liability or expense which might be incurred by it in exercising such right of power. Subject to certain rights of the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series.
No holder of any debt security of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any remedy under the indenture, unless:
| · | that holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to debt securities of that series; and |
| · | the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request, and offered reasonable indemnity or security, to the trustee to institute the proceeding as trustee, and the trustee has not received from the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series a direction inconsistent with that request and has failed to institute the proceeding within 60 days. |
Notwithstanding any other provision in the indenture, the holder of any debt security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of, premium and any interest on that debt security on or after the due dates expressed in that debt security and to institute suit for the enforcement of payment.
The indenture requires us, within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year, to furnish to the trustee a statement as to compliance with the indenture. If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the debt securities of any series and if it is known to a responsible officer of the trustee, the trustee shall mail to each securityholder of the debt securities of that series notice of a Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. The indenture provides that the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any series of any Default or Event of Default (except in payment on any debt securities of that series) with respect to debt securities of that series if the trustee determines in good faith that withholding notice is in the interest of the holders of those debt securities.
Modification or Waiver
We and the trustee may modify and amend the indenture or the debt securities of any series without the consent of any holder of any debt security:
| · | to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency; |
| · | to comply with covenants in the indenture described above under the heading Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets; |
| · | to provide for uncertificated securities in addition to or in place of certificated securities; |
| · | to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder of debt securities; |
| · | to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of debt securities of any series as permitted by the indenture; |
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| · | to effect the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to the debt securities of any series and to add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture to provide for or facilitate administration by more than one trustee; or |
| · | to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. |
We may also modify and amend the indenture with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the modifications or amendments. We may not make any modification or amendment without the consent of the holders of each affected debt security then outstanding if that amendment will:
| · | reduce the amount of debt securities whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver; |
| · | reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest (including default interest) on any debt security; |
| · | reduce the principal of or premium on or change the fixed maturity of any debt security or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation with respect to any series of debt securities; |
| · | reduce the principal amount of discount securities payable upon acceleration of maturity; |
| · | waive a default in the payment of the principal of, premium or interest on any debt security (except a rescission of acceleration of the debt securities of any series by the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of that series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration); |
| · | make the principal of or premium or interest on any debt security payable in currency other than that stated in the debt security; |
| · | make any change to certain provisions of the indenture relating to, among other things, the right of holders of debt securities to receive payment of the principal of, premium and interest on those debt securities and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment and to waivers or amendments; or |
| · | waive a redemption payment with respect to any debt security. |
Except for certain specified provisions, the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series waive our compliance with provisions of the indenture. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may on behalf of the holders of all the debt securities of such series waive any past default under the indenture with respect to that series and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of, premium or any interest on any debt security of that series; provided, however, that the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from the acceleration.
Defeasance of Debt Securities and Certain Covenants in Certain Circumstances
Legal Defeasance. The indenture provides that, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the applicable series of debt securities, we may be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the debt securities of any series (subject to certain exceptions). We will be so discharged upon the deposit with the trustee, in trust, of money and/or U.S. government obligations or, in the case of debt securities denominated in a single currency other than U.S. Dollars, government obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency, that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or investment bank to pay and discharge each installment of principal, premium and interest on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the debt securities of that series on the stated maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the indenture and those debt securities.
This discharge may occur only if, among other things, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel stating that we have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling or, since the date of execution of the indenture, there has been a change in the applicable United States federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred.
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Defeasance of Certain Covenants. The indenture provides that, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the applicable series of debt securities, upon compliance with certain conditions:
| · | we may omit to comply with the covenant described under the heading Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets and certain other covenants set forth in the indenture, as well as any additional covenants which may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement; and |
| · | any omission to comply with those covenants will not constitute a Default or an Event of Default with respect to the debt securities of that series (covenant defeasance). |
The conditions include:
| · | depositing with the trustee money and/or U.S. government obligations or, in the case of debt securities denominated in a single currency other than U.S. Dollars, government obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency, that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or investment bank to pay and discharge each installment of principal of, premium and interest on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the debt securities of that series on the stated maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the indenture and those debt securities; and |
| · | delivering to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and related covenant defeasance and will be subject to United States Federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit and related covenant defeasance had not occurred. |
Trustee
We intend to name the indenture trustee for each series of indenture securities in the related prospectus supplement.
Certain Considerations Relating to Foreign Currencies
Debt securities denominated or payable in foreign currencies may entail significant risks. These risks include the possibility of significant fluctuations in the foreign currency markets, the imposition or modification of foreign exchange controls and potential illiquidity in the secondary market. These risks will vary depending upon the currency or currencies involved and will be more fully described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities, including any claim or controversy arising out of or relating to the indenture or the securities, will be governed by the laws of the jurisdiction identified in the indenture and debt securities at the time of the transaction in which they are issued.
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We may issue warrants for the purchase of our common shares, our preferred shares or debt securities. The following description is a general summary of the terms of the warrants we may issue from time to time pursuant to this prospectus. When we offer warrants in the future, a prospectus supplement will explain the particular terms of the securities and the extent to which these general provisions may apply. If any particular terms of a warrant described in the applicable prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described in this prospectus, then the terms described in this prospectus will be deemed superseded by the terms set forth in that prospectus supplement.
Warrants may be issued independently or together with other securities and may be attached to or separate from any offered securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not have any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants.
The summary descriptions in this prospectus and any summary descriptions in the applicable prospectus supplement do not purport to be complete descriptions of the terms and conditions of each warrant and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the related warrant agreement, warrant certificate and any other documents referenced in such summary descriptions and from which such summary descriptions are derived. We urge you to read the applicable warrant agreement and related warrant certificate, which will be filed with the SEC at the time of any offering of warrants, because they, and not this description, will define the rights of holders of such warrants.
If any warrants we issue are to be listed or quoted on a securities exchange or quotation system, the applicable prospectus supplement will so indicate.
Stock Warrants
The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of warrants to issue shares of our common shares or our preferred shares will describe the terms of the common share warrants and preferred share warrants, including the following:
| · | the title of the warrants; |
| · | the offering price for the warrants, if any; |
| · | the aggregate number of the warrants; |
| · | the designation and terms of the common shares or preferred shares that may be purchased upon exercise of the warrants; |
| · | the terms for changes or adjustments to the exercise price of the warrants; |
| · | if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities that the warrants are issued with and the number of warrants issued with each security; |
| · | if applicable, the date from and after which the warrants and any securities issued with the warrants will be separately transferable; |
| · | the number of common shares or preferred shares that may be purchased upon exercise of a warrant and the price at which the shares may be purchased upon exercise; |
| · | the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants commence and expire; |
| · | if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time; |
| · | the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable; |
| · | if applicable, a discussion of material United States Federal income tax considerations; |
| · | anti-dilution provisions of the warrants, if any; |
| · | redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the warrants; |
| · | any additional terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants; and |
| · | any other information we think is important about the warrants. |
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The exercise price payable and the number of common shares or preferred shares purchasable upon the exercise of each equity warrant will be subject to adjustment in certain events, including the issuance of a share dividend to holders of common shares or preferred shares or a combination, subdivision or reclassification of common shares or preferred shares. In lieu of adjusting the number of common shares or preferred shares purchasable upon exercise of each equity warrant, we may elect to adjust the number of equity warrants. No adjustments in the number of shares purchasable upon exercise of the equity warrants will be required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% thereof. We may, at our option, reduce the exercise price at any time. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of equity warrants, but we will pay the cash value of any fractional shares otherwise issuable or, alternatively, round up fractional shares to the nearest whole share. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in case of any consolidation, merger, or sale or conveyance of our property in its entirety or substantially in its entirety, the holder of each outstanding equity warrant shall have the right to the kind and amount of shares and other securities and property, including cash, receivable by a holder of the number of common shares or preferred shares into which the equity warrant was exercisable immediately prior to such transaction.
Debt Warrants
The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of warrants to issue debt securities will describe the terms of those warrants, including the following:
| · | the title of the warrants; |
| · | the offering price for the warrants, if any; |
| · | the aggregate number of the warrants; |
| · | the designation and terms of the debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants; |
| · | the terms for changes or adjustments to the exercise price of the warrants; |
| · | if applicable, the designation and terms of the debt securities that the warrants are issued with and the number of warrants issued with each debt security; |
| · | if applicable, the date from and after which the warrants and any debt securities issued with them will be separately transferable; |
| · | the principal amount of debt securities that may be purchased upon exercise of a warrant and the price at which the debt securities may be purchased upon exercise; |
| · | the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire; |
| · | if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time; |
| · | whether the warrants represented by the warrant certificates or debt securities that may be issued upon exercise of the warrants will be issued in registered or bearer form; |
| · | information relating to book-entry procedures, if any; |
| · | the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable; |
| · | if applicable, a discussion of material United States federal income tax considerations; |
| · | anti-dilution provisions of the warrants, if any; |
| · | redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the warrants; |
| · | any additional terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants; and |
| · | any other information we think is important about the warrants. |
Exercise of Warrants
Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase for cash such principal amount of securities or shares at such exercise price as shall in each case be set forth in, or be determinable as set forth in, the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants offered thereby. Warrants may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants offered thereby. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.
The warrants may be exercised as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants offered. Upon receipt of payment and the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If less than all of the warrants represented by such warrant certificate are exercised, a new warrant certificate will be issued for the remaining warrants.
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Until a holder exercises the warrants to purchase our common shares, preferred shares or debt securities, the holder will not have any rights as a holder of our common shares, preferred shares or debt securities, as the case may be, by virtue of ownership of warrants.
Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Warrants
Each warrant agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable warrant agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any warrant. A single bank or trust company may act as warrant agent for more than one issue of warrants. A warrant agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable warrant agreement or warrant, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a warrant may, without the consent of the related warrant agent or the holder of any other warrant, enforce by appropriate legal action its right to exercise, and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of, its warrants.
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We may issue units consisting of any combination of the other types of securities offered under this prospectus in one or more series. We may evidence each series of units by unit certificates that we will issue under a separate agreement. We may enter into unit agreements with a unit agent; and if we do so, each unit agent will be a bank or trust company that we select and we will indicate the name and address of the unit agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of units.
The following description, together with the additional information included in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the general features of the units that we may offer under this prospectus. You should read any prospectus supplement that we may authorize to be provided to you related to the series of units being offered, as well as the complete version of any unit agreement containing the terms of the units that we may enter into. Specific unit agreements, if any, will contain additional important terms and provisions and we will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from another report that we file with the SEC, the form of each unit agreement relating to units offered under this prospectus that we enter into.
If we offer any units, certain terms of that series of units will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, the following, as applicable:
| · | the title of the series of units; |
| · | identification and description of the separate constituent securities comprising the units; |
| · | the price or prices at which the units will be issued; |
| · | the date, if any, on and after which the constituent securities comprising the units will be separately transferable; |
| · | a discussion of certain United States Federal income tax considerations applicable to the units; and |
| · | any other terms of the units and their constituent securities. |
Issuance in Series
We may issue units in such amounts and in such numerous distinct series as we determine.
Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Units
Each unit agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable unit agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any unit. A single bank or trust company may act as unit agent for more than one series of units. A unit agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable unit agreement or unit, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a unit may, without the consent of the related unit agent or the holder of any other unit, enforce by appropriate legal action its rights as holder under any security included in the unit.
We, and any unit agent and any of their agents, may treat the registered holder of any unit certificate as an absolute owner of the units evidenced by that certificate for any purpose and as the person entitled to exercise the rights attaching to the units so requested, despite any notice to the contrary.
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We may sell the securities covered by this prospectus from time to time in one or more offerings. Registration of the securities does not mean, however, that those securities will necessarily be offered or sold.
We may sell the securities separately or together:
| · | through one or more underwriters or dealers in a public offering and sale by them; |
| · | directly to investors, including our affiliates and shareholders, or in a rights offering; |
| · | through agents; or |
| · | through any combination of any of these methods of sale. |
We may sell the securities from time to time:
| · | in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed from time to time; |
| · | at market prices prevailing at the times of sale; |
| · | in at the market offerings, within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act, to or through a sales agent or market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise; |
| · | at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or |
| · | at negotiated prices. |
Each time we sell securities covered by this prospectus, we will describe the method of distribution of the securities and the terms of the offering in the prospectus supplement. Any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
We may engage in at-the-market offerings into an existing trading market in accordance with Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act, and we may also sell securities through a rights offering, forward contracts or similar arrangements. In any distribution of subscription rights to shareholders, if all of the underlying securities are not subscribed for, we may then sell the unsubscribed securities directly to third parties or may engage the services of one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, including standby underwriters, to sell unsubscribed securities to third parties.
If underwriters are used in the sale of any securities, the securities may be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions described above. The securities may be either offered to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters, or directly by underwriters. Generally, the underwriters obligations to purchase the securities will be subject to conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities if they purchase any of the securities. We may use underwriters with whom we have a material relationship. We will describe in the prospectus supplement, naming the underwriter, the nature of any such relationship.
We may designate agents to sell the securities. Unless otherwise specified in connection with any particular sale of securities, the agents will agree to use their best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of their appointment.
We may authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers by certain purchasers to purchase the securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the prospectus supplement, and the prospectus supplement will set forth any commissions we pay for solicitation of these contracts.
We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement or in a post-effective amendment.
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Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments made by the underwriters, dealers or agents, under agreements between us and the underwriters, dealers and agents.
We may grant underwriters who participate in the distribution of securities an option to purchase additional securities to cover over-allotments, if any, in connection with the distribution.
Underwriters, dealers or agents may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from us or our purchasers, as their agents in connection with the sale of securities. These underwriters, dealers or agents may be considered to be underwriters under the Securities Act. As a result, discounts, commissions or profits on resale received by the underwriters, dealers or agents may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions. The prospectus supplement will identify any such underwriter, dealer or agent and describe any compensation received by them from us. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
Any common shares sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement will be listed for trading on The Nasdaq Capital Market.
Any underwriter may engage in over-allotment transactions, stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Over-allotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Short covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution is completed to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a covering transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the activities at any time. We make no representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that such transactions may have on the price of the securities. A description of these activities, if any, will be contained in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Underwriters, broker-dealers or agents who may become involved in the sale of the common shares may engage in transactions with and perform other services for us in the ordinary course of their business for which they receive compensation.
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OUR CHARTER AND CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF BVI LAW
Charter
Our charter documents consist of our Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association (Memorandum) and our Amended and Restated Articles of Association (Articles, and together with the Memorandum, our Memorandum and Articles).
The following is a summary of some of the key provisions of our Memorandum and Articles. This summary does not purport to be complete and does not address all of the provisions of our Memorandum and Articles. Our Memorandum and Articles are incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and readers are urged to review these documents in their entirety for a complete understanding of the provisions of our charter documents.
Memorandum
Corporate Powers
We have been registered in the BVI since December 14, 1993, with company number 102930. Clause 46 of our Memorandum of Association provides that the objects for which we are established are unrestricted and we shall have full power and authority to carry out any object which is not prohibited by any laws in force in the BVI.
Authorized Shares
We are authorized to issue a maximum of 210 million shares of no par value, of which, 200 million shall be common shares and 10 million shall be preferred shares. The directors of the Company or our shareholders may increase or decrease the maximum number of authorized shares by amending the Memorandum as provided by law.
Each common share is entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote of shareholders. Common shares may be redeemed by the Company for fair value. Common shares shall be entitled to receive such dividends and distributions as may be authorized by the directors. Subject to the rights of holders of other classes of shares, the directors may declare and pay dividends on the common shares. Holders of common shares shall be entitled to share in the assets of the Company available for distribution upon liquidation. Preferred shares shall carry such designations, powers, preferences and rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions as may be determined by the directors at the time of issuance.
In connection with our change in domicile to the British Virgin Islands in December 2004, the board of directors designated and issued, and thereafter, exchanged (for 320,000 common shares) and retired, 320,000 of the Companys Series B preferred shares. No other preferred shares have been designated or issued by the Company and, on September 19, 2019, the board of directors adopted a resolution cancelling the designation of the Series B preferred shares, and restoring such shares to the status of authorized but unissued preferred shares.
Amendments to Memorandum and Articles
Subject to the laws of the BVI and certain limited exceptions contained in the Memorandum, the Memorandum and Articles may each be amended by a resolution of members or by a resolution of the directors.
Articles
Issuance of Shares
The unissued shares of the Company may be issued at the discretion of the directors, who may determine whether to issue shares, grant options over or otherwise dispose of them, at such times and for such consideration (which may not be less than par value (if any) of the shares) as the directors determine. Consideration may take any form acceptable to the directors, including money, promissory note, service rendered or services to be rendered; provided that in the case of consideration other than money, the directors must adopt a resolution stating (a) the amount to be credited for issuance of the shares, (b) a reasonable determination of the present cash value of the non-monetary consideration and (c) that, in their opinion, the present cash value of the non-monetary consideration is not less the amount to be credited for the share issuance.
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Redemption of Shares
Shares may be issued on the terms that they are redeemable or, at the option of the Company, liable to be redeemed, on such terms and in such manner as the directors before or at the time of the issue of such shares may determine.
The Company may purchase, redeem or acquire its own shares for such consideration as may be determined by the directors, subject to the written consent of all the members whose shares are to be purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired, and such shares may, at the direction of the directors, be cancelled or held as treasury shares; provided, however, that the Company may not purchase, redeem or acquire its shares unless, immediately following the purchase, redemption or acquisition (a) the value of the Companys assets exceeds its liabilities and (b) the Company is able to pay its debts as they become due.
Meetings of Shareholders
The directors may convene meetings of our shareholders at such times and in such manner and places as the directors consider necessary or desirable. In addition, the directors are required to convene a meeting of our shareholders upon the written request of shareholders holding thirty (30) percent or more of the voting rights in respect of the matter for which the meeting is requested. At least seven days notice of the meeting is required to be given to the shareholders whose names appear on the share register. One or more shareholders entitled to exercise at least fifty (50) percent of the voting rights of the shares of each class or series of shares entitled to vote as a class or series thereon, and the same proportion of the votes of the remaining shares entitled to vote thereon, must be present at a meeting of shareholders, in person or by proxy, in order to constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of a simple majority of those present and entitled to vote shall be required in order to approve and pass a resolution of shareholders. However, in the event a meeting of shareholders is adjourned due to the absence of a quorum, at the adjourned meeting the quorum requirement shall be reduced to one-third of the votes of shares or each class or series of shares entitled to vote on the resolutions to be considered by the meeting. Our Memorandum and Articles provide that any action that may be taken at a meeting of shareholders may be taken without a meeting if the action is approved by a resolution consented to in writing by shareholders, by an absolute majority of the votes of shares entitled to vote thereon, without the need for any notice.
Directors
Our Articles provides that our board of directors shall consist of not less than three nor more than 25 directors; and directors, solely for purposes of determining the term for which they will serve, are classified as Class I, Class II and Class III directors, with approximately one-third of the total number of directors being allocated to each Class. Each director is to hold office for a three-year term expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders held in the third year after his or her appointment. Directors may be removed by the shareholders by a resolution of shareholders, with or without cause, and by the directors by a resolution of directors, only with cause.
The business of the Company shall be managed by the directors, who may exercise all such powers of the Company as are necessary for managing and for directing and supervising, the business and affairs of the Company as are not required to be exercised by the members.
With the prior or subsequent approval by a resolution of shareholders, the directors may, by a resolution of directors, fix the emoluments of directors with respect to services to be rendered in any capacity to the Company. At the annual meeting of shareholders held in 2008, the shareholders adopted resolutions providing that (a) all emoluments to directors previously fixed by the board of directors are approved and ratified and (b) the board of directors is empowered and authorized to fix all future emoluments to directors, for their services in all capacities to the Company, without further approval or ratification by shareholders.
The directors may, by a resolution of directors, exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge its undertaking and property or any part thereof, to issue debentures, debenture stock and other securities whenever money is borrowed or as security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or any third party. There is no age limit requirement for retirement or non-retirement of directors. A director shall not require a share qualification. Directors may be natural persons who have attained the age of 18 years and are not undischarged bankrupts; or companies, in which event the company may designate a person as its representative as director.
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A director may, from time to time, appoint (and revoke the appointment of) another director or another person who is not a director, but who is not disqualified from serving as a director, to be his or her alternate to exercise his or her powers and to carry out his or her responsibilities as a director. In addition, in the event of resignation, a director may appoint his or her successor.
Directors are not disqualified from entering into contracts with the Company, and no such contract shall be void or require the interested director to account for any profit under any such contract, provided that the fact of the directors interest in the transaction is disclosed to the board. A director who is interested in a contract with the Company may, nevertheless, attend meetings of the board at which the interested transaction is discussed and/or approved, be counted towards a quorum at any such meeting and vote in respect of such transaction.
At least one-half of the total number of directors (with a minimum of two) must be present for a duly constituted meeting. Resolutions of directors shall require the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the directors present in person or by alternate at a duly convened and constituted meeting of directors and entitled to vote on the resolution. Directors may pass resolutions of directors in writing in lieu of meeting provided that such written resolution is consented to in writing by all of the directors. Subject to certain limitations set forth in the Articles, directors may appoint committees and agents. Directors do not have the authority to appoint new auditors such appointment must be made by the shareholders.
Indemnification
The Company shall indemnify every officer and director of the Company against any liability, action, proceeding, claim, demand, costs, damages or expenses incurred as a result of any act or failure to act in carrying out their functions, except those incurred by reason of their own actual fraud or willful default. No indemnified person shall be liable to the Company for any loss or damage except due to the actual fraud or willful default of the indemnified person. Actual fraud or willful default may only be found to exist by a court of competent jurisdiction. The Company must advance reasonable attorneys fees and other expenses to an indemnified person provided that the indemnified person executes an agreement to reimburse the Company if a court of competent jurisdiction determines that indemnification was not available under the circumstances.
Dividends and Distribution
The directors may authorize the payment of dividends or other distributions to shareholders, if the directors are satisfied, on reasonable grounds that, immediately after the dividend or other distribution (a) the value of the Companys assets will exceed its liabilities and (b) the Company will be able to pay its debts as they fall due. Distributions, including dividends, may be declared and paid in cash, or in specie, in shares or other assets.
Restrictions on Rights to Own Securities
There are no limitations on the rights to own our securities.
Change in Control Provisions
There are no provisions of our Memorandum and Articles that would have an effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in our control and that would operate only with respect to a merger, acquisition or corporate restructuring involving us. However, the ability of the board of directors to amend our Memorandum and Articles without shareholder approval, as well as to designate the rights and preferences of preferred shares, could operate to delay, defer or prevent a change in control of the Company, including with resect to a merger, acquisition or corporate restructuring.
Disclosure of Share Ownership
There are no provisions of our Memorandum and Articles governing the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed.
Changes in Capital
Requirements to effect changes in capital are not more stringent than is required by law.
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Arbitration
Our Articles provide that any differences between us and our shareholders or their executors, administrators or assigns relating to the intent, construction, incidences or consequences of our Articles or the BVI Business Companies Act (as amended), including any breach or alleged breach of our Articles or the BVI Business Companies Act (as amended), or relating to our affairs, shall be resolved by arbitration before two arbitrators (unless the parties agree to arbitrate before one arbitrator), who shall jointly appoint an umpire.
Key Differences in Corporate Laws
The applicable provisions of BVI corporate law differ from corporate laws generally applicable in the United States in certain material respects. Set forth below is a summary of certain differences between the provisions of BVI law applicable to us and corporate laws generally in effect in the United States. Moreover, corporate laws among the various states in the United States may be different from each other and, therefore, BVI law may be similar to certain state corporate laws but different from others. This summary is not intended to be a complete discussion of these differences and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual laws in effect under U.S. and BVI laws.
Fiduciary Duties and Shareholder Litigation: Under the laws of most jurisdictions in the United States, majority and controlling shareholders generally have certain fiduciary responsibilities to the minority shareholders. Shareholder action must be taken in good faith and actions by controlling shareholders which are obviously unreasonable may be declared null and void. BVI law protecting the interests of minority shareholders may not be as protective in all circumstances as the law protecting minority shareholders under most jurisdictions in the United States.
The BVI Business Companies Act (as amended) set out the fiduciary duties of directors by stating that "a director of a company, in exercising his or her powers and performing his or her duties, shall act honestly and in good faith and in what the director believes to be in the best interests of the company." This statutory provision essentially imports the appropriate principles of English common law (prior to the enactment of the Companies Act 2006 of the United Kingdom), which have been substantially confirmed by decisions of the courts of the BVI.
In practical terms, these fiduciary duties translate into the following:
| (a) | Bona Fides: The directors must act bona fide in what they consider is in the best interests of the company. |
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| (b) | Proper Purpose: The directors must exercise the powers that are vested in them for the purpose for which they were conferred and not for a collateral purpose. |
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| (c) | Unfettered Discretion: Since the powers of the directors are to be exercised by them in trust for the company, they should not improperly fetter the exercise of future discretion. |
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| (d) | Conflict of Duty and Interest: Directors must not place themselves in a position in which there is a conflict between their duty to the Company and their personal interests. This means that, strictly speaking, a director should not participate in a decision in circumstances where he has a potential conflict. That is, he should declare his interest and abstain. The BVI Business Companies Act provides that a director "shall, forthwith after becoming aware of the fact that he or she is interested in a transaction entered into or to be entered into by the company, disclose the interest to the board of the company." The Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association of our Company allow our directors who are interested in a particular transaction to vote on it, attend meetings at which it is considered, and sign documents on behalf of our Company which relate to the transaction. |
In addition to the above fiduciary duties, each director also owes a duty of care, diligence and skill to the company. In exercising powers or performing duties as a director, each director is required to exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonable director would exercise in the same circumstances, taking into account, without limitation, the nature of the company, the nature of the decision, and the position of the director and the nature of the responsibilities undertaken by him or her.
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The duties of a director are owed to the company and not to individual shareholders. In the ordinary course, the "interest of the company" may be equated to the interests of the company's shareholders. Once, however, a company is insolvent or is "doubtfully solvent" the directors must, when discharging their duties, consider the creditors' interests.
Under British Virgin Islands law, our shareholders do not owe any fiduciary duties to our Company or to our minority shareholders. Accordingly, our shareholders may exercise their powers as shareholders, including the exercise of voting rights in respect of their shares, in such manner as they think fit, subject only to very limited equitable constraints.
In principle, our Company will normally be the proper plaintiff to sue for a breach of duty or any other wrong done to us as a company. However, under the BVI Business Companies Act, a member may bring a derivative action in the name of the company in certain circumstances. The BVI Court may, on the application of a member of a company, grant leave to that member to (a) bring proceedings in the name and on behalf of that company, or (b) intervene in proceedings to which the company is a party for the purpose of continuing, defending or discontinuing the proceedings on behalf of the company. In determining whether to grant leave, the BVI Court must take the following matters into account:
| (a) | whether the member is acting in good faith; |
| (b) | whether the derivative action is in the interests of the company taking account of the views of the company's directors on commercial matters; |
| (c) | whether the proceedings are likely to succeed; |
| (d) | the costs of the proceedings in relation to the relief likely to be obtained; and |
| (e) | whether an alternative remedy to the derivative claim is available. |
While BVI law does permit a shareholder of a BVI company to bring a derivative action in the name of the company, that is, in the name of, and for the benefit of, our Company and to sue a company and its directors for his benefit and for the benefit of others similarly situated, the circumstances in which any such action may be brought, and the procedures and defenses that may be available in respect of any such action, may result in the rights of shareholders of a BVI company being more limited than those of shareholders of a company organized in the United States.
Powers of Directors: Our directors have the power to take certain actions without shareholder approval, including the powers to amend our Memorandum of Association or Articles of Association (except that our directors cannot make any such amendment (a) to restrict the rights or powers of our members to amend the Memorandum or the Articles, (b) to change the percentage of our members required to pass a resolution to amend our Memorandum or the Articles, or (c) in circumstances where the Memorandum or the Articles cannot be amended by our members), and to increase or decrease the maximum number of shares that we are authorized to issue, which would require shareholder approval under the laws of most jurisdictions in the United States. In addition, the directors of a BVI company, subject in certain cases to court approval but without shareholder approval, may, among other things, implement a reorganization (other than statutory mergers or consolidations which require shareholder authorization), the sale, transfer, exchange or disposition of any assets, property, part of the business, or securities of the company, or any combination, if they determine it is in the best interests of the company. In most jurisdictions in the United States, shareholder approval is required in order to amend most provisions of the certificate or articles of incorporation. Our ability to amend our Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association without shareholder approval could have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a change in our control without any further action by the shareholders, including a tender offer to purchase our common shares at a premium over then current market prices. However, our directors must exercise the powers that are vested in them for the purpose for which they were conferred and not for a collateral purpose.
Liability of Directors: In most jurisdictions in the United States, directors owe a fiduciary duty to the corporation and its shareholders, including a duty of care, under which directors must properly apprise themselves of all reasonably available information, and a duty of loyalty, under which they must protect the interests of the corporation and refrain from conduct that injures the corporation or its shareholders or that deprives the corporation or its shareholders of any profit or advantage. Many U.S. jurisdictions have enacted various statutory provisions which permit the monetary liability of directors to be eliminated or limited.
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Under BVI law, liability of a director to the BVI company is primarily limited to cases where the director has acted in breach of his fiduciary duties (such as not acting honestly and in good faith and with a view to the best interests of the company) or his duties of care, skill and diligence. Under our Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association, we shall indemnity all or our directors and officers, together with every former director and former officer, against any liability, action, proceeding, claim, demand, costs, damages or expenses, including legal expenses, whatsoever which they or any of them may incur as a result of any act or failure to act in carrying out their functions other than such liability (if any) that they may incur by reason of their own actual fraud or willful default. No director or officer shall be liable to our company for any loss or damage incurred by us as a result (whether direct or indirect) of the carrying out of their functions unless that liability arises through the actual fraud or willful default of such director or officer.
Qualifications of Directors: Unlike most corporate laws in the United States, directors of a BVI company may be companies. Moreover, any director may appoint a person (who may or may not be another director) to be his alternate to exercise the appointing directors powers, and to carry out the appointing directors responsibilities, in relation to the taking of decisions by the directors in the absence of the appointing director (including to attend meetings and vote in the place and stead of the appointing director). An alternate director has the same rights as the appointing director in relation to any directors' meeting and any written resolution circulated for written consent. Any exercise by the alternate director of the appointing director's powers in relation to the taking of decisions by the directors, is as effective as if the powers were exercised by the appointing director. An alternate director is liable for his or her own acts and omissions as an alternate director and an alternate director is subject to the same fiduciary duties and the same duties of care, diligence and skill as other directors, when acting as such.
Control Share Statutes and Changes in Control: Certain states in the United States have adopted corporate laws that limit the ability of a significant shareholder of a corporation to vote its shares in favor of approving transactions in which the significant shareholder has an interest. Some states also limit transactions between a corporation and a significant shareholder. In general, BVI law does not impose similar restrictions on interested or affiliated party transactions.
The ability of the board of directors to amend our Memorandum and Articles without shareholder approval, as well as the exercise of its power to designate the rights and preferences of preferred shares, could operate to delay, defer or prevent a change in control of the Company, including with respect to a merger, acquisition or corporate restructuring. In most jurisdictions in the United States, shareholder approval is required in order to amend most provisions of the certificate or articles of incorporation.
Material Contracts
Other than contracts entered into the ordinary course of business, during the two preceding fiscal years the Company entered into the following material contracts (these contracts are included as exhibits to our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2018):
| · | Equity Transfer Agreement dated February 24, 2017 by and among Wuhu City Feishang Industrial Development Co., Ltd., Feishang Mining Holdings Limited, Mr. Shen Yandi and Wuhu Feishang Mining Development Co., Limited. |
| · | Agreement dated November 30, 2017 by and between Yangpu Shuanghu Industrial Development Co., Limited and Feishang Enterprise Group Co., Ltd. |
| · | Agreement dated November 30, 2017 by and between Yangpu Shuanghu Industrial Development Co., Limited and Shenzhen Chaopeng Investment Co., Ltd. |
| · | Purchase and Sale Agreement dated December 29, 2017 by and among the Company, Double Grow International Limited and Shanghai Kangzheng Investment Management Co., Ltd. |
| · | Deed of Assignment of Loan dated December 29, 2017 by and among the Company, Double Grow International Limited and Shanghai Kangzheng Investment Management Co., Ltd. |
| · | Mutual Cooperation Agreement dated August 20, 2017 by and between Bayannaoer City Feishang Mining Company and Bayannaoer Jijincheng Mining Co., Ltd. |
Exchange Controls
There are no material BVI laws, decrees, regulations or other legislation that impose foreign exchange controls on us or that affect our payment of dividends, interest or other payments to non-resident holders of our shares. BVI law and our Memorandum and Articles impose no limitations on the right of non-resident or foreign owners to hold or vote our common shares. However, we operate through subsidiaries located in the PRC, and the payment of dividends by PRC companies is subject to certain restrictions imposed under PRC law.
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The principal regulation governing foreign currency exchange in the PRC is the Foreign Currency Administration Rules (1996) as amended. Conversion of Renminbi is strictly regulated by the PRC Government. Under PRC foreign exchange rules and regulations, payment of routine transactions under current accounts, including trade and service transactions and payment of dividends, may be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from the SAFE but are subject to procedural requirements. Strict foreign exchange control continues to apply to capital account transactions, such as direct investment, loans or investments in securities outside the PRC and capital contribution. These transactions must be approved by the SAFE.
Pursuant to the Foreign Currency Administration Rules, foreign-invested enterprises in the PRC may purchase foreign exchange without the approval of the SAFE for trade and service-related exchange transactions by providing commercial documents evidencing these transactions. They may also retain foreign exchange, subject to a cap approved by the SAFE, to satisfy foreign exchange liabilities or to pay dividends. However, the relevant PRC authorities may limit or eliminate the ability of foreign-invested enterprises to purchase and retain foreign currencies in the future.
The principal regulations governing distribution of dividends by foreign-invested companies include:
| · | The Sino-foreign Equity Joint Venture Law (1979), as amended; |
| · | The Regulations of Implementation of the Sino-foreign Equity Joint Venture Law (1983) as amended; |
| · | The Foreign Investment Enterprise Law (1986) as amended; and |
| · | The Regulations of Implementation of the Foreign Investment Enterprise Law (1990) as amended. |
Under these regulations, foreign-invested enterprises in the PRC may pay dividends only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, wholly foreign-owned enterprises in the PRC are required to set aside at least 10% of their respective accumulated profits each year, if any, to fund certain reserve funds unless such reserve funds have reached 50% of their respective registered capital. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends.
In addition, our wholly-owned subsidiaries are required to allocate portions of their after-tax profits to their enterprise expansion funds and staff welfare and bonus funds at the discretion of their boards of directors. Allocations to these statutory reserves and funds can only be used for specific purposes and are not transferable to us in the forms of loans, advances or cash dividends.
Taxation
The following is a summary of anticipated material U.S. federal income and BVI tax consequences of an investment in our common shares. The summary has been prepared based upon managements understanding of applicable tax consequences, but has not been reviewed by counsel or other experts in U.S. or BVI taxation. The summary does not address all possible tax consequences relating to an investment in our common shares and does not purport to deal with the tax consequences applicable to all categories of investors, some of which, such as dealers in securities, insurance companies and tax-exempt entities, may be subject to special rules. In particular, the discussion does not address the tax consequences under state, local and other non-U.S. and non-BVI tax laws. Accordingly, each prospective investor should consult its own tax advisor regarding the particular tax consequences to it of an investment in the common shares. The discussion below is based upon laws and relevant interpretations in effect as of the date of this prospectus, all of which are subject to change.
CHNR completed the Spin-Off by way of a distribution in specie of the entire issued share capital of Feishang Anthracite to the holders of the common shares of CHNR. It is not clear whether the Distribution should be treated as a tax-free spin-off under Section 355 of the Code or as a taxable distribution of property. If we are required to report the Distribution to the IRS, we intend to take the view that the Distribution will be treated as a taxable distribution. Under this treatment, for U.S. Federal income tax purposes, the Distribution should be a taxable event for holders of CHNR common shares on the Distribution Record Date. Accordingly, subject to the passive foreign investment company rules discussed below, a U.S. Holder:
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should generally be treated as having received (at the time of receipt of the Feishang Anthracite ordinary shares) a taxable distribution in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Feishang Anthracite ordinary shares received in the Distribution,
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should have a tax basis in its Feishang Anthracite ordinary shares equal to their fair market value on the date of the Distribution, and
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should have a holding period in its Feishang Anthracite ordinary shares that will commence on the day after the date of the Distribution.
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The amount distributed by CHNR to a U.S. Holder should be taxed as a dividend to the extent of such holders proportionate share of CHNRs current and accumulated earnings and profits (if any), and should otherwise be (i) a tax-free return of capital to the extent of such holders adjusted tax basis in his or her CHNR common shares and (ii) thereafter as a capital gain. CHNR does not maintain calculations of its earnings and profits in accordance with U.S. Federal income tax principles; accordingly, holders should assume that the entire amount of the Distribution should be taxable as a dividend. CHNR intends to treat the distribution of Feishang Anthracite ordinary shares as a taxable dividend for U.S. Federal income tax purposes, and the remainder of the disclosure assumes such treatment.
The dividend amount generally will be treated as foreign source ordinary dividend income, and generally will be eligible for reduced rates of taxation applicable to qualified dividend income applicable to certain non-corporate U.S. Holders, but will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction allowed to corporations. The dividend will be includable in net investment income for purposes of the Medicare contribution tax applicable to certain non-corporate U.S. Holders.
United States Federal Income Taxation
The following discussion addresses only the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to a U.S. person, defined as a U.S. citizen or resident, a U.S. corporation, or an estate or trust subject to U.S. federal income tax on all of its income regardless of source, making an investment in the common shares. For taxable years beginning after December 31, 1996, a trust will be a U.S. person only if:
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a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over its administration; and
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one or more United States persons have the authority to control all of its substantial decisions.
In addition, the following discussion does not address the tax consequences to a person who holds or will hold, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of our common shares, which we refer to as a 10% Shareholder. Non-U.S. persons and 10% Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax considerations incident to an investment in our common shares.
A U.S. investor receiving a distribution of our common shares will be required to include such distribution in gross income as a taxable dividend, to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Any distributions in excess of our earnings and profits will first be treated, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as a nontaxable return of capital, to the extent of the U.S. investors adjusted tax basis in our common shares, and then as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset, provided that our common shares constitutes a capital asset in the hands of the U.S. investor. U.S. corporate shareholders will not be entitled to any deduction for distributions received as dividends on our common shares.
Gain or loss on the sale or exchange of our common shares will be treated as capital gain or loss if our common shares are held as a capital asset by the U.S. investor. Such capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. investor has held our common shares for more than one year at the time of the sale or exchange.
A holder of common shares may be subject to backup withholding at the rate of 24% with respect to dividends paid on our common shares if the dividends are paid by a paying agent, broker or other intermediary in the United States or by a U.S. broker or certain United States-related brokers to the holder outside the United States. In addition, the proceeds of the sale, exchange or redemption of common shares may be subject to backup withholding, if such proceeds are paid by a paying agent, broker or other intermediary in the United States.
Backup withholding may be avoided by the holder of common shares if such holder:
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is a corporation or comes within other exempt categories; or
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provides a correct taxpayer identification number, certifies that such holder is not subject to backup withholding and otherwise complies with the backup withholding rules.
In addition, holders of common shares who are not U.S. persons are generally exempt from backup withholding, although they may be required to comply with certification and identification procedures in order to prove their exemption.
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Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a payment to a holder will be refunded or credited against the holders U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that amount withheld is claimed as federal taxes withheld on the holders U.S. federal income tax return relating to the year in which the backup withholding occurred. A holder who is not otherwise required to file a U.S. income tax return must generally file a claim for refund or, in the case of non-U.S. holders, an income tax return in order to claim refunds of withheld amounts.
British Virgin Islands Taxation
Under the BVI Business Companies Act (as amended) as currently in effect, companies incorporated or registered under the BVI Business Companies Act are exempt from income and corporate tax. In addition, the BVI currently does not levy capital gains tax on companies incorporated or registered under the BVI Business Companies Act.
A holder of our common shares who is not a resident of BVI is exempt from BVI income tax on dividends paid with respect to the common shares and any capital gains realized with respect to any common shares. In addition, the common shares are not subject to transfer taxes, stamp duties or similar charges for so long as we do not hold an interest in real estate in the BVI.
There are no estate, gift or inheritance taxes levied by the BVI on companies incorporated or registered under the BVI Business Companies Act.
There is no income tax treaty or convention currently in effect between the United States and the BVI that is applicable to any payments made by or to a company incorporated or registered under the BVI Business Companies Act.
Dividends and Paying Agents
The Company has not paid dividends and has not engaged a payment agent for the payment of dividends.
Statement by Experts
See Validity of the Securities and Experts elsewhere in this prospectus for statements or reports attributed to experts.
Documents on Display
The documents concerning the Company that are referred to in this prospectus may be inspected at the Companys principal executive offices at Room 2205, 22/F, West Tower, Shun Tak Centre, 168-200 Connaught Road Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong. Certain documents included as exhibits to the registration of which this prospectus forms a part are incorporated by reference to documents previously filed with or furnished to the SEC. These documents can be viewed on the SECs website at www.sec.gov.
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Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP will pass upon certain legal matters under British Virgin Islands law relating to the issuance and sale of the securities. Additional legal matters may be passed upon for us, or any underwriters, dealers, or agents, by counsel that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The consolidated financial statements of China Natural Resources, Inc. appearing in China Natural Resources, Inc.s annual report (Form 20-F) for the year ended December 31, 2018, have been audited by Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES AND INDEMNIFICATION POLICIES
Enforceability of Civil Liabilities
We are incorporated in the British Virgin Islands to take advantage of certain benefits associated with being an exempted British Virgin Islands company, such as:
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political and economic stability;
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an effective judicial system;
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a favorable tax system;
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the absence of exchange control or currency restrictions; and
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the availability of professional and support services.
However, certain disadvantages accompany incorporation in the British Virgin Islands. These disadvantages include:
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the British Virgin Islands has a less developed body of securities laws as compared to the United States and these securities laws provide significantly less protection to investors; and
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British Virgin Islands companies do not have standing to sue before the federal courts of the United States.
Our Articles provide that any differences between us and our shareholders or their executors, administrators or assigns relating to the intent, construction, incidences or consequences of our Articles or the BVI Business Companies Act (as amended), including any breach or alleged breach of our Articles or the BVI Business Companies Act (as amended), or relating to our affairs, shall be resolved by arbitration before two arbitrators (unless the parties agree to arbitrate before one arbitrator), who shall jointly appoint an umpire.
Service of process upon us and upon our directors, all of whom reside outside the United States, may be difficult to obtain within the United States. Furthermore, because all of our assets and all of our directors and officers are located outside the United States, any judgment obtained in the United States against us or any of our directors and officers may not be collectible within the United States.
There is doubt as to the enforceability of civil liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Exchange Act of 1934 in original actions instituted in the PRC. PRC courts may refuse to hear a claim based on a violation of U.S. securities laws including because the PRC is not the most appropriate forum to bring such a claim. In addition, even if a PRC court agrees to hear a claim, it may determine that PRC law, and not U.S. law, is applicable to the claim. If U.S. law is found to be applicable, the content of applicable U.S. law may have to be proved in court as a fact, which can be a time-consuming and costly process. Certain matters of procedure will also be governed by PRC law. There is little binding case law in PRC addressing the matters described above. Many of the same doubts apply to similar suits that may be brought in the British Virgin Islands, and as to the enforceability of any judgment rendered by a court in the British Virgin Islands. Moreover, we have no assets in the British Virgin Islands that may be used to satisfy a judgment rendered by a court located there.
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Indemnification
Our Articles provide that:
Subject to the provisions of the Act, every director and officer of the Company (which for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include auditors of the Company), together with every former director and former officer of the Company (each an "Indemnified Person") shall be indemnified out of the assets of the Company against any liability, action, proceeding, claim, demand, costs, damages or expenses, including legal expenses, whatsoever which they or any of them may incur as a result of any act or failure to act in carrying out their functions other than such liability (if any) that they may incur by reason of their own actual fraud or wilful default. No Indemnified Person shall be liable to the Company for any loss or damage incurred by the Company as a result (whether direct or indirect) of the carrying out of their functions unless that liability arises through the actual fraud or wilful default of such Indemnified Person. No person shall be found to have committed actual fraud or wilful default under this Article unless or until a court of competent jurisdiction shall have made a finding to that effect.
The Company shall advance to each Indemnified Person reasonable attorneys' fees and other costs and expenses incurred in connection with the defence of any action, suit, proceeding or investigation involving such Indemnified Person for which indemnity will or could be sought. In connection with any advance of any expenses hereunder, the Indemnified Person shall execute an undertaking to repay the advanced amount to the Company if it shall be determined by final judgment or other final adjudication that such Indemnified Person was not entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Article. If it shall be determined by a final judgment or other final adjudication that such Indemnified Person was not entitled to indemnification with respect to such judgment, costs or expenses, then such party shall not be indemnified with respect to such judgment, costs or expenses and any advancement shall be returned to the Company (without interest) by the Indemnified Person.
The directors, on behalf of the Company, may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any director or other officer of the Company against any liability which, by virtue of any rule of law, would otherwise attach to such person in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which such person may be guilty in relation to the Company.
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No dealer, sales representative or any other person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus and, if given or made, such information or representation must not be relied upon as having been authorized by China Natural Resources. This prospectus does not constitute an offer of any securities other than those to which it relates or an offer to sell, or a solicitation of any offer to buy, to any person in any jurisdiction where such an offer or solicitation would be unlawful. Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall, under any circumstances, create an implication that the information set forth herein is correct as of any time subsequent to the date hereof.
CHINA NATURAL RESOURCES, INC.
$100,000,000
Prospectus
___________, 2019
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 8. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
Our Amended and Restated Articles of Association provide as follows:
Subject to the provisions of the Act, every director and officer of the Company (which for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include auditors of the Company), together with every former director and former officer of the Company (each an "Indemnified Person") shall be indemnified out of the assets of the Company against any liability, action, proceeding, claim, demand, costs, damages or expenses, including legal expenses, whatsoever which they or any of them may incur as a result of any act or failure to act in carrying out their functions other than such liability (if any) that they may incur by reason of their own actual fraud or wilful default. No Indemnified Person shall be liable to the Company for any loss or damage incurred by the Company as a result (whether direct or indirect) of the carrying out of their functions unless that liability arises through the actual fraud or wilful default of such Indemnified Person. No person shall be found to have committed actual fraud or wilful default under this Article unless or until a court of competent jurisdiction shall have made a finding to that effect.
The Company shall advance to each Indemnified Person reasonable attorneys' fees and other costs and expenses incurred in connection with the defence of any action, suit, proceeding or investigation involving such Indemnified Person for which indemnity will or could be sought. In connection with any advance of any expenses hereunder, the Indemnified Person shall execute an undertaking to repay the advanced amount to the Company if it shall be determined by final judgment or other final adjudication that such Indemnified Person was not entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Article. If it shall be determined by a final judgment or other final adjudication that such Indemnified Person was not entitled to indemnification with respect to such judgment, costs or expenses, then such party shall not be indemnified with respect to such judgment, costs or expenses and any advancement shall be returned to the Company (without interest) by the Indemnified Person.
The directors, on behalf of the Company, may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any director or other officer of the Company against any liability which, by virtue of any rule of law, would otherwise attach to such person in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which such person may be guilty in relation to the Company.
ITEM 9. EXHIBITS
Exhibit Number |
| Description |
1.1 |
| Form of Underwriting Agreement++ |
3.1 |
| Amended and Restated Articles and Memorandum of Association (1) |
3.2 |
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3.3 |
| Board of Directors Resolution Cancelling Designation of Series B Preferred Shares (3) |
4.1 |
| Specimen common share certificate++ |
4.2 |
| Form of certificate of designations or similar authorization with respect to any preferred shares issued hereunder and the related form of preferred share certificate++ |
4.3 |
| Form of warrant agreement and warrant++ |
4.4 |
| Form of unit agreement++ |
4.5 |
| |
4.6 |
| Form of debt security++ |
5.1 |
| Opinion and Consent of Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP (4) |
23.1 |
| |
23.3 |
| Consent of Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP (Included in Exhibit 5.1) (4) |
25.1 |
| Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (5) |
++
To be filed or furnished, if necessary, by amendment or incorporation by reference in connection with the offering of the securities.
(1)
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of the registrants current report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on January 30, 2014.
(2)
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.3 of the registrants annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2004 filed with the SEC on June 10, 2005.
(3)
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 of the registrants registration statement on Form F-3 filed with the SEC on September 19, 2019.
II-1
(4)
Incorporated by reference to Exhibits 5.1 and 23.3 of the registrants registration statement on Form F-3 filed with the SEC on September 19, 2019.
(5)
To be filed or furnished separately pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the appropriate rules thereunder.
*
Included
herewith.
ITEM 10. UNDERTAKINGS
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1)
To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i)
To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii)
To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total value of securities would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) (§230.424(b) of this chapter) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the Calculation of Registration Fee table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii)
To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.
Provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2)
That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3)
To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4)
To file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 need not be furnished, provided, that the registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (a)(4) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to registration statements on Form F-3, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, or Item 8.A of Form 20-F if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the Form F-3.
(5)
That for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(i)
Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
II-2
(ii)
Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 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.; or
(6)
That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i)
Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii)
Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by 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.
(7)
That, for the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrants annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plans annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offering therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 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.
II-3
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this
Amendment to
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City Hong Kong, on
November 12,
2019.
| CHINA NATURAL RESOURCES, INC. | |
|
|
|
| By: | /s/ Wong Wah On Edward |
| Wong Wah On Edward |
| By: | /s/ Yue Ming Wai Bonaventure |
| Yue Ming Wai Bonaventure |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment to Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE |
| TITLE |
| DATE |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Wong Wah On Edward |
| Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, Principal Executive Officer and Director |
|
November 12,
|
Wong Wah On Edward |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Yue Ming Wai Bonaventure |
| Secretary, Chief Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer and Director |
|
November 12,
|
Yue Ming Wai Bonaventure |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Tam Cheuk Ho |
| Director |
|
November 12,
|
Tam Cheuk Ho |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Ng Kin Sing |
| Director |
|
November 12,
|
Ng Kin Sing |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Lam Kwan Sing |
| Director |
|
November 12,
|
Lam Kwan Sing |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Yip Wing Hang |
| Director |
|
November 12,
|
Yip Wing Hang |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of China Natural Resources, Inc. has signed this registration statement or amendment thereto on
November 12,
2019.
| FMH CORPORATE SERVICES, INC. | |
|
|
|
| By: | /s/ Wong Wah On Edward |
| Name: | Wong Wah On Edward |
| Title: | President |
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit Number |
| Description of Document |
|
|
|
4.5 |
| |
23.1 |
| Consent of Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
|
| |
|
|
EXHIBIT 4.5
FORM OF INDENTURE TO BE ENTERED INTO BETWEEN
CHINA NATURAL RESOURCES, INC.
AND
A TRUSTEE TO BE NAMED
INDENTURE
DEBT SECURITIES
DATED AS OF , 20___
[Name of Trustee]
TRUSTEE
ARTICLE 1 | DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE |
| 5 |
Section 1.1 | Definitions |
| 5 |
Section 1.2 | Other Definitions |
| 10 |
Section 1.3 | Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act |
| 10 |
Section 1.4 | Rules of Construction |
| 11 |
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 2 | THE SECURITIES |
| 11 |
Section 2.1 | Issuable in Series |
| 11 |
Section 2.2 | Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities |
| 11 |
Section 2.3 | Execution and Authentication |
| 14 |
Section 2.4 | Registrar and Paying Agent |
| 15 |
Section 2.5 | Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust |
| 15 |
Section 2.6 | Securityholder Lists |
| 16 |
Section 2.7 | Transfer and Exchange |
| 16 |
Section 2.8 | Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities |
| 16 |
Section 2.9 | Outstanding Securities |
| 17 |
Section 2.10 | Treasury Securities |
| 18 |
Section 2.11 | Temporary Securities |
| 18 |
Section 2.12 | Cancellation |
| 18 |
Section 2.13 | Defaulted Interest |
| 18 |
Section 2.14 | Global Securities |
| 18 |
Section 2.15 | CUSIP Numbers |
| 20 |
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 3 | REDEMPTION |
| 20 |
Section 3.1 | Notice to Trustee |
| 20 |
Section 3.2 | Selection of Securities to be Redeemed |
| 20 |
Section 3.3 | Notice of Redemption |
| 20 |
Section 3.4 | Effect of Notice of Redemption |
| 21 |
Section 3.5 | Deposit of Redemption Price |
| 21 |
Section 3.6 | Securities Redeemed in Part |
| 21 |
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 4 | COVENANTS |
| 21 |
Section 4.1 | Payment of Principal and Interest |
| 21 |
Section 4.2 | SEC Reports |
| 22 |
Section 4.3 | Compliance Certificate |
| 22 |
Section 4.4 | Stay, Extension and Usury Laws |
| 22 |
Section 4.5 | Corporate Existence |
| 23 |
Section 4.6 | Taxes |
| 23 |
2
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 5 | SUCCESSORS |
| 23 |
Section 5.1 | When Company May Merge, Etc |
| 23 |
Section 5.2 | Successor Corporation Substituted |
| 23 |
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 6 | DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES |
| 24 |
Section 6.1 | Events of Default |
| 24 |
Section 6.2 | Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment |
| 25 |
Section 6.3 | Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee | 26 | |
Section 6.4 | Trustee May File Proofs of Claim |
| 27 |
Section 6.5 | Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities | 27 | |
Section 6.6 | Application of Money Collected |
| 28 |
Section 6.7 | Limitation on Suits |
| 28 |
Section 6.8 | Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest | 29 | |
Section 6.9 | Reserved |
| 29 |
Section 6.10 | Rights and Remedies Cumulative |
| 29 |
Section 6.11 | Delay or Omission Not Waiver |
| 29 |
Section 6.12 | Control by Holders |
| 29 |
Section 6.13 | Waiver of Past Defaults |
| 30 |
Section 6.14 | Undertaking for Costs |
| 30 |
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 7 | TRUSTEE |
| 30 |
Section 7.1 | Duties of Trustee |
| 30 |
Section 7.2 | Rights of Trustee |
| 32 |
Section 7.3 | Individual Rights of Trustee |
| 32 |
Section 7.4 | Trustees Disclaimer |
| 32 |
Section 7.5 | Notice of Defaults |
| 32 |
Section 7.6 | Reports by Trustee to Holders |
| 33 |
Section 7.7 | Compensation and Indemnity |
| 33 |
Section 7.8 | Replacement of Trustee |
| 34 |
Section 7.9 | Successor Trustee by Merger, etc |
| 35 |
Section 7.10 | Eligibility; Disqualification |
| 35 |
Section 7.11 | Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company |
| 35 |
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 8 | SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE |
| 35 |
Section 8.1 | Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture |
| 35 |
Section 8.2 | Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification |
| 36 |
Section 8.3 | Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series |
| 37 |
Section 8.4 | Covenant Defeasance |
| 38 |
Section 8.5 | Repayment to Company |
| 40 |
Section 8.6 | Reinstatement |
| 40 |
3
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 9 | AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS |
| 40 |
Section 9.1 | Without Consent of Holders |
| 40 |
Section 9.2 | With Consent of Holders |
| 41 |
Section 9.3 | Limitations |
| 41 |
Section 9.4 | Compliance with Trust Indenture Act |
| 42 |
Section 9.5 | Revocation and Effect of Consents |
| 42 |
Section 9.6 | Notation on or Exchange of Securities |
| 42 |
Section 9.7 | Trustee Protected |
| 42 |
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 10 | MISCELLANEOUS |
| 43 |
Section 10.1 | Trust Indenture Act Controls |
| 43 |
Section 10.2 | Notices |
| 43 |
Section 10.3 | Communication by Holders with Other Holders |
| 43 |
Section 10.4 | Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent |
| 44 |
Section 10.5 | Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion |
| 44 |
Section 10.6 | Rules by Trustee and Agents |
| 44 |
Section 10.7 | Legal Holidays |
| 44 |
Section 10.8 | No Recourse Against Others |
| 45 |
Section 10.9 | Counterparts |
| 45 |
Section 10.10 | Governing Laws |
| 45 |
Section 10.11 | No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements |
| 45 |
Section 10.12 | Successors |
| 45 |
Section 10.13 | Severability |
| 45 |
Section 10.14 | Table of Contents, Headings, Etc |
| 45 |
Section 10.15 | Securities in a Foreign Currency or in ECU |
| 45 |
Section 10.16 | Judgment Currency |
| 46 |
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 11 | SINKING FUNDS |
| 47 |
Section 11.1 | Applicability of Article |
| 47 |
Section 11.2 | Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities |
| 47 |
Section 11.3 | Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund |
| 48 |
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE 12 | SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES |
| 48 |
Section 12.1 | Agreement of Subordination |
| 48 |
Section 12.2 | Payments to Holders |
| 48 |
Section 12.3 | Subrogation of Securities |
| 51 |
Section 12.4 | Authorization to Effect Subordination |
| 52 |
Section 12.5 | Notice to Trustee |
| 52 |
Section 12.6 | Trustees Relation to Senior Indebtedness |
| 53 |
Section 12.7 | No Impairment of Subordination |
| 53 |
Section 12.8 | Article Applicable to Paying Agents |
| 53 |
Section 12.9 | Senior Indebtedness Entitled to Rely |
| 53 |
4
CHINA NATURAL RESOURCES, INC.
Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Indenture, dated as of , 20
Section 310(a) (1) | 7.10 |
(a) (2) | 7.10 |
(a) (3) | Not Applicable |
(a) (4) | Not Applicable |
(a) (5) | 7.10 |
(b) | 7.10 |
Section 311(a) | 7.11 |
(b) | 7.11 |
(c) | Not Applicable |
Section 312(a) | 2.6 |
(b) | 10.3 |
(c) | 10.3 |
Section 313(a) | 7.6 |
(b) (1) | 7.6 |
(b) (2) | 7.6 |
(c) (1) | 7.6 |
(d) | 7.6 |
Section 314(a) | 4.2, 10.5 |
(b) | Not Applicable |
(c) (1) | 10.4 |
(c) (2) | 10.4 |
(c) (3) | Not Applicable |
(d) | Not Applicable |
(e) | 10.5 |
(f) | Not Applicable |
Section 315(a) | 7.1 |
(b) | 7.5 |
(c) | 7.1 |
(d) | 7.1 |
(e) | 6.14 |
Section 316(a) | 2.10 |
(a) (1)(a) | 6.12 |
(a) (1)(b) | 6.13 |
(b) | 6.8 |
Section 317(a)(1) | 6.3 |
(a)(2) | 6.4 |
(b) | 2.5 |
Section 318(a) | 10.1 |
Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of the Indenture.
5
Indenture dated as of , 20__ between China Natural Resources, Inc., a British Virgin Islands corporation (Company), and [Name of Trustee], a ___ (Trustee).
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party 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 1.1 Definitions.
Affiliate of any specified person means any other person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified person. For the purposes of this definition, control (including, with correlative meanings, the terms controlled by and under common control with), as used with respect to any person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by agreement or otherwise.
Agent means any Registrar, Paying Agent, Service Agent or authenticating agent.
Bearer means anyone in possession from time to time of a Bearer Security.
Bearer Security means any Security, including any interest coupon appertaining thereto, that does not provide for the identification of the Holder thereof.
Board of Directors means the Board of Directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee thereof.
Board Resolution means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been adopted by the Board of Directors or pursuant to authorization by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of the certificate, and delivered to the Trustee.
Business Day means, unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series, any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in The City of New York on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
Company means the party named as such above until a successor replaces it and thereafter means the successor.
Company Order means a written order signed in the name of the Company by two Officers, one of whom must be the Companys chief executive officer, chief financial officer or principal accounting officer.
Company Request means a written request signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, a President or a Vice President, and by its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.
Corporate Trust Office means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered.
Debt of any person as of any date means, without duplication, all indebtedness of such person in respect of borrowed money, including all interest, fees and expenses owed in respect thereto (whether or not the recourse of the lender is to the whole of the assets of such person or only to a portion thereof), or evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments.
Default means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time would be, an Event of Default.
Depository means, with respect to the Securities of any Series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the person designated as Depository for such Series by the Company, which Depository shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act; and if at any time there is more than one such person, Depository as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Depository with respect to the Securities of such Series.
6
[INCLUDE THIS LANGUAGE FOR SUBORDINATED SECURITIES:
Designated Senior Indebtedness means any of our Senior Indebtedness that expressly provides that it is designated senior indebtedness for purposes of this Indenture (provided that the instrument, agreement or other document creating or evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may place limitations and conditions on the right of such Senior Indebtedness to exercise the rights of Designated Senior Indebtedness).]
Discount Security means any Security that provides for an amount less than the stated principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.
Dollars means the currency of The United States of America.
ECU means the European Currency Unit as determined by the Commission of the European Union.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Foreign Currency means any currency or currency unit issued by a government other than the government of The United States of America.
Foreign Government Obligations means with respect to Securities of any Series that are denominated in a Foreign Currency, (i) direct obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency for the payment of which obligations its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by or acting as an agency or instrumentality of such government the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by such government, which, in either case under clauses (i) or (ii), are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.
Global Security or Global Securities means a Security or Securities, as the case may be, in the form established pursuant to Section 2.2 evidencing all or part of a Series of Securities, issued to the Depository for such Series or its nominee, and registered in the name of such Depository or nominee.
Holder or Securityholder means a person in whose name a Security is registered or the holder of a Bearer Security.
[INCLUDE THIS LANGUAGE FOR SUBORDINATED SECURITIES:
Indebtedness means, with respect to any person, and without duplication, (a) all indebtedness, obligations and other liabilities (contingent or otherwise) of such person for borrowed money (including obligations of the Company in respect of overdrafts, foreign exchange contracts, currency exchange agreements, interest rate protection agreements, and any loans or advances from banks, whether or not evidenced by notes or similar instruments) or evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments (whether or not the recourse of the lender is to the whole of the assets of such person or to only a portion thereof) (other than any account payable or other accrued current liability or obligation incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the obtaining of materials or services), (b) all reimbursement obligations and other liabilities (contingent or otherwise) of such person with respect to letters of credit, bank guarantees or bankers acceptances, (c) all obligations and liabilities (contingent or otherwise) in respect of leases of such person required, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, to be accounted for as capitalized lease obligations on the balance sheet of such person and all obligations and other liabilities (contingent or otherwise) under any lease or related document (including a purchase agreement) in connection with the lease of real property which provides that such person is contractually obligated to purchase or cause a third party to purchase the leased property and thereby guarantee a minimum residual value of the leased property to the lessor and the obligations of such person under such lease or related document to purchase or to cause a third party to purchase such leased property, (d) all obligations of such person (contingent or otherwise) with respect to an interest rate or other swap, cap or collar agreement or other similar instrument or agreement or foreign currency hedge, exchange, purchase or similar instrument or agreement, (e) all direct or indirect guaranties or similar agreements by such person in respect of, and obligations or liabilities (contingent or otherwise) of such person to purchase or otherwise acquire or otherwise assure a creditor against loss in respect of indebtedness, obligations or liabilities of another person of the kind described in clauses (a) through (d), (f) any indebtedness or other obligations described in clauses (a) through (e) secured by any mortgage, pledge, lien or other encumbrance existing on property which is owned or held by such person, regardless of whether the indebtedness or other obligation secured thereby shall have been assumed by such person and (g) any and all refinancings, replacements, deferrals, renewals, extensions and refundings of, or amendments, modifications or supplements to, any indebtedness, obligation or liability of the kind described in clauses (a) through (f).]
7
Indenture means this Indenture as amended from time to time and shall include the form and terms of particular Series of Securities established as contemplated hereunder.
interest with respect to any Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.
Maturity when used with respect to any Security or installment of principal thereof, means the date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal becomes due and payable, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption, notice of option to elect repayment or otherwise.
Officer means the Chairman of the Board, any President, any Vice-President, the Treasurer, the Secretary, any Assistant Treasurer or any Assistant Secretary of the Company.
Officers Certificate means a certificate signed by two Officers, one of whom must be the Companys principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer.
Opinion of Counsel means a written opinion of legal counsel who is acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company.
person means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
principal of a Security means the principal of the Security plus, when appropriate, the premium, if any, on the Security.
[INCLUDE THIS LANGUAGE FOR SUBORDINATED SECURITIES:
Representative means the (a) indenture trustee or other trustee, agent or representative for any Senior Indebtedness or (b) with respect to any Senior Indebtedness that does not have any such trustee, agent or other representative, (i) in the case of such Senior Indebtedness issued pursuant to an agreement providing for voting arrangements as among the holders or owners of such Senior Indebtedness, any holder or owner of such Senior Indebtedness acting with the consent of the required persons necessary to bind such holders or owners of such Senior Indebtedness and (ii) in the case of all other such Senior Indebtedness, the holder or owner of such Senior Indebtedness.]
Responsible Officer means any officer of the Trustee in its Corporate Trust Office and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with a particular subject.
SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Security or Securities means the debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company of any Series authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
[INCLUDE THIS LANGUAGE FOR SUBORDINATED SECURITIES:
Senior Indebtedness means the principal, premium, if any, interest, including any interest accruing after bankruptcy, and rent or termination payment on or other amounts due on our current or future Indebtedness, whether created, incurred, assumed, guaranteed or in effect guaranteed by us, including any deferrals, renewals, extensions, refundings, amendments, modifications or supplements to the above. However, Senior Indebtedness does not include: (i) Indebtedness that expressly provides that it shall not be senior in right of payment to the Securities or expressly provides that it is on the same basis or junior to the Securities; (ii) our indebtedness to any of our majority-owned subsidiaries; and (iii) the Securities.]
Series or Series of Securities means each series of debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company created pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2.
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Significant Subsidiary means (i) any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company that would be a significant subsidiary as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as such regulation is in effect on the date hereof, or (ii) any group of direct or indirect Subsidiaries of the Company that, taken together as a group, would be a significant subsidiary as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as such regulation is in effect on the date hereof.
Stated Maturity when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.
Subsidiary of any specified person means any corporation of which at least a majority of the outstanding stock having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power for the election of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether or not at the time stock of any other class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time directly or indirectly owned by such person, or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by such person and one or more other Subsidiaries.
TIA means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of this Indenture; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, TIA means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act as so amended.
Trustee means the person named as the Trustee in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter Trustee shall mean or include each person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such person, Trustee as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that Series.
U.S. Government Obligations means securities which are (i) direct obligations of The United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of The United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by The United States of America, and which in the case of (i) and (ii) are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.
Section 1.2 Other Definitions.
TERM |
| DEFINED IN SECTION |
Bankruptcy Law |
| 6.1 |
Custodian |
| 6.1 |
Event of Default |
| 6.1 |
Journal |
| 10.15 |
Judgment Currency |
| 10.16 |
Legal Holiday |
| 10.7 |
mandatory sinking fund payment |
| 11.1 |
Market Exchange Rate |
| 10.15 |
New York Banking Day |
| 10.16 |
optional sinking fund payment |
| 11.1 |
Paying Agent |
| 2.4 |
[INCLUDE THIS LANGUAGE FOR SUBORDINATED SECURITIES: |
| 12.2] |
Registrar |
| 2.4 |
Required Currency |
| 10.16 |
Service Agent |
| 2.4 |
successor person |
| 5.1 |
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Section 1.3 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:
Commission means the SEC.
indenture securities means the Securities.
indenture security holder means a Securityholder.
indenture to be qualified means this Indenture.
indenture trustee or institutional trustee means the Trustee.
obligor on the indenture 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 SEC rule under the TIA and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as so defined.
Section 1.4 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 generally accepted accounting principles; |
(c) | references to generally accepted accounting principles shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States in effect as of the time when and for the period as to which such accounting principles are to be applied; |
(d) | or is not exclusive; |
(e) | words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular; and |
(f) | provisions apply to successive events and transactions. |
ARTICLE 2
THE SECURITIES
Section 2.1 Issuable in Series.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more Series. All Securities of a Series shall be identical except as may be set forth in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers Certificate detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to the 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 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 [INCLUDE THIS LANGUAGE FOR SUBORDINATED SECURITIES: but all Securities issued hereunder shall be subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner set forth in Article XII, to all Senior Indebtedness of the Company.]
Section 2.2 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 Subsection 2.2.1 and either as to such Securities within the Series or as to the Series generally in the
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case of Subsections 2.2.2 through 2.2.22) by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers Certificate pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution:
2.2.1 the title of the Series (which shall distinguish the Securities of that particular Series from the Securities of any other Series);
2.2.2 the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) at which the Securities of the Series will be issued;
2.2.3 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 pursuant to Section 2.7, 2.8, 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6);
2.2.4 the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the Series is payable;
2.2.5 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;
2.2.6 the place or places where the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series shall be payable, or the method of such payment, if by wire transfer, mail or other means;
2.2.7 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;
2.2.8 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;
2.2.9 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;
2.2.10 if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the Series shall be issuable;
2.2.11 the forms of the Securities of the Series in bearer or fully registered form (and, if in fully registered form, whether the Securities will be issuable as Global Securities);
2.2.12 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 pursuant to Section 6.2;
2.2.13 the currency of denomination of the Securities of the Series, which may be Dollars or any Foreign Currency, including, but not limited to, the ECU, and if such currency of denomination is a composite currency other than the ECU, the agency or organization, if any, responsible for overseeing such composite currency;
2.2.14 the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be made;
2.2.15 if payments of principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series are to be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such Securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to such payments will be determined;
2.2.16 the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be determined, if such amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index;
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2.2.17 the provisions, if any, relating to any security provided for the Securities of the Series;
2.2.18 if the holders of Securities of the Series may convert or exchange the Securities into or for securities of the Issuer or of other entities or other property, the period or periods within which, the rate or rates at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the Series may be converted or exchanged, in whole or in part;
2.2.19 any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the Series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 6.2;
2.2.20 any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Articles IV or V which applies to Securities of the Series;
2.2.21 any other terms (including terms, to the extent applicable, relating to any auction or remarketing of the Securities of that Series and any security for the obligations of the Company with respect to such Securities) with respect to such Series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the terms of this Indenture, as amended by any supplemental indenture) including any terms which may be required by or advisable under United States laws or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of Securities of that Series; and
2.2.22 any depositories, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to Securities of such Series if other than those appointed herein.
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 or Officers Certificate referred to above, and the authorized principal amount of any Series may not be increased to provide for issuances of additional Securities of such Series, unless otherwise provided in such Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers Certificate.
Section 2.3 Execution and Authentication.
Two Officers shall 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 the Security is authenticated, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.
A Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee shall at any time, and from time to time, authenticate Securities for original issue in the principal amount provided in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers Certificate, upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order. Such Company Order may authorize authentication and delivery pursuant to oral or electronic instructions from the Company or its duly authorized agent or agents, which oral instructions shall be promptly confirmed in writing. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication unless otherwise provided by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers Certificate.
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 2.2, except as provided in Section 2.8.
Prior to the issuance of Securities of any Series, the Trustee shall have received and (subject to Section 7.2) shall be fully protected in relying on:
(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 10.4, and |
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(c) | an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 10.4. |
The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Securities of such Series: (a) if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken; or (b) if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or vice-presidents shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to Holders of any then outstanding Series of Securities.
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 the Company or an Affiliate.
Section 2.4 Registrar and Paying Agent.
The Company shall maintain, with respect to each Series of Securities, at the place or places specified with respect to such Series pursuant to Section 2.2, an office or agency where Securities of such Series may be presented or surrendered for payment (Paying Agent), where Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange (Registrar) and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such Series and this Indenture may be served (Service Agent). The Registrar shall keep a register with respect to each Series of Securities and to their transfer and exchange. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the name and address, and any change in the name or address, of each Registrar, Paying Agent or Service Agent. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required Registrar, Paying Agent or Service Agent or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the name and address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more co-registrars, additional paying agents or additional service agents and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligations to maintain a Registrar, Paying Agent and Service Agent in each place so specified pursuant to Section 2.2 for Securities of any Series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the name or address of any such co-registrar, additional paying agent or additional service agent. The term Registrar includes any co-registrar; the term Paying Agent includes any additional paying agent; and the term Service Agent includes any additional service agent.
The Company hereby appoints the Trustee the initial Registrar, Paying Agent and Service Agent for each Series unless another Registrar, Paying Agent or Service Agent, as the case may be, is appointed prior to the time Securities of that Series are first issued.
Section 2.5 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.
The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust, for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities, or the Trustee, all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of 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 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) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities all money held by it as Paying Agent.
Section 2.6 Securityholder Lists.
The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities and shall otherwise comply with TIA Section 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least ten days before each interest payment date
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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 Securityholders of each Series of Securities.
Section 2.7 Transfer and Exchange.
Where Securities of a Series are presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of the same Series, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if its requirements for such transactions are met. To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trustee shall authenticate Securities at the Registrars request. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein), 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 tax or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Sections 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6).
Neither the Company nor the Registrar shall be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange Securities of any Series for the period beginning at the opening of business fifteen days immediately preceding the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of that Series selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any Series selected, called or being called for redemption as a whole or the portion being redeemed of any such Securities selected, called or being called for redemption in part.
Section 2.8 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.
If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.
Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
Every new Security of any Series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that Series duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
Section 2.9 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 on a Global Security effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof and those described in this Section as not outstanding.
If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.8, it ceases to be outstanding until the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.
If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds on the Maturity of Securities of a Series money sufficient to pay such Securities payable on that date, then on and after that date such Securities of the Series cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.
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A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate holds the Security.
In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of a Discount Security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.
Section 2.10 Treasury Securities.
In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities of a Series have concurred in any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver Securities of a Series owned by the Company or an Affiliate shall be disregarded, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver only Securities of a Series that the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
Section 2.11 Temporary Securities.
Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities upon a Company Order. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee upon request shall authenticate definitive Securities of the same Series and date of maturity in exchange for temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, temporary securities shall have the same rights under this Indenture as the definitive Securities.
Section 2.12 Cancellation.
The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee shall cancel all Securities surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy such canceled Securities (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act) and deliver a certificate of such destruction to the Company, unless the Company otherwise directs. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.13 Defaulted Interest.
If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on a Series of Securities, it shall pay the defaulted interest, plus, to the extent permitted by law, any interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the persons who are Securityholders of the Series on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix the record date and payment date. At least 30 days before the record date, the Company shall mail to the Trustee and to each Securityholder of the Series a notice that states the record date, the payment date and the amount of interest to be paid. The Company may pay defaulted interest in any other lawful manner.
Section 2.14 Global Securities.
2.14.1 Terms of 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 Depository for such Global Security or Securities.
2.14.2 Transfer and Exchange. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in Section 2.7 of the Indenture and in addition thereto, any Global Security shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 2.7 of the Indenture for Securities registered in the names of Holders other than the Depository for such Security or its nominee only if (i) such Depository notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository for such Global Security or if at any time such Depository ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, the Company fails to appoint a successor Depository within 90 days of such event, (ii) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officers Certificate to the effect that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable or (iii) an Event of Default with respect
15
to the Securities represented by such Global Security shall have happened and be continuing. Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for Securities registered in such names as the Depository shall direct in writing in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security with like tenor and terms.
Except as provided in this Section 2.14.2, a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depository with respect to such Global Security to a nominee of such Depository, by a nominee of such Depository to such Depository or another nominee of such Depository or by the Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such a successor Depository.
2.14.3 Legend. Unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 2.2, any Global Security issued hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
This Security is a Global Security within the meaning of the Indenture hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of the Depository or a nominee of the Depository. This Security is exchangeable for Securities registered in the name of a person other than the Depository or its nominee only in the limited circumstances described in the Indenture, and may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depository to a nominee of the Depository, by a nominee of the Depository to the Depository or another nominee of the Depository or by the Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such a successor Depository.
2.14.4 Acts of Holders. The Depository, as a Holder, may appoint agents and otherwise authorize participants to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a Holder is entitled to give or take under the Indenture.
2.14.5 Payments. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Indenture, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.2, payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on any Global Security shall be made to the Holder thereof.
2.14.6 Consents, Declaration and Directions. Except as provided in Section 2.14.5, the Company, the Trustee and any Agent shall treat a person as the Holder of such principal amount of outstanding Securities of such Series represented by a Global Security as shall be specified in a written statement of the Depositary with respect to such Global Security, for purposes of obtaining any consents, declarations, waivers or directions required to be given by the Holders pursuant to this Indenture.
Section 2.15 CUSIP Numbers.
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 elements of identification printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.
ARTICLE 3
REDEMPTION
Section 3.1 Notice to 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 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 shall notify the Trustee of the redemption date and the principal amount of Series of Securities to be redeemed. The Company shall give the notice at least 45 days before the redemption date (or such shorter notice as may be acceptable to the Trustee).
Section 3.2 Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.
Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers Certificate, if less than all the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Securities of the Series to
16
be redeemed in any manner that the Trustee deems fair and appropriate. The Trustee shall make the selection from Securities of the Series outstanding not previously called for redemption. The Trustee may select for redemption portions of the principal of Securities of the Series that have denominations larger than $1,000. Securities of the Series and portions of them it selects shall be in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 or, with respect to Securities of any Series issuable in other denominations pursuant to Section 2.2.10, the minimum principal denomination for each Series and integral multiples thereof. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities of a Series called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities of that Series called for redemption.
Section 3.3 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 shall mail a notice of redemption by first-class mail to each Holder whose Securities are to be redeemed.
The notice shall identify the Securities of the Series to be redeemed and shall state:
(a) | the redemption date; |
(b) | the redemption price; |
(c) | the name and address of the Paying Agent; |
(d) | that Securities of the Series called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price; |
(e) | that interest on Securities of the Series called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date; and |
(f) | any other information as may be required by the terms of the particular Series or the Securities of a Series being redeemed. |
At the Companys request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Companys name and at its expense.
Section 3.4 Effect of Notice of Redemption.
Once notice of redemption is mailed or published as provided in Section 3.3, Securities of a Series called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price. A notice of redemption may not be conditional. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price plus accrued interest to the redemption date.
Section 3.5 Deposit of Redemption Price.
On or before the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest, if any, on all Securities to be redeemed on that date.
Section 3.6 Securities Redeemed in Part.
Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed in part, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder a new Security of the same Series and the same maturity equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.
ARTICLE 4
COVENANTS
Section 4.1 Payment of Principal and Interest.
The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each Series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of that Series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture. Payments of the principal of the Securities may be made at the time provided herein and
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established with respect to such Securities by U.S. dollar check drawn on and mailed to the address of the Holder entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the security register, or U.S. dollar wire transfer to, a U.S. dollar account if such Holder shall have furnished wire instructions to the Trustee no later than 15 days prior to the relevant payment date. Payments of interest on the Securities may be made at the time provided herein and established with respect to such Securities by U.S. dollar check mailed to the address of the Holder entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the security register, or U.S. dollar wire transfer to, a U.S. dollar account if such Holder shall have furnished wire instructions in writing to the Registrar and the Trustee no later than 15 days prior to the relevant payment date.
Section 4.2 SEC Reports.
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 15 days after it files them with the SEC copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents, and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Company also shall comply with the other provisions of TIA Section 314(a).
Section 4.3 Compliance Certificate.
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, 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 Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his knowledge the Company 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 hereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he may have knowledge).
The Company will, so long as any of the Securities are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, forthwith upon 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 4.4 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.
The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it 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, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture or the Securities; and the Company (to the extent it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it 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.
Section 4.5 Corporate Existence.
Subject to Article V, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each Significant Subsidiary in accordance with the respective organizational documents of each Significant Subsidiary and the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any Significant Subsidiary, if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders.
Section 4.6 Taxes.
The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Significant Subsidiaries to, pay prior to delinquency all taxes, assessments and governmental levies, except as contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings.
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ARTICLE 5
SUCCESSORS
Section 5.1 When Company May Merge, Etc.
The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other person (a successor corporation), in either case where the Company is not the survivor of such transaction, or sell convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its assets to, any successor person, unless:
(a) | the successor person (if any) is a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust or other entity organized and validly existing under the laws of any U.S. domestic jurisdiction and in a subsequent indenture expressly assumes the Companys obligations on the Securities and under this Indenture and |
(b) | immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Default or Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing. |
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee prior to the consummation of the proposed transaction an Officers Certificate to the foregoing effect and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the proposed transaction and such supplemental indenture comply with this Indenture.
Section 5.2 Successor Corporation Substituted.
Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 5.1, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor person has been named as the Company herein; provided, however, that the predecessor Company in the case of a sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall not be released from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities.
ARTICLE 6
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 6.1 Events of Default.
Event of Default, wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any Series, means any one of the following events, unless in the establishing Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers Certificate, it is provided that such Series shall not have the benefit of said Event of Default:
| (a) | default in the payment of any interest on any Security of that Series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of such payment is deposited by the Company with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent prior to the expiration of such period of 30 days); or |
| (b) | default in the payment of the principal of any Security of that Series at its Maturity; or |
| (c) | default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due in respect of any Security of that Series; or |
| (d) | default in the performance or breach of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty that has been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of Series of Securities other than that Series), which default continues uncured for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a Notice of Default hereunder; or |
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| (e) | the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law: |
| (i) | commences a voluntary case, |
| (ii) | consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case, |
| (iii) | consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property, |
| (iv) | makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or |
| (v) | generally is unable to pay its debts as the same become due; or |
| (f) | a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that: |
| (i) | is for relief against the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries in an involuntary case, |
| (ii) | appoints a Custodian of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or for all or substantially all of its property, or |
| (iii) | orders the liquidation of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days; or |
| (g) | 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 2.2.19. |
The term Bankruptcy Law means title 11, U.S. Code or any similar Federal or State law for the relief of debtors. The term Custodian means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
Section 6.2 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any Series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing (other than an Event of Default referred to in Section 6.1(e) or (f) ) then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series may declare the principal amount (or, if any Securities of that Series are Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such Securities) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all of the Securities of that Series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(e) or (f) shall occur, the principal amount (or specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding Securities shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to any Series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:
| (a) | the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay |
| (i) | all overdue interest, if any, on all Securities of that Series, |
| (ii) | the principal of any Securities of that Series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, |
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| (iii) | to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon any overdue principal and overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and |
| (iv) | all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel; and |
| (b) | all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that Series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that Series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 6.13. |
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.3 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.
The Company covenants that if
| (a) | default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or |
| (b) | default is made in the payment of principal of any Security at the Maturity thereof, or |
| (c) | default is made in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when and as due by the terms of a Security, then, the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal or any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel. |
If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or deemed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.
If an Event of Default with respect to any Securities of any Series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such Series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
Section 6.4 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,
| (a) | to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such 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 of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and |
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| (b) | to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same, and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is 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 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 7.7. |
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 thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
Section 6.5 Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.
All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.
Section 6.6 Application of Money Collected.
Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
First: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7; and Second: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and interest on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest, respectively; and Third: To the Company.
Section 6.7 Limitation on Suits.
No Holder of any Security of any Series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless
| (a) | such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that Series; |
| (b) | the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder; |
| (c) | such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request; |
| (d) | the Trustee for 90 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and |
| (e) | no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 90-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series; it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and |
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| for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders. |
Section 6.8 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest.
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Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on such Security on the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.
Section 6.9 Reserved.
Section 6.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative.
Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in Section 2.8, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
Section 6.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
Section 6.12 Control by Holders.
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such Series, provided that
| (a) | such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture, |
| (b) | the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction, and |
| (c) | subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, determine that the |
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| proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability. |
Section 6.13 Waiver of Past Defaults.
Subject to Section 6.2, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such Series waive any past Default hereunder with respect to such Series and its consequences, except a Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security of such Series (provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the 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 6.14 Undertaking for Costs.
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit
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instituted by the Company, to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security on or after the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date).
ARTICLE 7
TRUSTEE
Section 7.1 Duties of Trustee.
| (a) | If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs. |
| (b) | Except during the continuance of an Event of Default: |
| (i) | The Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others. |
| (ii) | 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, in the case of any such Officers Certificates or Opinions of Counsel which by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine such 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 liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that: |
| (i) | This paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section. |
| (ii) | The Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts. |
| (iii) | The Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it with respect to Securities of any Series in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series. |
| (d) | Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraph (a), (b) and (c) of this Section. |
| (e) | The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power unless it receives 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) | No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk is not reasonably assured to it. |
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Section 7.2 Rights of Trustee.
| (a) | The Trustee may rely on and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any document 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. The Trustee shall 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. |
| (c) | The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care. No Depository shall be deemed an agent of the Trustee and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any act or omission by any Depository. |
| (d) | The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers. |
| (e) | The Trustee may consult with counsel and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon. |
| (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 of Securities unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction. |
Section 7.3 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 an Affiliate with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11.
Section 7.4 Trustees Disclaimer.
The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Companys use of the proceeds from the Securities, and it shall not be responsible for any statement in the Securities other than its authentication.
Section 7.5 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 known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder of the Securities of that Series notice of a 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 or interest on any Security of any Series, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as its corporate trust committee or a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Securityholders of that Series.
Section 7.6 Reports by Trustee to Holders.
Within 60 days after May 15 in each year, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear on the register kept by the Registrar, a brief report dated as of such May 15, in accordance with, and to the extent required under, TIA Section 313.
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Securityholders of any Series shall be filed with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Securities of that Series are listed. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when Securities of any Series are listed on any stock exchange.
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Section 7.7 Compensation and Indemnity.
The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its services. The Trustees compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by it. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustees agents and counsel.
The Company shall indemnify the Trustee (including the cost of defending itself) against any loss, liability or expense incurred by it except as set forth in the next paragraph in the performance of its duties under this Indenture as Trustee or Agent. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have 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 shall not be unreasonably withheld. This indemnification shall apply to officers, directors, employees, shareholders and agents of the Trustee.
The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee or by any officer, director, employee, shareholder or agent of the Trustee through negligence or bad faith.
To secure the Companys payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities of any Series on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Securities of that Series.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(e) or (f) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.
Section 7.8 Replacement of Trustee.
A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustees acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section.
The Trustee may resign with respect to the Securities of one or more Series by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any Series may remove the Trustee with respect to that Series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company. The Company may remove the Trustee with respect to Securities of one or more Series if:
| (a) | the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10; |
| (b) | 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; |
| (c) | a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or |
| (d) | the Trustee becomes incapable of acting. |
If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.
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 principal amount of the Securities of the applicable Series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
If the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any one or more Series fails to comply with Section 7.10, any Securityholder of the applicable Series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.
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A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Immediately after that, the retiring Trustee shall transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.7, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee with respect to each Series of Securities for which it is acting as Trustee under this Indenture. A successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to each Securityholder of each such Series. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.8, the Companys obligations under Section 7.7 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring trustee with respect to expenses and liabilities incurred by it prior to such replacement.
Section 7.9 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.
If the Trustee consolidates with, 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 shall be the successor Trustee.
Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification.
This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA Section 310(a) (1), (2) and (5). The Trustee shall always have a combined capital and surplus of at least $25,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA Section 310(b).
Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.
The Trustee is subject to TIA Section 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA Section 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA Section 311(a) to the extent indicated.
ARTICLE 8
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE
Section 8.1 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.
This Indenture shall upon Company Order cease to be of further effect (except as hereinafter provided in this Section 8.1), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when
| (a) | Either |
| (i) | all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or |
| (ii) | all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation |
| (1) | have become due and payable, or |
| (2) | will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or |
| (3) | are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, or |
| (4) | are deemed paid and discharged pursuant to Section 8.3, as applicable; and the Company, in the case of (1), (2) or (3) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust an amount sufficient for the purpose of paying and discharging the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable on or prior to the date of such deposit) or to the Stated Maturity or redemption date, as the case may be; |
| (b) | the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and |
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| (c) | the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with. |
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 7.7, and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (a) of this Section, the provisions of Sections 2.4, 2.7, 2.8, 8.1, 8.2 and 8.5 shall survive.
Section 8.2 Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification.
| (a) | Subject to the provisions of Section 8.5, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.1, all money and U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.3 or 8.4 and all money received by the Trustee in respect of U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.3 or 8.4, shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the persons entitled thereto, of the principal and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the Trustee or to make mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments as contemplated by Sections 8.3 or 8.4. |
| (b) | The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Sections 8.3 or 8.4 or the interest and principal received in respect of such obligations other than any payable by or on behalf of Holders. |
| (c) | The Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations or money held by it as provided in Sections 8.3 or 8.4 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are then in excess |
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| of the amount thereof which then would have been required to be deposited for the purpose for which such U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations or money were deposited or received. This provision shall not authorize the sale by the Trustee of any U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations held under this Indenture. |
Section 8.3 Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series.
Unless this Section 8.3 is otherwise specified, pursuant to Section 2.2.21, to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the outstanding Securities of such Series on the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (c)(i) hereof, and the provisions of this Indenture, as it relates to such outstanding Securities of such Series, shall no longer be in effect (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall, at Company Request, execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except as to:
| (a) | the rights of Holders of Securities of such Series to receive, from the trust funds described in subparagraph (d) hereof, (i) payment of the principal of and each installment of principal of and interest on the outstanding Securities of such Series on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest and (ii) the benefit of any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to the Securities of such Series on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Securities of such Series; |
| (b) | the provisions of Sections 2.4, 2.7, 2.8, 8.2, 8.3 and 8.5; and |
| (c) | the rights, powers, trust and immunities of the Trustee hereunder; provided that, the following conditions shall have been satisfied: |
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| (i) | the Company shall have deposited or caused to be deposited irrevocably with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for and dedicated solely to the benefit of the Holders of such Securities (A) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars (or such other money or currencies as shall then be legal tender in the United States) and/or U.S. Government Obligations, or (B) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in a Foreign Currency (other than a composite currency), money and/or Foreign Government Obligations, which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof, in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge each installment of principal (including mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments) of and |
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| interest, if any, on all the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of interest or principal are due; |
| (ii) | such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound; |
| (iii) | no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or during the period ending on the 91st day after such date; |
| (iv) | the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (B) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred; |
| (v) | 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 of the Securities of such Series over any other creditors of the company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company; |
| (vi) | such deposit shall not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended), or such trust shall be qualified under such Act or exempt from regulation thereunder; and |
| (vii) | the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with. |
Section 8.4 Covenant Defeasance.
Unless this Section 8.4 is otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.2.21 to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, on and after the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (a) hereof, the Company may omit to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth under Sections 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, and 5.1 as well as any additional covenants contained in a supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series of Securities or a Board Resolution or an Officers Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2.21 (and the failure to comply with any such covenants shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default under Section 6.1) and the occurrence of any event described in clause (e) of Section
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6.1 shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default hereunder, with respect to the Securities of such Series, provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
| (a) | With reference to this Section 8.4, the Company has deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 8.2(c) ) with the Trustee as trust funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities (i) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars (or such other money or currencies as shall then be legal tender in the United States) and/or U.S. Government Obligations, or (ii) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in a Foreign Currency (other than a composite currency), money and/or Foreign Government Obligations, which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof, in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay principal and interest, if any, on and any mandatory sinking fund in respect of the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of interest or principal are due; |
| (b) | Such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound; |
| (c) | No Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or during the period ending on the 91st day after such date; |
| (d) | the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and 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 deposit and defeasance had not occurred; |
| (e) | the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate stating the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Securities of such Series over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company; and |
| (f) | The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with. |
Section 8.5 Repayment to Company.
The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal and interest that remains unclaimed for two years. After that, Securityholders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another person.
Section 8.6 Reinstatement.
If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Sections 8.1, 8.3 or 8.4, as the case may be, 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 Companys obligations under this Indenture and the Securities shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.1, 8.3 or 8.4, as the case may be, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 8.1, 8.3 or 8.4, as the case may be; provided, however, that if the Company makes any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Securities because of 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 U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
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ARTICLE 9
AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS
Section 9.1 Without Consent of Holders.
The Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series without the consent of any Securityholder:
| (a) | to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency; |
| (b) | to comply with Article V; |
| (c) | to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities; |
| (d) | to make any change that does not materially adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder; |
| (e) | to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of Securities of any Series as permitted by this Indenture; |
| (f) | to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more Series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee; or |
| (g) | to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA. |
Section 9.2 With Consent of Holders.
The Company and the Trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each Series affected by such supplemental indenture (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series), for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Securityholders of each such Series. Except as provided in Section 6.13, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each Series affected by such waiver by notice to the Trustee (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series) may waive compliance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities with respect to such Series.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Securities under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. After a supplemental indenture or waiver under this Section becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of Securities affected thereby a notice briefly describing the supplemental 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 9.3 Limitations.
Without the consent of each Securityholder affected, an amendment or waiver may not:
| (a) | change the amount of Securities whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver; |
| (b) | reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest (including default interest) on any Security; |
| (c) | reduce the principal or change the Stated Maturity of any Security or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation; |
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| (d) | reduce the principal amount of Discount Securities payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof; |
| (e) | waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of or interest, if any, on any Security (except a rescission of acceleration of the Securities of any Series by the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration); |
| (f) | make the principal of or interest, if any, on any Security payable in any currency other than that stated in the Security; |
| (g) | make any change in Sections 6.8, 6.13, 9.3 (this sentence), 10.15 or 10.16; or |
| (h) | waive a redemption payment with respect to any Security or change any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of any Securities. |
Section 9.4 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.
Every amendment to this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series shall be set forth in a supplemental indenture hereto that complies with the TIA as then in effect.
Section 9.5 Revocation and Effect of Consents.
Until an amendment or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holders Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his Security or portion of a Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date the amendment or waiver becomes effective.
Any amendment or waiver once effective shall bind every Securityholder of each Series affected by such amendment or waiver unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (a) through (g) of Section 9.3. 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 Holders Security.
Section 9.6 Notation on or Exchange of Securities.
The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment or waiver on any Security of any Series thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for Securities of that Series may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate upon request new Securities of that Series that reflect the amendment or waiver.
Section 9.7 Trustee Protected.
In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee shall sign all supplemental indentures, except that the Trustee need not sign any supplemental indenture that adversely affects its rights.
ARTICLE 10
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.1 Trust Indenture Act Controls.
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with another provision which is required or deemed to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, such required or deemed provision shall control.
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Section 10.2 Notices.
Any notice or communication by the Company or the Trustee to the other is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class
if to the Company:
CHINA NATURAL RESOURCES, INC.
Room 2205, 22/F, West Tower, Shun Tak Centre
168-200 Connaught Road Central
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
if to the Trustee:
[Name of Trustee]
[Address]
Attention:
The Company or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
Any notice or communication to a Securityholder shall be mailed by first-class mail to his address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Securityholder of any Series or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Securityholders of that or any other Series.
If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above, within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the Securityholder receives it.
If the Company mails a notice or communication to Securityholders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
Section 10.3 Communication by Holders with Other Holders.
Securityholders of any Series may communicate pursuant to TIA Section 312(b) with other Securityholders of that Series or any other Series with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities of that Series or all Series. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA Section 312(c).
Section 10.4 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.
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 stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and |
| (b) | an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with. |
Section 10.5 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 TIA Section 314(a) (4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA Section 314(e) and shall 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; |
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| (c) | a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and |
| (d) | a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with. |
Section 10.6 Rules by Trustee and Agents.
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Securityholders of one or more Series. Any Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.
Section 10.7 Legal Holidays.
Unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers Certificate or supplemental indenture for a particular Series, a Legal Holiday is any day that is not a Business Day. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.
Section 10.8 No Recourse Against Others.
A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Securityholder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.
Section 10.9 Counterparts.
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
Section 10.10 Governing Laws.
THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAWS PROVISIONS THEREOF.
Section 10.11 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.
This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or a Subsidiary. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
Section 10.12 Successors.
All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successor. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.
Section 10.13 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 10.14 Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.
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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 hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
Section 10.15 Securities in a Foreign Currency or in ECU.
Unless otherwise specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Indenture with respect to a particular Series of Securities, whenever for purposes of this Indenture any action may be taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of Securities of all Series or all Series affected by a particular action at the time outstanding and, at such time, there are outstanding Securities of any Series which are denominated in a coin or currency other than Dollars (including ECUs), then the principal amount of Securities of such Series which shall be deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of taking such action shall be that amount of Dollars that could be obtained for such amount at the Market Exchange Rate at such time. For purposes of this Section 10.15, Market Exchange Rate shall mean the noon Dollar buying rate in New York City for cable transfers of that currency as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; provided, however, in the case of ECUs, Market Exchange Rate shall mean the rate of exchange determined by the Commission of the European Union (or any successor thereto) as published in the Official Journal of the European Union (such publication or any successor publication, the Journal). If such Market Exchange Rate is not available for any reason with respect to such currency, the Trustee shall use, in its sole discretion and without liability on its part, such quotation of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or, in the case of ECUs, the rate of exchange as published in the Journal, as of the most recent available date, or quotations or, in the case of ECUs, rates of exchange from one or more major banks in The City of New York or in the country of issue of the currency in question or, in the case of ECUs, in Luxembourg or such other quotations or, in the case of ECUs, rates of exchange as the Trustee, upon consultation with the Company, shall deem appropriate. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply in determining the equivalent principal amount in respect of Securities of a Series denominated in currency other than Dollars in connection with any action taken by Holders of Securities pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.
All decisions and determinations of the Trustee regarding the Market Exchange Rate or any alternative determination provided for in the preceding paragraph shall be in its sole discretion and shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive to the extent permitted by law for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Company and all Holders.
Section 10.16 Judgment Currency.
The Company agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of or interest or other amount on the Securities of any Series (the Required Currency) into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the Judgment Currency), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered, unless such day is not a New York Banking Day, then, the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the New York Banking Day preceding the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with Subsection (a)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable, and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture. For purposes of the foregoing, New York Banking Day means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in The City of New York on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
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ARTICLE 11
SINKING FUNDS
Section 11.1 Applicability of Article.
The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of the Securities of a Series, except as otherwise permitted or required by any form of Security of such Series issued pursuant to this Indenture.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of the Securities of any Series is herein referred to as a mandatory sinking fund payment and any other amount provided for by the terms of Securities of such Series is herein referred to as an optional sinking fund payment. If provided for by the terms of Securities of any Series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 11.2. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any Series as provided for by the terms of the Securities of such Series.
Section 11.2 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.
The Company may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of any Series to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities (1) deliver outstanding Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable (other than any of such Securities previously called for mandatory sinking fund redemption) and (2) apply as credit Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable and which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Series of Securities (except pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund) or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments or other optional redemptions pursuant to the terms of such Securities, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received by the Trustee, together with an Officers Certificate with respect thereto, not later than 15 days prior to the date on which the Trustee begins the process of selecting Securities for redemption, and shall be credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly. If as a result of the delivery or credit of Securities in lieu of cash payments pursuant to this Section 11.2, the principal amount of Securities of such Series to be redeemed in order to exhaust the aforesaid cash payment shall be less than $100,000, the Trustee need not call Securities of such Series for redemption, except upon receipt of a Company Order that such action be taken, and such cash payment shall be held by the Trustee or a Paying Agent and applied to the next succeeding sinking fund payment, provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall from time to time upon receipt of a Company Order pay over and deliver to the Company any cash payment so being held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of Securities of that Series purchased by the Company having an unpaid principal amount equal to the cash payment required to be released to the Company.
Section 11.3 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.
Not less than 45 days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers Certificate in respect of a particular Series of Securities) prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that Series pursuant to the terms of that Series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting of Securities of that Series pursuant to Section 11.2, and the optional amount, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified. Not less than 30 days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, Officers Certificate or supplemental indenture in respect of a particular Series of Securities) before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.2 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.3. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6.
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[INCLUDE ARTICLE XII FOR SUBORDINATED SECURITIES:
ARTICLE 12
SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES
Section 12.1 Agreement of Subordination.
The Company covenants and agrees, and each Holder of Securities issued hereunder by his acceptance thereof likewise covenants and agrees, that all Securities shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article XII; and each Person holding any Security, whether upon original issue or upon transfer, assignment or exchange thereof, accepts and agrees to be bound by such provisions.
The payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all Securities (including, but not limited to, the redemption price with respect to the Securities called for redemption in accordance with Article III as provided in the Indenture) issued hereunder shall, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, be subordinated and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, whether outstanding at the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred.
No provision of this Article XII shall prevent the occurrence of any default or Event of Default hereunder.
Section 12.2 Payments to Holders.
No payment shall be made with respect to the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities (including, but not limited to, the redemption price with respect to the Securities to be called for redemption in accordance with Article III as provided in the Indenture), except payments and distributions made by the Trustee as permitted by the first or second paragraph of Section 12.5, if:
| (i) | a default in the payment of principal, premium, interest, rent or other obligations due on any Senior Indebtedness occurs and is continuing (or, in the case of Senior Indebtedness for which there is a period of grace, in the event of such a default that continues beyond the period of grace, if any, specified in the instrument or lease evidencing such Senior Indebtedness), unless and until such default shall have been cured or waived or shall have ceased to exist; or |
| (ii) | a default, other than a payment default, on a Designated Senior Indebtedness occurs and is continuing that then permits holders of such Designated Senior Indebtedness to accelerate its maturity and the Trustee receives a notice of the default (a Payment Blockage Notice) from a Representative or the Company. |
Upon any payment by the Company, or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors upon any dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, all amounts due or to become due upon all Senior Indebtedness shall first be paid in full in cash or other payment satisfactory to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, or payment thereof in accordance with its terms provided for in cash or other payment satisfactory to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, before any payment is made on account of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Securities (except payments made pursuant to Article VI from monies deposited with the Trustee pursuant thereto prior to commencement of proceedings for such dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization); and upon any such dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization of the Company or bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceeding, any payment by the Company, or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee would be entitled, except for the provision of this Article XII, shall (except as aforesaid) be paid by the Company or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, or by the Holders of the Securities or by the Trustee under this Indenture if received by them or it, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders, or as otherwise required by law or a court order) or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing any Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, to the extent necessary to pay all Senior Indebtedness in full, in cash or other payment satisfactory to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of Senior Indebtedness, before any payment or distribution or provision therefor is made to the Holders of the Securities or to the Trustee.
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For purposes of this Article XII, the words, cash, property or securities shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which is subordinated at least to the extent provided in this Article XII with respect to the Securities to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness which may at the time be outstanding; provided that (i) the Senior Indebtedness is assumed by the new corporation, if any, resulting from any reorganization or readjustment, and (ii) the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness (other than leases which are not assumed by the Company or the new corporation, as the case may be) are not, without the consent of such holders, altered by such reorganization or readjustment. The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company into, another corporation or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the conveyance or transfer of its property as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to another corporation upon the terms and conditions provided for in Article V shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section 12.2 if such other corporation shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Article V.
In the event of the acceleration of the Securities because of an Event of Default, no payment or distribution shall be made to the Trustee or any Holder of Securities in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Securities (including, but not limited to, the redemption price with respect to the Securities called for redemption in accordance with Article III), except payments and distributions made by the Trustee as permitted by the first or second paragraph of Section 12.5, until all Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full in cash or other payment satisfactory to the holders of Senior Indebtedness or such acceleration is rescinded in accordance with the terms of this Indenture. If payment of the Securities is accelerated because of an Event of Default, the Company shall promptly notify holders of Senior Indebtedness of the acceleration at the address set forth in the notice from the Agent (or successor agent) to the Trustee as being the address to which the Trustee should send its notice pursuant to this Section 12.2, unless there are no payment obligations of the Company thereunder and all obligations thereunder to extend credit have been terminated or expired.
In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities (including, without limitation, by way of setoff or otherwise), prohibited by the foregoing, shall be received by the Trustee or the Holders of the Securities before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full in cash or other payment satisfactory to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, or provision is made for such payment thereof in accordance with its terms in cash or other payment satisfactory to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, such payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of and shall be paid over or delivered to the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing any Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, as calculated by the Company, for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay all Senior Indebtedness in full in cash or other payment satisfactory to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.
Nothing in this Section 12.2 shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 7.7. This Section 12.2 shall be subject to the further provisions of Section 12.5.
Section 12.3 Subrogation of Securities.
Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the rights of the Holders of the Securities shall be subrogated to the extent of the payments or distributions made to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness pursuant to the provisions of this Article XII (equally and ratably with the holders of all indebtedness of the Company which by its express terms is subordinated to other indebtedness of the Company to substantially the same extent as the Securities are subordinated and is entitled to like rights of subrogation) to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company applicable to the Senior Indebtedness until the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities shall be paid in full; and, for the purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article XII, and no payment over pursuant to the provisions of this Article XII, to or for the benefit of the holders of Senior Indebtedness by Holders of the Securities or the Trustee, shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the Securities, be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of the Senior Indebtedness; and no payments or distributions of cash, property or securities to or for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities pursuant to the subrogation provisions of this Article XII, which would otherwise have been paid to the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or for the account of the Securities. It is understood that the provisions of this Article XII are and are intended solely for the purposes of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand.
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Nothing contained in this Article XII or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities is intended to or shall impair, as among the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the Securities, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the Holders of the Securities the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities and creditors of the Company other than the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Trustee or the Holder of any Security from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article XII of the holders of Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company received upon the exercise of any such remedy.
Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article XII, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, and the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such bankruptcy, dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending, or a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders of the Securities, for the purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XII.
Section 12.4 Authorization to Effect Subordination.
Each Holder of a Security by the holders acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on the holders behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided in this Article XII and appoints the Trustee to act as the holders attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. If the Trustee does not file a proper proof of claim or proof of debt in the form required in any proceeding referred to in Section 6.3 at least 30 days before the expiration of the time to file such claim, the holders of any Senior Indebtedness or their representatives are hereby authorized to file an appropriate claim for and on behalf of the Holders of the Securities.
Section 12.5 Notice to Trustee.
The Company shall give prompt written notice in the form of an Officers Certificate to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee and to any paying agent of any fact known to the Company which would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee or any paying agent in respect of the Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Article XII. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article XII or any other provision of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts which would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Article XII, unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof at the Corporate Trust Office from the Company (in the form of an Officers Certificate) or a Representative or a holder or holders of Senior Indebtedness or from any trustee thereof; and before the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided that if on a date not fewer than two Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any such monies may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on any Security) the Trustee shall not have received, with respect to such monies, the notice provided for in this Section 12.5, then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such monies and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary which may be received by it on or after such prior date.
Notwithstanding anything in this Article XII to the contrary, nothing shall prevent any payment by the Trustee to the Holders of monies deposited with it pursuant to Section 8.1, and any such payment shall not be subject to the provisions of Section 12.1 or 12.2.
The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, shall be entitled to rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Representative or a person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee on behalf of such holder) to establish that such notice has been given by a Representative or a holder of Senior Indebtedness or a trustee on behalf of any such holder or holders. In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any person as a holder of Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article XII, the Trustee may request such person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Indebtedness held by such person, the extent to which such person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such person under this Article XII, and if such
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evidence is not furnished the Trustee may defer any payment to such person pending judicial determination as to the right of such person to receive such payment.
Section 12.6 Trustees Relation to Senior Indebtedness.
The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article XII in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at any time held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in Section 7.11 or elsewhere in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.
With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article XII, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness and, subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, the Trustee shall not be liable to any holder of Senior Indebtedness if it shall pay over or deliver to Holders of Securities, the Company or any other person money or assets to which any holder of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article XII or otherwise.
Section 12.7 No Impairment of Subordination.
No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Company with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof which any such holder may have or otherwise be charged with.
Section 12.8 Article Applicable to Paying Agents.
If at any time any Paying Agent other than the Trustee shall have been appointed by the Company and be then acting hereunder, the term Trustee as used in this Article shall (unless the context otherwise requires) be construed as extending to and including such Paying Agent within its meaning as fully for all intents and purposes as if such Paying Agent were named in this Article in addition to or in place of the Trustee; provided, however, that the first paragraph of Section 12.5 shall not apply to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company if it or such Affiliate acts as Paying Agent.
Section 12.9 Senior Indebtedness Entitled to Rely.
The holders of Senior Indebtedness (including, without limitation, Designated Senior Indebtedness) shall have the right to rely upon this Article XII, and no amendment or modification of the provisions contained herein shall diminish the rights of such holders unless such holders shall have agreed in writing thereto.
END ARTICLE XII, INCLUDED FOR SUBORDINATED SECURITIES.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
CHINA NATURAL RESOURCES, INC.
By:__________________________________________
Name:
Its:
[Name of Trustee]
By:__________________________________________
Name:
Its:
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EXHIBIT 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption Experts in the Registration Statement (Form F-3) and related Prospectus of China Natural Resources Inc. for the registration of up to $100,000,000 common shares, preferred shares, debt securities, warrants and units and to the incorporation by reference therein of our report dated April 30, 2019, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of China Natural Resources, Inc., included in its Annual Report (Form 20-F) for the year ended December 31, 2018, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
/s/ Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP
Beijing, Peoples Republic of China
November 12, 2019