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TABLE OF CONTENTS
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 9, 2024
Registration No. 333-       ​
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION​
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
ASURE SOFTWARE, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)​
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74-2415696
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
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405 Colorado Street, Suite 1800
Austin, Texas 78701
(512) 437-2700
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)​
Patrick Goepel
Chief Executive Officer
405 Colorado Street, Suite 1800
Austin, Texas 78701
(512) 437-2700
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)​
Copy to:
Katheryn A. Gettman, Esq.
Cozen O’Connor, P.C.
33 South 6th Street, Suite 3800
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402
(612) 260-9080
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company or emerging growth. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
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Large accelerated filer
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Non-accelerated filer
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Smaller reporting company
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Emerging growth company
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
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Pursuant to Rule 429 under the Securities Act, the prospectus contained in this registration statement will be used as a combined prospectus in connection with this registration statement, and the registration statement on Form S-3 No. 333-254138, which was originally filed on March 11, 2021, and became effective on April 21, 2021 (the “2021 Registration Statement”). This registration statement is a new registration statement and also constitutes a post-effective amendment to the 2021 Registration Statement. Such post-effective amendments will become effective concurrently with the effectiveness of this registration statement in accordance with Section 8(c) of the Securities Act.
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment that specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until this registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to Section 8(a), may determine.
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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to completion, dated April 9, 2024
PROSPECTUS
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Asure Software, Inc.
$150,000,000
Debt Securities
Preferred Stock
Common Stock
Debt Warrants
Equity Warrants
Rights
Units
We may offer and sell up to $150,000,000 in the aggregate of the securities identified from time to time in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides a general description of the securities we may offer.
Each time we offer and sell securities, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering and the amounts, prices and terms of the securities. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in any securities.
We may offer and sell these securities directly to our stockholders or to purchasers, or through one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, or through a combination of these methods. If any agents, dealers or underwriters are involved in the sale of any of these securities, the applicable prospectus supplement will provide their names and any applicable fees, commissions or discounts. No securities may be sold without delivery of this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of such securities.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” on page 3 of this prospectus and in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “ASUR.” On April 5, 2024, the closing price of our common stock was $7.51 per share.
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 April 9, 2024
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is a part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange, or SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may offer to sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus, either individually or in units, in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $150,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer and sell securities under this shelf registration, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, you should rely on the prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together with additional information described under “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Information Incorporated by Reference.” We may only use this prospectus to sell the securities if it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. You must not rely upon any information or representation not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement. We will not make an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information contained in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement is accurate as of the date on its respective cover, and that any information incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, unless we indicate otherwise. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
References in this prospectus to “we,” “our” and “us” refer to Asure Software, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
 
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ABOUT ASURE SOFTWARE
Asure is a provider of cloud-based Human Capital Management (“HCM”) software solutions delivered as Software-as-a-Service (“SaaS”) for small and medium-sized businesses (“SMBs”). We offer human resources (“HR”) tools necessary to build a thriving workforce, providing the resources to stay compliant with dynamic federal, state, and local tax jurisdictions and their respective labor laws, freeing cash flows so SMBs can spend their financial capital on growing their businesses rather than administrative overhead that can impede growth. Our solutions also provide new ways for employers to connect with and to differentiate themselves with their employees in order to enhance their relationships with their talent. Asure’s HCM suite (“Asure HCM”) includes Payroll & Tax solutions, HR compliance and services, Time & Attendance software and data integrations that enable employers and their employees to enhance efficiencies and take advantage of value-added solutions, which we refer to as AsureMarketplace™. AsureMarketplace™ automates interactions between our HCM systems with third-party providers to enhance efficiency, improve accuracy and to extend the range of services offered to employers and their employees. Our approach to HR compliance services incorporates artificial intelligence technology to enhance scalability and efficiency while prioritizing client interactions. We offer these services directly and indirectly through our network of Reseller Partners.
We strive to be the most trusted HCM resource to SMBs. We target less densely populated U.S. metropolitan cities where fewer of our competitors have a presence. Our solutions solve three primary challenges that prevent businesses from growing: HR complexity, allocation of human and financial capital, and the ability to build great teams.. Our solutions reduce the administrative burden on employers and increase employee productivity while managing the employment lifecycle. The Asure HCM suite includes five product lines: Asure Payroll & Tax, Asure Tax Management Solutions, Asure Time & Attendance, Asure HR Compliance, and AsureMarketplace™.
We plan to continue to enhance our products and technologies by leveraging the latest technology stack, Robotic Process Automation (“RPA”), artificial intelligence (“AI”), and development partnerships. We expect that our expanded investment in product, engineering, SaaS hosting, mobile and hardware technologies will lay the groundwork for broader market opportunities and represent a key aspect of our competitive differentiation. We also plan to expand our technological resources through organic improvements and acquired intellectual property. We expect to continue to expand the breadth of integration between our solutions, allowing direct clients and resellers the ability to easily add and implement components across our entire solution set. Our initiatives include providing our customers with more accurate and efficient automation powered by an informed knowledge base. Consistent with that effort, our engineering team utilizes an AI development Copilot to increase their productivity and efficiency. Our operations team utilizes a digital assistant to allow for a more efficient and accurate way to automate repetitive tasks, which we believe will free up our time for more strategic work and reducing the risk of errors. We are committed to providing the best-in-class solutions.
We were incorporated in Delaware. Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “ASUR.” Our principal executive offices are located at 405 Colorado Street, Suite 1800, Austin, Texas 78701, and our telephone number is (512) 437-2700. Our website is located at www.asuresoftware.com. The information contained on, or that may be obtained through, our website is not part of, and is not incorporated in, this prospectus. We have included our website address in this prospectus as an inactive textual reference only and not as an active hyperlink.
Additional information about us is included in documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. See “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Documents by Reference.”
 
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RISK FACTORS
An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before deciding whether to invest in our securities, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement, and discussed under Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as updated from time to time by our subsequent filings with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, together with the other information in this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize for use in connection with a specific offering. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. The occurrence of any of these known or unknown risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in our securities.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus, each prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which statements involve risks and uncertainties. These statements relate to future periods, future events or our future operating or financial performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “continue,” “plan,” “intend,” “potential,” “predict,” “estimate,” “project,” “believe,” “would” and similar expressions and the negative of those terms. In particular, these include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the following:
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the expiration of major revenue streams such as the Employee Retention Tax Credits and the impact of the IRS recent measures regarding Employee Retention Tax Credits;
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our ability to realize the expected business or financial benefits of the companies or technologies that we acquire;
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risks associated with the our rate of growth and anticipated revenue run rate, including impact of the current environment;
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interruptions to supply chains and extended shut down of businesses;
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political, economic and social changes;
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reductions in employment and an increase in business failures, specifically among our clients;
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our ability to convert deferred revenue and unbilled deferred revenue into revenue and cash flow, and ability to maintain continued growth of deferred revenue and unbilled deferred revenue;
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possible fluctuations in the Company’s financial and operating results;
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regulatory pressures on economic relief enacted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic that change or cause different interpretations with respect to eligibility for such programs;
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privacy concerns and laws and other regulations may limit the effectiveness of our applications;
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domestic and international regulatory developments, including changes to or applicability to our business of privacy and data securities laws, money transmitter laws and anti-money laundering laws;
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the financial and other impact of any previous and future acquisitions;
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our ability to continue to release, gain customer acceptance of and provide support for new and improved versions of our services;
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interruptions or delays in our services;
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issues in the use of artificial intelligence (“AI”) in our HCM products and services;
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our dependence on data centers and computing infrastructure operated by third parties and risks associated with breaches of our security measures;
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our ability to protect proprietary data, including our direct and indirect client’s and their employees’ personal information;
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our ability to meet future capital requirements and the potential need to incur additional debt;
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our ability to raise additional capital on acceptable terms, or at all;
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our ability to effectively manage our growth and organizational change;
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our ability to collect payments made on behalf of our clients and otherwise be exposed to consumer credit risk;
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the impact of changes in government regulations mandating the amount of tax withheld or timing of remittance on the interest we earn on funds held for clients;
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our ability to compete in a highly competitive market for payroll and HCM solutions;
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our ability to attract and retain key personnel;
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our ability to protect our proprietary rights;
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our ability to incur debt and use proceeds therefrom in accordance with any future debt covenants;
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the potential for a substantial number of shares to be sold in the open market and the resulting impact on our stock price;
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the ongoing effects of the new tax laws and the refinement of provisional estimates;
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our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes;
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integration of businesses we have acquired or will acquire;
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the effect of claims, lawsuits, governmental investigations and other proceedings that adversely affect our business; and
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the costs of operating as a public company, and substantial time devoted by our management to new compliance initiatives and any sanctions or other penalties resulting from non-compliance.
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Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about our business and the industry in which we operate and management’s beliefs and assumptions and are not guarantees of future performance or development and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are in some cases beyond our control. As a result, any or all of our forward-looking statements in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents that are incorporated by reference herein and therein may turn out to be inaccurate. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, those listed under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus, in any accompanying prospectus supplement and in the documents that are incorporated by reference herein and therein. Potential investors are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available in the future. You should, however, review the factors and risks we describe in the reports we will file from time to time with the SEC after the date of this prospectus. See “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Documents by Reference.”
This prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein may contain market data that we obtain from industry sources. These sources do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information. Although we believe that our industry sources are reliable, we do not independently verify the information. The market data may include projections that are based on a number of other projections. While we believe these assumptions to be reasonable and sound as of the date of this prospectus, actual results may differ from the projections.
 
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USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless otherwise indicated in any applicable prospectus supplement, we currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of securities under this prospectus for general corporate purposes. Our general corporate purposes include, but are not limited to, repayment or refinancing of debt, capital expenditures, funding possible acquisitions, working capital and satisfaction of other obligations. We have not determined the amount of net proceeds to be used specifically for the foregoing purposes. As a result, our management will have broad discretion over the allocation of the net proceeds. Until we use the net proceeds, we intend to invest the proceeds in short-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing instruments.
DILUTION
We will set forth in a prospectus supplement the following information regarding any material dilution of the equity interests of investors purchasing securities from us in a primary offering under this prospectus:
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the net tangible book value per share of our equity securities before and after the offering;
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the amount of the increase in such net tangible book value per share attributable to the cash payments made by purchasers in the offering; and
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the amount of the immediate dilution from the public offering price which will be absorbed by such purchasers.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the securities from time to time pursuant to underwritten public offerings, negotiated transactions, block trades or a combination of these methods. We may sell the securities through one or more underwriters or dealers in a public offering and sale by them, through agents, or directly to one or more purchasers.
We may distribute the securities from time to time in one or more transactions:
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at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;
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at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;
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at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or
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at negotiated prices.
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We may solicit directly offers to purchase the securities being offered by this prospectus. We may also designate agents to solicit offers to purchase the securities from time to time. We may sell the securities being offered by this prospectus by any method permitted by law, including sales deemed to be an “at the market” offering as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act, including without limitation sales made directly on the Nasdaq Capital Market, on any other existing trading market for our securities or to or through a market maker. We will name in a prospectus supplement any agent involved in the offer or sale of our securities.
If we use a dealer in the sale of the securities being offered by this prospectus, we will sell the securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale.
If we use an underwriter in the sale of the securities being offered by this prospectus, we will execute an underwriting agreement with the underwriter at the time of sale and we will provide the name of any underwriter in the prospectus supplement that the underwriter will use to make resales of the securities to the public. In connection with the sale of the securities, we or the purchasers of securities for whom the underwriter may act as agent may compensate the underwriter in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions. The underwriter may sell the securities to or through dealers, and the underwriter may compensate those dealers in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions.
We will provide in the applicable prospectus supplement any compensation we will pay to underwriters, dealers or agents in connection with the offering of the securities, and any discounts, concessions or
 
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commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers. In compliance with guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, the maximum consideration or discount to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker dealer may not exceed 8% of the aggregate amount of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. Underwriters, dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any discounts and commissions received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions. In the event that an offering made pursuant to this prospectus is subject to FINRA Rule 5121, the prospectus supplement will comply with the prominent disclosure provisions of that rule.
The securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. To facilitate the offering of securities, certain persons or entities participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities. This may include over-allotments or short sales of the securities, which involves the sale by persons or entities participating in the offering of a greater number of securities than we sold to them as part of the offering. In these circumstances, these persons or entities would cover such over-allotments or short positions by making purchases in the open market or by exercising their over-allotment option. In addition, these persons or entities may stabilize or maintain the price of the securities by bidding for or purchasing securities in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to dealers participating in the offering may be reclaimed if securities sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. These transactions may be discontinued at any time.
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 any derivative transaction, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement or a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. In addition, we may otherwise loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities short using this prospectus. Such financial institution or other third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities.
The underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with us, or perform services for us, in the ordinary course of business. We may provide underwriters, dealers and agents with indemnification against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments they may be required to make in respect thereof.
 
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the general terms and conditions of the debt securities or guarantees of debt securities that we may offer and sell pursuant to this prospectus. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms and conditions of the series in a prospectus supplement to this prospectus. We will also indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement whether the general terms and conditions described in this prospectus apply to such series of debt securities. In addition, the terms and conditions of the debt securities of a series may be different in one or more respects from the terms and conditions described below. If so, those differences will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may, but need not, describe any additional or different terms and conditions of those debt securities in an annual report on Form 10-K, a quarterly report on Form 10-Q, or a current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC, the information in which would be incorporated by reference in this prospectus and that report will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We will issue the debt securities in one or more series, which will consist of either our senior debt or our subordinated debt, under an indenture between us and a trustee. The debt securities of any series, whether senior or subordinated, may be issued as convertible debt securities or exchangeable debt securities. We may use different trustees for different series of debt securities issued under the indenture. The following summary of provisions of the indenture does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indenture, including definitions therein of certain terms. This summary may not contain all of the information that you may find useful. The terms and conditions of the debt securities of each series will be set forth in those debt securities and may also be set forth in an indenture supplemental to the indenture. For a comprehensive description of any series of debt securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus, you should read both this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.
We have filed the form of indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. A form of each debt security, reflecting the specific terms and provisions of that series of debt securities, will be filed with the SEC in connection with each offering and will be incorporated by reference in the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Copies of the indenture, any supplemental indenture and any form of debt security that has been filed may be obtained in the manner described under “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Documents by Reference.” We also urge you to read the indenture, including any related supplemental indenture, applicable to a particular series of debt securities because they, and not this description, define your rights as the holders of debt securities.
Capitalized terms used and not defined in this summary have the meanings specified in the indenture. For purposes of this section of this prospectus, references to “we,” “us” and “our” are to Asure Software, Inc. References to the “applicable prospectus supplement” are to the prospectus supplement to this prospectus that describes the specific terms and conditions of a series of debt securities.
General
We may offer the debt securities from time to time in as many distinct series as we may determine. Our senior debt securities will be our senior obligations and will rank equally in right of payment with all of our senior indebtedness. If we issue subordinated debt securities, the terms of the subordination will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue under that indenture. We may, without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of any series, issue additional debt securities ranking equally with, and otherwise similar in all respects to, the debt securities of the series (except for the public offering price and the issue date) so that those additional debt securities will be consolidated and form a single series with the debt securities of the series previously offered and sold.
The debt securities of each series will be issued in fully registered form without interest coupons. We currently anticipate that the debt securities of each series offered and sold pursuant to this prospectus will be issued as global debt securities as described under “Book-Entry; Delivery and Form; Global Securities” and will trade in book-entry form only.
 
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Debt securities denominated in U.S. dollars will be issued in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. If the debt securities of a series are denominated in a foreign or composite currency, the applicable prospectus supplement will specify the denomination or denominations in which those debt securities will be issued.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will repay the debt securities of each series at 100% of their principal amount, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon at maturity, except if those debt securities have been previously redeemed or purchased and cancelled.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities of each series will not be listed on any securities exchange.
Provisions of Indenture
The indenture provides that debt securities may be issued under it from time to time in one or more series. For each series of debt securities, this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms and conditions of that series of debt securities:
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the title of the series;
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the maximum aggregate principal amount, if any, established for debt securities of the series;
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the person to whom any interest on a debt security of the series will be payable, if other than the person in whose name that debt security (or one or more predecessor debt securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for that interest;
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whether the debt securities rank as senior debt, subordinated debt, or any combination thereof and the terms of any subordination;
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the date or dates on which the principal of any debt securities of the series will be payable or the method used to determine or extend those dates;
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the rate or rates at which any debt securities of the series will bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which interest, if any, will accrue, the interest payment dates on which interest, if any, will be payable and the regular record date for interest, if any, payable on any interest payment date;
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the place or places where the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on any debt securities of the series will be payable and the manner in which any payment may be made;
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the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any debt securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at our option and, if other than by a board resolution, the manner in which any election by us to redeem the debt securities will be evidenced;
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our obligation or right, if any, to redeem or purchase any debt securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or at the option of the holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any debt securities of the series will be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to that obligation;
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if other than minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, the denominations in which any debt securities of the series will be issuable;
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if the amount of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any debt securities of the series may be determined with reference to a financial or economic measure or index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which those amounts will be determined;
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if other than U.S. dollars, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any debt securities of the series will be payable and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in U.S. dollars for any purpose;
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if the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any debt securities of the series is to be payable, at our election or the election of the holder thereof, in one or more currencies or currency units
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other than that or those in which those debt securities are stated to be payable, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities as to which that election is made will be payable, the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which that election is to be made and the amount so payable (or the manner in which that amount will be determined);
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if other than the entire principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of any debt securities of the series which will be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to the indenture;
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as of any one or more dates prior to the stated maturity, the amount which will be deemed to be the principal amount of those debt securities as of any date for any purpose, including the principal amount thereof which will be due and payable upon any maturity other than the stated maturity or which will be deemed to be outstanding as of any date prior to the stated maturity (or, in any case, the manner in which the amount deemed to be the principal amount will be determined);
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if other than by a board resolution, the manner in which any election by us to defease any debt securities of the series pursuant to the indenture will be evidenced; whether any debt securities of the series other than debt securities denominated in U.S. dollars and bearing interest at a fixed rate are to be subject to the defeasance provisions of the indenture; or, in the case of debt securities denominated in U.S. dollars and bearing interest at a fixed rate, if applicable, that the debt securities of the series, in whole or any specified part, will not be defeasible pursuant to the indenture;
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if applicable, that any debt securities of the series will be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities and, in that case, the respective depositaries for those global securities and the form of any legend or legends which will be borne by any global securities, and any circumstances in which any global security may be exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities registered, and any transfer of a global security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of persons other than the depositary for that global security or a nominee thereof and any other provisions governing exchanges or transfers of global securities;
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any addition to, deletion from or change in the events of default applicable to any debt securities of the series and any change in the right of the trustee or the requisite holders of those debt securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable;
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any addition to, deletion from or change in the covenants described in this prospectus applicable to debt securities of the series;
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if the debt securities of the series are to be convertible into or exchangeable for cash or any securities or other property of any person (including us), the terms and conditions upon which those debt securities will be so convertible or exchangeable;
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whether the debt securities of the series will be guaranteed by any persons and, if so, the identity of those persons, the terms and conditions upon which those debt securities will be guaranteed and, if applicable, the terms and conditions upon which those guarantees may be subordinated to other indebtedness of the respective guarantors;
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whether the debt securities of the series will be secured by any collateral and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which those debt securities will be secured and, if applicable, upon which those liens may be subordinated to other liens securing other indebtedness of us or of any guarantor;
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if appropriate, a discussion of U.S. federal income tax consequences;
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if other than the initial trustee is to act as trustee for the debt securities of such series, the name and corporate trust office of such trustee; and
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any other terms of the debt securities of the series (which terms will not be inconsistent with the provisions of the indenture, except as permitted thereunder).
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Interest and Interest Rates
General
In the applicable prospectus supplement, we will designate the debt securities of a series as being either debt securities bearing interest at a fixed rate of interest or debt securities bearing interest at a floating rate
 
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of interest. Each debt security will begin to accrue interest from the date on which it is originally issued. Interest on each debt security will be payable in arrears on the interest payment dates set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement and as otherwise described below and at maturity or, if earlier, the redemption date described below. Interest will be payable to the holder of record of the debt securities at the close of business on the record date for each interest payment date, which record dates will be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
As used in the indenture, the term “business day” means, with respect to debt securities of a series, any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, which is not a day on which banking institutions are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close in the place where the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities of that series are payable.
Fixed Rate Debt Securities
If the debt securities of a series being offered will bear interest at a fixed rate of interest, the debt securities of that series will bear interest at the annual interest rate specified on the cover page of the applicable prospectus supplement. Interest on those debt securities will be payable semi-annually in arrears on the interest payment dates for those debt securities. If the maturity date, the redemption date or an interest payment date is not a business day, we will pay principal, premium, if any, the redemption price, if any, and interest on the next succeeding business day, and no interest will accrue from and after the relevant maturity date, redemption date or interest payment date to the date of that payment. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, interest on the fixed rate debt securities will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
Floating Rate Debt Securities
If the debt securities of a series being offered will bear interest at a floating rate of interest, the debt securities of that series will bear interest during each relevant interest period at the rate determined as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. In the applicable prospectus supplement, we will indicate any spread or spread multiplier to be applied in the interest rate formula to determine the interest rate applicable in any interest period. The applicable prospectus supplement will identify the calculation agent for each series of floating rate debt securities, which will compute the interest accruing on the debt securities of the relevant series.
Payment and Transfer or Exchange
Principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities of each series will be payable, and the debt securities may be exchanged or transferred, at the office or agency maintained by us for that purpose (which initially will be the corporate trust office of the trustee). Payment of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on a global security registered in the name of or held by The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its nominee will be made in immediately available funds to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered holder of that global security. If any of the debt securities are no longer represented by a global security, payment of interest on certificated debt securities in definitive form may, at our option, be made by check mailed directly to holders at their registered addresses. See the section entitled “Book-Entry; Delivery and Form; Global Securities.”
A holder may transfer or exchange any certificated debt securities in definitive form at the corporate trust office of the trustee. No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or other similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
We are not required to transfer or exchange any debt security selected for redemption for a period of 15 days before sending of a notice of redemption of the debt security to be redeemed.
The registered holder of debt securities will be treated as the owner of those debt securities for all purposes.
 
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Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, all amounts in respect of principal of and premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities paid by us that remain unclaimed two years after that payment was due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holders of those debt securities will thereafter look solely to us for payment.
Guarantees
Each prospectus supplement will describe, as to the debt securities to which it relates, any guarantees by us or our direct and indirect subsidiaries which may guarantee the debt securities, including the terms of subordination, if any, of such guarantees. Any such guarantees will be made only by certain of our subsidiaries, will be made on a joint and several basis and will be full and unconditional.
Covenants
The indenture sets forth limited covenants, including the covenant described below, that will apply to each series of debt securities issued under the indenture, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. However, these covenants do not, among other things:
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limit the amount of indebtedness or lease obligations that may be incurred by us or our subsidiaries;
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limit our ability or that of our subsidiaries to issue, assume or guarantee debt secured by liens; or
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restrict us from paying dividends or making distributions on our share capital or purchasing or redeeming our share capital.
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Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the indenture provides that we may consolidate with or merge with or into any other person, and may sell, transfer, lease or convey all or substantially all of our properties and assets to another person, provided that the following conditions are satisfied:
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we are the continuing entity, or the resulting, surviving or transferee person (the “Successor”) is a corporation, limited liability company, partnership (including a limited partnership), trust or other entity organized and validly existing under the laws of any domestic or foreign jurisdiction and the Successor (if not us) will expressly assume, by supplemental indenture or other document or instrument, all of our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture and, for each security that by its terms provides for conversion, provide for the right to convert that security in accordance with its terms;
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immediately after giving effect to that transaction, no event of default under the indenture has occurred and is continuing; and
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if requested, the trustee receives from us an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel that the merger, consolidation, transfer, sale, lease or conveyance and the supplemental indenture, as the case may be, complies with the applicable provisions of the indenture.
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If we consolidate or merge with or into any other person or sell, transfer, lease or convey all or substantially all of our properties and assets in accordance with the indenture, the Successor will be substituted for us under the indenture, with the same effect as if it had been an original party to the indenture. As a result, the Successor may exercise our rights and powers under the indenture, and we will be released from all our liabilities and obligations under the indenture and the debt securities.
Any substitution of the Successor for us might be deemed for federal income tax purposes to be an exchange of the debt securities for “new” debt securities, resulting in recognition of gain or loss for those purposes and possibly certain other adverse tax consequences to beneficial owners of the debt securities. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of any substitution.
For purposes of this covenant, “person” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership (including limited partnership), joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.
 
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Events of Default
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, each of the following events are defined in the indenture as an “event of default” ​(whatever the reason therefor and whether or not it will be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body) with respect to the debt securities of any series:
(1)
default in the payment of any installment of interest on any debt securities of that series, which continues for 30 consecutive days after becoming due (subject to the deferral of any interest payment in case of an extension period);
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(2)
default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, on any debt securities of that series when it becomes due and payable at its stated maturity, upon optional redemption, upon declaration or otherwise;
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(3)
default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, which continues for 30 days after becoming due by the terms of any debt securities of that series;
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(4)
default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or agreement of ours in the indenture with respect to the debt securities of that series (other than as referred to in clause (1), (2) or (3) above), which continues for a period of 90 days (except that, in the case of a default in the performance or breach of a reporting covenant, such period shall be 180 days) after written notice to us by the trustee or to us and the trustee by the holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series;
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(5)
we, pursuant to or within the meaning of the Bankruptcy Law:
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commence a voluntary case or proceeding;
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consent to the entry of an order for relief against us in an involuntary case or proceeding;
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consent to the appointment of a custodian of us or for all or substantially all of our property;
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make a general assignment for the benefit of our creditors;
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file a petition in bankruptcy or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief;
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consent to the filing of a petition in bankruptcy or the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian; or
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take any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency; or
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(6)
a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
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is for relief against us in an involuntary case, or adjudicates us insolvent or bankrupt;
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appoints a Custodian of us or for all or substantially all of our property; or
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orders the winding-up or liquidation of us (or any similar relief is granted under any foreign laws) and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days; or
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(7)
any other event of default provided with respect to debt securities of that series occurs as specified in a supplemental indenture.
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If an event of default with respect to debt securities of any series (other than an event of default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization of us) occurs and is continuing, the trustee for that series by notice to us, or the holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series by notice to us and the trustee, may declare the principal of and premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all the debt securities of that series to be due and payable. Upon a declaration of this type, that principal, premium and accrued and unpaid interest will be due and payable immediately. If an event of default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of us occurs and is continuing, the principal of and premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid
 
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interest on the debt securities of that series will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee of that series or any holders.
The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may rescind a declaration of acceleration and its consequences, if we have deposited certain sums with the trustee and all events of default with respect to the debt securities of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal or interest which have become due solely by that acceleration, have been cured or waived, as provided in the indenture.
An event of default for a particular series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an event of default for any other series of debt securities issued under the indenture.
We are required to furnish the trustee annually a statement by certain of our officers to the effect that, to the best of their knowledge, we are not in default in the fulfillment of any of our obligations under the indenture or, if there has been a default in the fulfillment of any obligation of us, specifying each default.
No holder of any debt securities of any series will have any right to institute any judicial or other proceeding with respect to the indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy unless:
(1)
an event of default has occurred and is continuing and that holder has given the trustee prior written notice of that continuing event of default with respect to the debt securities of that series;
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(2)
the holders of not less than 30% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have requested the trustee to institute proceedings in respect of that event of default;
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(3)
the trustee has been offered indemnity satisfactory to it against its costs, expenses and liabilities in complying with that request;
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(4)
the trustee has failed to institute proceedings 60 days after the receipt of that notice, request and offer of indemnity; and
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(5)
no direction inconsistent with that written request has been given for 60 days by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series.
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The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of a series will have the right, subject to certain limitations, to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series or exercising any trust or power conferred to the trustee, and to waive certain defaults. The indenture provides that if an event of default occurs and is continuing, the trustee will exercise those of its rights and powers under the indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of that person’s own affairs. The trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request of any of the holders of the debt securities of a series unless they will have offered to the trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with that request.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holder of any debt security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and 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.
Modification and Waivers
Modification and amendments of the indenture and the debt securities of any series may be made by us and the trustee with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series affected thereby; provided, however, that no modification or amendment may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of that series affected thereby:
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change the stated maturity of the principal of, or installment of interest on, any debt security;
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•
reduce the principal amount of any debt security or reduce the amount of the principal of any debt security which would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof or reduce the rate of interest on any debt security;
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reduce any premium payable on the redemption of any debt security or change the date on which any debt security may or must be redeemed;
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change the coin or currency in which the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any debt security is payable;
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impair the right of any holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the stated maturity of any debt security (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date);
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reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities, the consent of whose holders is required in order to take certain actions;
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reduce the requirements for quorum or voting by holders of debt securities in the indenture or the debt security;
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modify any of the provisions in the indenture regarding the waiver of past defaults and the waiver of certain covenants by the holders of debt securities except to increase any percentage vote required or to provide that certain other provisions of the indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of each debt security affected thereby;
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make any change that adversely affects in any material respect the right to convert or exchange any debt security or decreases the conversion or exchange rate or increases the conversion price of any convertible or exchangeable debt security, unless that decrease or increase is permitted by the terms of the debt securities; or
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modify any of the above provisions.
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We and the trustee may, without the consent of any holders, modify or amend the terms of the indenture and the debt securities of any series with respect to the following:
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to add to our covenants for the benefit of holders of the debt securities of all or any series or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us;
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to evidence the succession of another person to, and the assumption by the successor of our covenants, agreements and obligations under, the indenture pursuant to the covenant described under “— Covenants — Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets”;
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to add any additional events of default for the benefit of holders of the debt securities of all or any series;
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to add one or more guarantees for the benefit of holders of the debt securities, and to evidence the release and discharge of any guarantor from its obligations under its guarantee of debt securities and its obligations under the indenture in accordance with the terms of the indenture;
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to add or appoint a successor or separate trustee or other agent;
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to provide for the issuance of additional debt securities of any series;
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to establish the form or terms of debt securities of any series as permitted by the indenture;
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to comply with the rules of any applicable securities depository;
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to provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities;
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to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of the indenture in respect of one or more series of debt securities; provided that any such addition, change or elimination (a) shall neither (1) apply to any debt security of any series created prior to the execution of that supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of that provision nor (2) modify the rights of the holder of any debt security with respect to that provision or (b) shall become effective only when there is no debt security described in clause (1) outstanding;
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to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended;
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•
to conform any provision of the indenture, any supplemental indenture, one or more series of debt securities or any related guarantees or security documents to the description of such securities contained in our prospectus, prospectus supplement, offering memorandum or similar document with respect to the offering of the securities of such series;
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to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency; or
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to change any other provision; provided that the change does not materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of debt securities of any applicable series.
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The holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series, waive compliance with certain restrictive provisions of the indenture. The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series may, on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series, waive any past default and its consequences under the indenture with respect to the debt securities of that series, except a default (1) in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on debt securities of that series or (2) in respect of a covenant or provision of the indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each debt security of that series. Upon any waiver, that default will cease to exist, and any event of default arising therefrom will be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of the indenture; however, no waiver will extend to any subsequent or other default or event of default or impair any rights consequent thereon.
Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement for any series of debt securities, we may discharge certain obligations to holders of the debt securities of a series that have not already been delivered to the trustee for cancellation and that either have become due and payable or will become due and payable within one year (or scheduled for redemption within one year) by depositing with the trustee, in trust, funds in U.S. dollars in an amount sufficient to pay the entire indebtedness including the principal and premium, if any, and interest to the date of deposit (if the debt securities have become due and payable) or to the maturity thereof or the redemption date of the debt securities of that series, as the case may be. We may direct the trustee to invest those funds in U.S. Treasury securities with a maturity of one year or less or in a money market fund that invests solely in short-term U.S. Treasury securities.
The indenture provides that we may elect either (1) to defease and be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to the debt securities of a series (except for, among other things, obligations to register the transfer or exchange of the debt securities, to replace temporary or mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities, to maintain an office or agency with respect to the debt securities and to hold moneys for payment in trust) (“legal defeasance”) or (2) to be released from our obligations to comply with the restrictive covenants under the indenture, and any omission to comply with those obligations will not constitute a default or an event of default with respect to the debt securities of a series and clauses (4) and (7) under “— Events of Default” will no longer be applied (“covenant defeasance”). Legal defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be, will be conditioned upon, among other things, the irrevocable deposit by us with the trustee, in trust, of an amount in U.S. dollars, or U.S. government obligations, or both, applicable to the debt securities of that series which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities on the scheduled due dates therefor.
If we effect legal defeasance or covenant defeasance with respect to the debt securities of any series, the amount in U.S. dollars, or U.S. government obligations, or both, on deposit with the trustee will be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities of that series at the time of the stated maturity but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities of that series at the time of the acceleration resulting from that event of default. However, we would remain liable to make payment of amounts due at the time of acceleration.
We will be required to deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel that the deposit and related defeasance will not cause the holders and beneficial owners of the debt securities of that series to recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes. If we elect legal defeasance, that opinion of counsel must be based upon a ruling from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or a change in law to that effect.
 
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We may exercise our legal defeasance option notwithstanding our prior exercise of our covenant defeasance option.
Same-Day Settlement and Payment
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will trade in the same-day funds settlement system of DTC until maturity or until we issue the debt securities in certificated form. DTC will therefore require secondary market trading activity in the debt securities to settle in immediately available funds. We can give no assurance as to the effect, if any, of settlement in immediately available funds on trading activity in the debt securities.
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The following description of our common stock is not complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to our Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, or certificate of incorporation, and our Third Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended, or bylaws, copies of which are on file with the SEC as exhibits to registration statements previously filed by us.
General
Our authorized capital stock consists of 44,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, and 1,500,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share.
Common Stock
As of April 5, 2024, we had 25,763,067 shares of common stock outstanding. In addition, 1,369,807 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of April 5, 2024, at a weighted average exercise price of $7.32 per share; 1,226,777 shares of common stock issuable upon the vesting of restricted stock units outstanding as of April 5, 2024; 1,061,754 shares of our common stock available for future issuance as of April 5, 2024, under our 2018 Incentive Award Plan; and 125,296 shares of our common stock available for future issuance as of April 5, 2024, under our employee stock purchase plan.
Voting Rights
The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders, including the election of directors, and do not have cumulative voting rights.
Dividends
Subject to limitations under Delaware law and preferences that may be applicable to any then outstanding preferred stock, holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably those dividends, if any, as may be declared by our board of directors out of legally available funds.
Liquidation
In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of common stock will be entitled to share ratably in the net assets legally available for distribution to stockholders after the payment of or provision for all of our debts and other liabilities, subject to the prior rights of any preferred stock then outstanding.
Rights and Preferences
Holders of common stock have no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights and there are no redemption or sinking funds provisions applicable to the common stock.
 
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Fully Paid and Nonassessable
All outstanding shares of common stock are, and the common stock to be outstanding upon completion of this offering will be, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
Preferred Stock
We currently have authorized 1,500,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share. Of those shares, we have at the date of this prospectus 350,000 shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock designated, none of which shares are outstanding. The balance of our preferred stock is undesignated.
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock and Related Rights
On October 28, 2009, stockholders of record at the close of business on that date received a dividend of one right (a “Right”) for each outstanding share of common stock. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase one one-thousandth of a share of Series A junior participating preferred stock of the Company (the “Series A Stock”), at a price of $1.7465 per one thousandth of a share of Series A Stock, subject to adjustment (the “Exercise Price”). The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date referred to below. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in the Third Amended and Restated Rights Agreement between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company LLC, dated as of October 28, 2022, which extended the expiration date of the Rights to October 28, 2025.
The Third Amended and Restated Rights Agreement imposes a significant penalty upon any person or group that acquires 4.9% or more (but less than 50%) of our then-outstanding common stock without the prior approval of the board of directors. Stockholders who own 4.9% or more of our then-outstanding common stock as of the close of business on the Record Date will not trigger the Third Amended and Restated Rights Agreement so long as they do not increase their ownership of the common stock after the Record Date by more than one-half of 1% of the then-outstanding common stock. A person or group that acquires shares of our common stock in excess of the above-mentioned applicable threshold, subject to certain limited exceptions, is called an “Acquiring Person.” Any rights held by an Acquiring Person are void and may not be exercised. On the date (if any) that the Rights become exercisable (the “Distribution Date”), each Right would allow its holder to purchase one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Stock for a purchase price of $1.7465. In addition, if a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person after the Distribution Date or already is an Acquiring Person and acquires more shares after the Distribution Date, all holders of Rights, except the Acquiring Person, may exercise their rights to purchase a number of shares of the common stock (in lieu of Series A Stock) with a market value of twice the Exercise Price, upon payment of the purchase price.
The Rights will expire on the earliest of (a) October 28, 2025, (b) the exchange or redemption of the Rights, (c) consummation of a merger or consolidation or sale of assets resulting in expiration of the Rights, (d) the consummation of a reorganization transaction entered that the board of directors determines will help prevent an “Ownership Change,” as defined in Section 382 of the Code and protect our net operating losses, (e) the repeal of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code or any successor statute, or any other change, if the board of directors determines the Third Amended and Restated Rights Agreement is no longer necessary for the preservation of tax benefits, or (f) the beginning of a taxable year to which the board of directors determines that no tax benefits may be carried forward.
We may, at our option and with the approval of the board of directors, at any time prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the tenth day following the first date of public announcement by us or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such or such later date as may be determined by action of a majority of the members of the board of directors then in office and publicly announced by us or (ii) October 28, 2025, redeem all but not less than all the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $0.01 per Right (such redemption price being herein referred to as the “Redemption Price”). We may, at our option, pay the Redemption Price either in common stock (based on the current per share market price
 
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thereof) or cash; provided, that if the board of directors authorizes redemption of the Rights on or after the time a person becomes an Acquiring Person, then such authorization shall require the concurrence of a majority of the members of the board of directors then in office. In addition, after a person becomes an Acquiring Person the board of directors may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by the Acquiring Person or its affiliates), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one common share per Right (subject to adjustment).
The Rights have certain anti-takeover effects, including potentially discouraging a takeover that stockholders may consider favorable. The Rights will cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire us on terms not approved by the board of directors. On the other hand, the Rights should not interfere with any merger or other business combination approved by the board of directors since the Rights may be redeemed by us at the Redemption Price prior to the date ten days after the public announcement that a person or group has become the beneficial owner of 4.9% or more of the common stock, and any securities which a person or any of such person’s affiliates may be deemed to have the right to acquire pursuant to any merger or other acquisition agreement between us and such person may be excluded from the calculation of their beneficial ownership if such agreement has been approved by the board of directors prior to them becoming an Acquiring Person.
The transfer agent and registrar for our Series A Stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
General
Prior to issuance of shares of each series of our undesignated preferred stock, our board of directors is required by the Delaware General Corporate Law, or DGCL, and our certificate of incorporation to adopt resolutions and file a Certificate of Designation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, fixing for each such series the designations, powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions of the shares of such series. Our board of directors could authorize the issuance of additional shares of preferred stock with terms and conditions which could have the effect of discouraging a takeover or other transaction which holders of some, or a majority, of such shares might believe to be in their best interests or in which holders of some, or a majority, of such shares might receive a premium for their shares over the then-market price of such shares.
Subject to limitations prescribed by the DGCL, our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws, our board of directors is authorized to fix the number of shares constituting each series of preferred stock and the designations, powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions of the shares of such series, including such provisions as may be desired concerning voting, redemption, dividends, dissolution or the distribution of assets, conversion or exchange and such other subjects or matters as may be fixed by resolution of the board of directors. Each series of preferred stock that we offer under this prospectus will, when issued, be fully paid and nonassessable and will not have, or be subject to, any preemptive or similar rights.
The applicable prospectus supplement(s) will describe the following terms of the series of preferred stock in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered:
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the title and stated value of the preferred stock;
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the number of shares of the preferred stock offered, the liquidation preference per share and the purchase price of the preferred stock;
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the dividend rate(s), period(s) and/or payment date(s) or the method(s) of calculation for dividends;
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whether dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends on the preferred stock will accumulate;
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the procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any, for the preferred stock;
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the provisions for a sinking fund, if any, for the preferred stock;
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the provisions for redemption, if applicable, of the preferred stock;
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any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange or market;
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the terms and conditions, if applicable, upon which the preferred stock will be convertible into common stock or another series of our preferred stock, including the conversion price (or its manner of calculation) and conversion period;
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the terms and conditions, if applicable, upon which preferred stock is exchangeable into our debt securities, including the exchange price, or its manner of calculation, and exchange period;
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voting rights, if any, of the preferred stock;
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a discussion of any material and/or special U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred stock;
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whether interests in the preferred stock will be represented by depositary shares;
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the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs;
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any limitations on issuance of any series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs; and
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any other specific terms, preferences, rights, limitations or restrictions on the preferred stock.
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Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, with respect to dividend rights and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the preferred stock will rank:
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senior to all classes or series of our common stock, and to all equity securities issued by us the terms of which specifically provide that such equity securities rank junior to the preferred stock with respect to dividend rights or rights upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of us;
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on a parity with all equity securities issued by us that do not rank senior or junior to the preferred stock with respect to dividend rights or rights upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of us; and
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junior to all equity securities issued by us the terms of which do not specifically provide that such equity securities rank on a parity with or junior to the preferred stock with respect to dividend rights or rights upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of us (including any entity with which we may be merged or consolidated or to which all or substantially all of our assets may be transferred or which transfers all or substantially all of our assets).
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As used for these purposes, the term “equity securities” does not include convertible debt securities.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of Our Certificate of Incorporation, Our Bylaws and Delaware Law
Some provisions of Delaware law, our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws contain provisions that could make the following transactions more difficult: an acquisition of us by means of a tender offer; an acquisition of us by means of a proxy contest or otherwise; or the removal of our incumbent officers and directors. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish or could deter transactions that stockholders may otherwise consider to be in their best interest or in our best interests, including transactions that might result in a premium over the market price for our shares.
These provisions, summarized below, are intended to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate take-over bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of the increased protection of our potential ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure us outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging these proposals because negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.
Undesignated Preferred Stock and Rights to Purchase Series A Stock
The Rights described above to acquire Series A Stock, and the ability to authorize additional undesignated preferred stock, makes it possible for our board of directors to issue preferred stock with
 
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voting or other rights or preferences that could impede the success of any attempt to change control of us. These and other provisions may have the effect of deferring hostile takeovers or delaying changes in control or management of our company.
Stockholder Meetings
Our bylaws provide that a special meeting of stockholders may be called only by our chairman of the board, chief executive officer or by our secretary upon order of our board of directors or the holders of 10% of the outstanding shares of each class entitled to vote. Only one special meeting may be called per calendar year, unless at least 13 months have passed since the last annual meeting, in which case a second special meeting may be called.
Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals
Our bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals to be brought before a stockholder meeting and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of the board of directors or a committee of the board of directors.
Limitations on Stockholder Action by Written Consent
Our bylaws generally grants stockholders a 20-day right to reconsider and revoke an act consented to by written consent without a meeting, except for a consent solicitation conducted by us when the matter is on behalf of the board of directors and is uncontested. Written consents are valid only for 60 days from the earliest date of consents delivered to us.
Common Stock Ownership of Directors and Chief Executive Officer
Our bylaws provide common stock ownership guidelines for our independent directors and our Chief Executive Officer. Independent directors are expected to acquire and hold during their service as directors a number of shares based on years of service, ranging from one year by value of board compensation within two years of becoming a board member, to 4 years by value of board compensation within ten years of becoming a board member. Our Chief Executive Officer is expected to acquire and hold during his or her service as CEO a number of shares valued as one year’s worth of annual base compensation.
Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute
We are subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, which prohibits persons deemed to be “interested stockholders” from engaging in a “business combination” with a publicly held Delaware corporation for three years following the date these persons become interested stockholders unless the business combination is, or the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder was, approved in a prescribed manner or another prescribed exception applies. Generally, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status did own, 15% or more of a corporation’s voting stock. Generally, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. The existence of this provision may have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions not approved in advance by the board of directors.
The provisions of Delaware law, our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws could have the effect of discouraging others from attempting hostile takeovers and, as a consequence, they may also inhibit temporary fluctuations in the market price of our common stock that often result from actual or rumored hostile takeover attempts. These provisions may also have the effect of preventing changes in the composition of our board and management. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish transactions that stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
We may issue debt warrants to purchase debt securities, as well as equity warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock. The warrants may be issued independently or together with any securities
 
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and may be attached to or separate from the securities. The warrants are to be issued under warrant agreements to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all as shall be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to warrants being offered pursuant to such prospectus supplement. The following description of warrants will apply to the warrants offered by this prospectus unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement for a particular series of warrants may specify different or additional terms.
Debt Warrants
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of debt warrants offered, the warrant agreement relating to the debt warrants and the debt warrant certificates representing the debt warrants, including the following:
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the title of the debt warrants;
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the aggregate number of the debt warrants;
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the price or prices at which the debt warrants will be issued;
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the designation, aggregate principal amount and terms of the debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the debt warrants, and the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of the debt warrants;
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the designation and terms of any related debt securities with which the debt warrants are issued, and the number of debt warrants issued with each debt security;
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the date, if any, on and after which the debt warrants and the related debt securities will be separately transferable;
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the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of each debt warrant;
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the date on which the right to exercise the debt warrants will commence, and the date on which this right will expire;
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the maximum or minimum number of debt warrants which may be exercised at any time;
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a discussion of any material Federal income tax considerations; and
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any other terms of the debt warrants and terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exercise of debt warrants.
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Holders may exercise debt warrants at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement. Prior to the exercise of their debt warrants, holders of debt warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the debt securities purchasable upon exercise and will not be entitled to payment of principal or any premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities purchasable upon exercise.
Equity Warrants
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms of equity warrants offered:
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the title of the equity warrants;
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the securities (i.e., common stock or preferred stock) for which the equity warrants are exercisable;
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the price or prices at which the equity warrants will be issued;
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if applicable, the designation and terms of the common stock or preferred stock with which the equity warrants are issued, and the number of equity warrants issued with each share of common stock or preferred stock;
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if applicable, the date on and after which the equity warrants and the related common stock or preferred stock will be separately transferable;
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if applicable, a discussion of any material Federal income tax considerations; and
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•
any other terms of the equity warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of equity warrants.
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Prior to exercise of the equity warrants, holders of equity warrants will not be entitled, by virtue of being such holders, to vote, consent, receive dividends, receive notice as stockholders with respect to any meeting of stockholders for the election of our directors or any other matter, or to exercise any rights whatsoever as our stockholders.
The exercise price payable and the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon the exercise of each equity warrant will be subject to adjustment in certain events, including the issuance of a stock dividend to holders of common stock or preferred stock or a stock split, reverse stock split, combination, subdivision or reclassification of common stock or preferred stock. In lieu of adjusting the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of each equity warrant, we may elect to adjust the number of equity warrants. We are not required to make adjustments in the number of shares purchasable upon exercise of the equity warrants 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. 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 of stock and other securities and property, including cash, receivable by a holder of the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock into which the equity warrant was exercisable immediately prior to such transaction.
Exercise of Warrants
Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase for cash such principal amount of securities or shares of stock 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.
DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS
We may issue rights to purchase our common stock. The rights may or may not be transferable by the persons purchasing or receiving the rights. In connection with any rights offering, we may enter into a standby underwriting or other arrangement with one or more underwriters or other persons pursuant to which such underwriters or other persons would purchase any offered securities remaining unsubscribed for after such rights offering. Each series of rights will be issued under a separate rights agent agreement to be entered into between us and one or more banks, trust companies or other financial institutions, as rights agent, that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement. The rights agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the rights and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of rights certificates or beneficial owners of rights.
The prospectus supplement and any incorporated documents relating to any rights that we offer will include specific terms relating to the offering, including, among other matters:
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the date of determining the security holders entitled to the rights distribution;
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the aggregate number of rights issued and the aggregate number of shares of common stock purchasable upon exercise of the rights;
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the exercise price;
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the conditions to completion of the rights offering;
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the date on which the right to exercise the rights will commence and the date on which the rights will expire;
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the extent to which the rights may include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed shares or an over-allotment privilege to the extent shares are fully subscribed;
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if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting or purchase arrangement; and
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a discussion of certain United States federal income tax consequences applicable to the rights offering.
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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the general features of the units that we may offer under this prospectus. We may issue units consisting of two or more other constituent securities. These units may be issuable as, and for a specified period of time may be transferable only as a single security, rather than as the separate constituent securities comprising such units. While the features we have summarized below will generally apply to any units we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any units that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The specific terms of any units may differ from the description provided below as a result of negotiations with third parties in connection with the issuance of those units, as well as for other reasons. Because the terms of any units we offer under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms we describe below, you should rely solely on information in the applicable prospectus supplement if that summary is different from the summary in this prospectus.
We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement related to the specific units being offered, as well as the complete instruments that contain the terms of the securities that comprise those units. Certain of those instruments, or forms of those instruments, have been or will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and supplements to those instruments or forms may be incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part from reports we file with the SEC.
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:
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the title of the series of units;
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identification and description of the separate constituent securities comprising the units;
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the price or prices at which the units will be issued;
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the date, if any, on and after which the constituent securities comprising the units will be separately transferable;
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a discussion of certain United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the units; and
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any other terms of the units and their constituent securities.
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Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Units
Any 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 any 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.
 
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GLOBAL SECURITIES
Book-Entry, Delivery and Form
Unless we indicate differently in a prospectus supplement, the securities initially will be issued in book-entry form and represented by one or more global notes or global securities, or, collectively, global securities. The global securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, as depositary, or DTC, and registered in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of DTC. Unless and until it is exchanged for individual certificates evidencing securities under the limited circumstances described below, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary to its nominee or by the nominee to the depositary, or by the depositary or its nominee to a successor depositary or to a nominee of the successor depositary.
DTC has advised us that it is:
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a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law;
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a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law;
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a member of the Federal Reserve System;
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a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code; and
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a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act.
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DTC holds securities that its participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among its participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. “Direct participants” in DTC include securities brokers and dealers, including underwriters, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other organizations. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, or DTCC. DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others, which we sometimes refer to as indirect participants, that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the Commission.
Purchases of securities under the DTC system must be made by or through direct participants, which will receive a credit for the securities on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of the actual purchaser of a security, which we sometimes refer to as a beneficial owner, is in turn recorded on the direct and indirect participants’ records. Beneficial owners of securities will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchases. However, beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of their transactions, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect participants through which they purchased securities. Transfers of ownership interests in global securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the global securities, except under the limited circumstances described below.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all global securities deposited by direct participants with DTC will be registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other nominee will not change the beneficial ownership of the securities. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the securities. DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts the securities are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The participants are responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
So long as the securities are in book-entry form, you will receive payments and may transfer securities only through the facilities of the depositary and its direct and indirect participants. We will maintain an office or agency in the location specified in the prospectus supplement for the applicable securities, where notices and demands in respect of the securities and the indenture may be delivered to us and where certificated securities may be surrendered for payment, registration of transfer or exchange.
 
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Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants and by direct participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any legal requirements in effect from time to time.
Redemption notices will be sent to DTC. If less than all of the securities of a particular series are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each direct participant in the securities of such series to be redeemed.
Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (or such other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the securities. Under its usual procedures, DTC will mail an omnibus proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns the consenting or voting rights of Cede & Co. to those direct participants to whose accounts the securities of such series are credited on the record date, identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy.
So long as securities are in book-entry form, we will make payments on those securities to the depositary or its nominee, as the registered owner of such securities, by wire transfer of immediately available funds. If securities are issued in definitive certificated form under the limited circumstances described below, we will have the option of making payments by check mailed to the addresses of the persons entitled to payment or by wire transfer to bank accounts in the United States designated in writing to the applicable trustee or other designated party at least 15 days before the applicable payment date by the persons entitled to payment.
Redemption proceeds, distributions and dividend payments on the securities will be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us on the payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC records. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the account of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name.” Those payments will be the responsibility of participants and not of DTC or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements in effect from time to time. Payment of redemption proceeds, distributions and dividend payments to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC, is our responsibility, disbursement of payments to direct participants is the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of payments to the beneficial owners is the responsibility of direct and indirect participants.
Except under the limited circumstances described below, purchasers of securities will not be entitled to have securities registered in their names and will not receive physical delivery of securities. Accordingly, each beneficial owner must rely on the procedures of DTC and its participants to exercise any rights under the securities and the indenture.
The laws of some jurisdictions may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. Those laws may impair the ability to transfer or pledge beneficial interests in securities.
DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depository with respect to the securities at any time by giving reasonable notice to us. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor depository is not obtained, securities certificates are required to be printed and delivered.
As noted above, beneficial owners of a particular series of securities generally will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in those securities. However, if:
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DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a depositary for the global security or securities representing such series of securities or if DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act at a time when it is required to be registered and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days of the notification to us or of our becoming aware of DTC’s ceasing to be so registered, as the case may be;
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we determine, in our sole discretion, not to have such securities represented by one or more global securities; or
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an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to such series of securities.
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We will prepare and deliver certificates for such securities in exchange for beneficial interests in the global securities. Any beneficial interest in a global security that is exchangeable under the circumstances described in the preceding sentence will be exchangeable for securities in definitive certificated form registered in the names that the depositary directs. It is expected that these directions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from its participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the global securities.
We have obtained the information in this section and elsewhere in this prospectus concerning DTC and DTC’s book-entry system from sources that are believed to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information.
LEGAL MATTERS
Cozen O’Connor, P.C, Minneapolis, Minnesota, will issue an opinion about certain legal matters with respect to the securities offered hereby.
EXPERTS
Marcum LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements at December 31, 2023 and 2022 and for each of the years in the period ended December 31, 2023, as set forth in its report included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Our consolidated financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on Marcum LLP’s reports, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities offered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information in the registration statement. For further information about us and the securities offered by this prospectus, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits filed as part of the registration statement. You may read and copy the registration statement as well as our reports, proxy statements and other documents we file with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information about the operation of the public reference room. The SEC also maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy statements and other information about issuers, like us, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is www.sec.gov.
INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with the SEC. This allows us to disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents, instead of having to repeat the information in this prospectus. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede such information. We have previously filed the following documents with the SEC and incorporate them by reference into this prospectus:
•
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 (the “Annual Report”); and
​
•
The description of our securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 filed on February 26, 2024 as Exhibit 4.5 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, including any amendment or report filed for the purposes of updating such description.
​
We also are incorporating by reference any future information filed (rather than furnished) by us with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act between the date of this prospectus and the date all securities to which this prospectus relates have been sold or the offering is otherwise terminated
 
26
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and also between the date of the registration statement that contains this prospectus and prior to effectiveness of such registration statement. The most recent information that we file with the SEC automatically updates and supersedes more dated information.
We will furnish without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the reports or documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus but not delivered with the prospectus, including exhibits that are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents. You can access the reports and documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus at https://investor.asuresoftware.com/financial-information.You may also direct any requests for reports or documents to:
Asure Software, Inc.
405 Colorado Street, Suite 1800
Austin, Texas 78701
Attn: Investor Relations
(512) 437-2678
 
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14.   Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The following table sets forth the costs and expenses payable by Asure Software, Inc. in connection with the sale of the securities being registered hereby.
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
Amount to be
Paid
​
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ $ 5,775.00 ​ ​
Printing and engraving expenses
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​* ​ ​
Legal fees and expenses
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​* ​ ​
Accounting fees and expenses
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​* ​ ​
Transfer agent and registrar fees
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​* ​ ​
Trust fees and expenses
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​* ​ ​
Miscellaneous expenses
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​* ​ ​
Total
​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​* ​ ​
​
*
These fees cannot be estimated at this time as they are calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances.
​
ITEM 15.   Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
As permitted by Section 102 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL, we have adopted provisions in our certificate of incorporation that limit or eliminate the personal liability of our directors for monetary damages for a breach of their fiduciary duty of care as a director, except for liability for:
•
any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders;
​
•
any act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;
​
•
any act related to unlawful stock repurchases, redemptions or other distributions or payment of dividends; or
​
•
any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
​
These limitations of liability do not affect the availability of equitable remedies such as injunctive relief or rescission.
Our certificate of incorporation also authorizes us to indemnify our officers, directors and other agents to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law. As permitted by the DGCL, our certificate of incorporation provides that:
•
we may indemnify our directors, officers, and employees to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, subject to limited exceptions;
​
•
we may advance expenses to our directors, officers and employees in connection with a legal proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, subject to limited exceptions; and
​
•
the rights provided in our certificate of incorporation are not exclusive.
​
We have also entered into separate indemnification agreements with our directors and officers that may be broader than the specific indemnification provisions contained in the Delaware General Corporation Law.
 
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ITEM 16.   Exhibits.
​
Exhibit No.
​ ​
Description
​
​
3.1(1)
​ ​ ​
​
3.2(2)
​ ​ ​
​
3.3(3)
​ ​ ​
​
3.4(4)
​ ​ ​
​
3.5(5)
​ ​ ​
​
4.1(6)
​ ​ ​
​
4.2(7)
​ ​ ​
​
4.5(8)
​ ​ ​
​
4.6*
​ ​ Form of Preferred Stock Certificate ​
​
4.7*
​ ​ Form of Debt Security ​
​
4.8*
​ ​ Form of Debt Warrant ​
​
4.9*
​ ​ Form of Equity Warrant ​
​
4.10**
​ ​ ​
​
4.11*
​ ​ Form of Rights Agent Agreement ​
​
4.12*
​ ​ Form of Unit Agreement ​
​
5.1**
​ ​ ​
​
23.1**
​ ​ ​
​
23.2**
​ ​ ​
​
24.1**
​ ​ ​
​
25.1*
​ ​ ​
​
107**
​ ​ Filing Fee Table. ​
​
(1)
Filed on May 11, 2017 as Exhibit 3.1 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017.
​
(2)
Filed on June 1, 2020, as Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K.
​
(3)
Filed on November 9, 2018, as Exhibit 3.1 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2018.
​
(4)
Filed on April 6, 2020, as Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K.
​
(5)
Filed February 26, 2024, as Exhibit 3.5 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
​
(6)
Filed on December 13, 2012, as Exhibit 4.1 to our Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-185448).
​
(7)
Filed on June 3, 2022, as Exhibit 4.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K.
​
(8)
Filed February 26, 2024, as Exhibit 4.5 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
​
*
To be filed by amendment or incorporated by reference in connection with the offering of the securities.
​
**
Filed herewith.
​
 
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ITEM 17.   Undertakings.
(a)   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1)   To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i)   To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii)   To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii)   To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in this registration statement.
Provided , however, that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) above do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form F-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC 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 statements or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is a 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 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)   That, for 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)   Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided , however , that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or
 
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modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(5)   That for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser: (i) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; (ii) any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant; (iii) the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and (iv) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(b)   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that: (i) for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of the registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the time it was declared effective; and (ii) for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c)   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(d)   Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is therefore unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933, and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(e)   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the Trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
 
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Austin, State of Texas, on April 9, 2024.
ASURE SOFTWARE, INC.
By:
/s/ Patrick Goepel
​
​
Patrick Goepel
Its: Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each of the undersigned directors and officers of Asure Software, Inc. hereby constitutes and appoints each of Patrick Goepel and John Pence as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Registration Statement filed herewith and any and all amendments to this Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments and any related registration statements thereto filed pursuant to Rule 462 and otherwise), and cause the same to be filed with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully for all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or his or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
​
Signature
​ ​
Title
​ ​
Date
​
​
/s/ Patrick Goepel
​
Patrick Goepel
​ ​ Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board and Director
(Principal Executive Officer) 		​ ​
April 9, 2024
​
​
/s/ John Pence
​
John Pence
​ ​ Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) 		​ ​
April 9, 2024
​
​
/s/ Daniel Gill
​
Daniel Gill
​ ​ Lead Independent Director ​ ​
April 9, 2024
​
​
/s/ Benjamin Allen
​
Benjamin Allen
​ ​ Director ​ ​
April 9, 2024
​
​
/s/ W. Carl Drew
​
W. Carl Drew
​ ​ Director ​ ​
April 9, 2024
​
​
/s/ Grace Lee
​
Grace Lee
​ ​ Director ​ ​
April 9, 2024
​
 
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​
Signature
​ ​
Title
​ ​
Date
​
​
/s/ Bradford Oberwager
​
Bradford Oberwager
​ ​ Director ​ ​
April 9, 2024
​
​
/s/ Bjorn Reynolds
​
Bjorn Reynolds
​ ​ Director ​ ​
April 9, 2024
​
 
II-6

 

Exhibit 4.10

 

FORM OF INDENTURE

 

Dated as of [ ]

 

Between

 

ASURE SOFTWARE, INC.

 

as Issuer

 

and

 

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

 

as Trustee

 

 

 

 

CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THIS INDENTURE

 

RELATING TO SECTIONS 310 THROUGH 318 INCLUSIVE,

 

OF THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939

 

Trust Indenture Act Section  Indenture
Section		 
Section 3.10(a)(1)   609 
(a)(2)   609 
(a)(3)   Not Applicable 
(a)(4)   Not Applicable 
(b)   608 
    610 
Section 3.11(a)   613 
(b)   613 
Section 3.12(a)   701 
    702 
(b)   702 
(c)   702 
Section 3.13(a)   703 
(b)   703 
(c)   703 
(d)   703 
Section 3.14(a)   704 
(a)(4)   1004 
(b)   Not Applicable 
(c)(1)   102 
(c)(2)   102 
(c)(3)   Not Applicable 
(d)   Not Applicable 
(e)   102 
Section 3.15(a)   601 
(b)   602 
(c)   601 
(d)   601 
(e)   513 
Section 3.16(a)   101 
(a)(1)(A)   502 
    511 
(a)(1)(B)   512 
(a)(2)   Not Applicable 
(b)   508 
(c)   104 
Section 3.17(a)(1)   504 
(a)(2)   504 
(b)   1003 
Section 3.18(a)   107 

 

NOTE: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of this Indenture.

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION 1
     
Section 101. Definitions 1
Section 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions 6
Section 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee 6
Section 104. Acts of Holders; Record Dates 6
Section 105. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company 8
Section 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver 8
Section 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act 9
Section 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents 9
Section 109. Successors and Assigns 9
Section 110. Separability Clause 9
Section 111. Benefits of Indenture 9
Section 112. Governing Law 9
Section 113. Legal Holidays 9
Section 114. No Recourse Against Others 10
Section 115. Waiver of Jury Trial; Jurisdiction 10
Section 116. USA PATRIOT Act 10
Section 117. Entire Agreement 10
   
ARTICLE II SECURITY FORMS 10
     
Section 201. Forms Generally 10
Section 202. Form of Legend for Global Securities 11
Section 203. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication 11
   
ARTICLE III THE SECURITIES 11
     
Section 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series 11
Section 302. Denominations 14
Section 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating 14
Section 304. Temporary Securities 15
Section 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange 15
Section 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities 17
Section 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved 18
Section 308. Persons Deemed Owners 19
Section 309. Cancellation 19
Section 310. Computation of Interest 19
Section 311. CUSIP Numbers 19
Section 312. Original Issue Discount 19
   
ARTICLE IV SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE 19
     
Section 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture 19
Section 402. Application of Trust Money 20
   
ARTICLE V REMEDIES 21
     
Section 501. Events of Default 21
Section 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment 22
Section 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee 22
Section 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim 23
Section 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities 23
Section 506. Application of Money Collected 23
Section 507. Limitation on Suits 24
Section 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest and to Convert Securities 24
Section 509. Rights and Remedies Cumulative 24
Section 510. Delay or Omission Not Waiver 24
Section 511. Control by Holders 25
Section 512. Waiver of Past Defaults 25

 

i

 

 

    Page
Section 513. Undertaking for Costs 25
Section 514. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws 25
Section 515. Restoration of Rights and Remedies 26
   
ARTICLE VI THE TRUSTEE 26
     
Section 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee 26
Section 602. Notice of Defaults 27
Section 603. Certain Rights of Trustee 27
Section 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities 28
Section 605. May Hold Securities 28
Section 606. Money Held in Trust 28
Section 607. Compensation and Reimbursement 28
Section 608. Conflicting Interests 29
Section 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility 29
Section 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor 29
Section 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor 31
Section 612. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business 31
Section 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company 32
   
ARTICLE VII HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE AND THE COMPANY 32
     
Section 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders 32
Section 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders 32
Section 703. Reports by Trustee 32
Section 704. Reports by the Company 32
   
ARTICLE VIII CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE OF ASSETS 33
     
Section 801. Company May Merge or Transfer Assets on Certain Terms 33
Section 802. Successor Person Substituted 33
   
ARTICLE IX SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES 33
     
Section 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders 33
Section 902. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders 34
Section 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures 35
Section 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures 36
Section 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act 36
Section 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures 36
   
ARTICLE X COVENANTS 36
     
Section 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest 36
Section 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency 36
Section 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust 37
Section 1004. Statement by Officers as to Default 37
Section 1005. Waiver of Certain Covenants 38
   
ARTICLE XI REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES 38
     
Section 1101. Applicability of Article 38
Section 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee 38
Section 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed 38
Section 1104. Notice of Redemption 39
Section 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price 40
Section 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date 40
Section 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part 40
   
ARTICLE XII [RESERVED] 41
   
ARTICLE XIII DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE 41
     
Section 1301. Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance 41
Section 1302. Defeasance and Discharge 41
Section 1303. Covenant Defeasance 41
Section 1304. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance 42
Section 1305. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions 43
Section 1306. Reinstatement 43
Section 1307. Multiple Originals; Electronic Signatures 43

 

ii

 

 

INDENTURE

 

THIS INDENTURE is dated as of [ ], between Asure Software, Inc., a Delaware corporation (herein called the “Company”) and Wilmington Trust, National Association , as trustee (herein called the “Trustee”).

 

RECITALS

 

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its debt securities (herein called the “Securities”), to be issued in one or more series as in this Indenture provided.

 

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

 

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

 

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of any series thereof, as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS

OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

Section 101. Definitions.

 

For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

 

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

 

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

 

(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with GAAP;

 

(4) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Article” or a “Section” refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may be, of this Indenture;

 

(5) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;

 

(6) “including” means including without limitation;

 

(7) when used with respect to any Security, the words “convert,” “converted” and “conversion” are intended to refer to the right of the Holder or the Company to convert or exchange such Security into or for securities or other property in accordance with such terms, if any, as may hereafter be specified for such Security as contemplated by Section 301, and these words are not intended to refer to any right of the Holder or the Company to exchange such Security for other Securities of the same series and like tenor pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1107 or another similar provisions of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires; and references herein to the terms of any Security that may be converted mean such terms as may be specified for such Security as contemplated in Section 301; and

 

1

 

 

(8) unless otherwise provided, references to agreements and other instruments shall be deemed to include all amendments and other modifications to such agreements and instruments, but only to the extent such amendments and other modifications are not prohibited by the terms of this Indenture.

 

“Act,” when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 104.

 

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

 

“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to a Depositary, as to any matter at any time, the policies and procedures of such Depositary, if any, that are applicable to such matter at such time.

 

“Bankruptcy Law” has the meaning specified in Section 501.

 

“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of that board or any director or directors and/or officer or officers of the Company to whom that board or committee shall have duly delegated its authority.

 

“Board Resolution” means a copy of one or more resolutions certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Business Day” means, when used with respect to any Place of Payment, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, which is not a federal holiday or any day on which banking institutions are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close in that Place of Payment.

 

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

 

“Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person.

 

“Company Request” or “Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by an Officer of the Company (or any Person designated in writing as authorized to execute and deliver Company Requests and Company Orders), and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business related to this Indenture shall be conducted (which office is located as of the date of this Indenture at Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890, Attention: Asure Software, Inc., Administrator, or at any other time at such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Company and the Holders).

 

“Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 1303.

 

“Custodian” has the meaning specified in Section 501.

 

“Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

 

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 307.

 

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“Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 1302.

 

“Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any series issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary for such Securities as contemplated by Section 301.

 

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 501.

 

“Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

“Expiration Date” has the meaning specified in Section 104.

 

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (including, if applicable, International Financial Reporting Standards) as in effect from time to time.

 

“Global Security” means a Security that evidences all or part of the Securities of any series and bears the legend set forth in Section 202 (or such legend as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities).

 

“Holder” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register.

 

“Indenture” means this Indenture as originally executed and as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this Indenture and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this Indenture and any such supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” shall also include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301.

 

“interest” means, when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, interest payable after Maturity.

 

“Interest Payment Date” means, when used with respect to any Security, the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.

 

“Internal Revenue Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

“Maturity” means, when used with respect to any Security, the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.

 

“Notice of Default” means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 501.

 

“Officer” means the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President, Vice President or Assistant Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of any Person, or any other officer of such Person designated by any such individuals.

 

“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by an Officer of the Company.

 

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel (who may be counsel for the Company) and who shall be acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of the Company. Opinions of Counsel required to be delivered under this Indenture may have qualifications customary for opinions of the type required and counsel delivering such Opinions of Counsel may rely as to factual matters on certificates of the Company or governmental or other officials customary for opinions of the type required.

 

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“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502.

 

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

 

(1) Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

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

 

(3) Securities as to which Defeasance has been effected pursuant to Section 1302;

 

(4) Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 306 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a protected purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company; and

 

(5) Securities as to which any property deliverable upon conversion thereof has been delivered (or such delivery has been made available), or as to which any other particular conditions have been satisfied, in each case as may be provided for such Securities as contemplated in Section 301; provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given, made or taken any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action hereunder as of any date, (A) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof which would be due and payable as of such date upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof to such date pursuant to Section 502, (B) if, as of such date, the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of a Security is not determinable, the principal amount of such Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount as specified or determined as contemplated by Section 301, (C) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more foreign currencies, composite currencies or currency units which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined as of such date in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 301, of the principal amount of such Security (or, in the case of a Security described in clause (A) or (B) above, of the amount determined as provided in such clause), and (D) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, only Securities which a Responsible Officer actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor.

 

“Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company.

 

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

 

“Place of Payment” means, when used with respect to the Securities of any series, the place or places where the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of such series are payable as specified as contemplated by Section 301.

 

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“Predecessor Security” means, with respect to any particular Security, every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.

 

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

 

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

 

“Regular Record Date” means, for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series, the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 301.

 

“Repayment Date” means, when used with respect to a Security to be repaid at the option of a Holder, the date fixed for such repayment by or pursuant to this Indenture.

 

“Responsible Officer” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by such persons and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject, in each case, who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

 

“Securities” has the meaning specified in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

 

“Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

“Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 305.

 

“Special Record Date” means, for the payment of any Defaulted Interest, a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307.

 

“Stated Maturity” means, when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, 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” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership (including limited partnership), joint venture, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock (or equivalent equity interest) is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries (or a combination thereof). For purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means with respect to any specified “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), the capital stock of such person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors of such person.

 

“Trust Indenture Act” means the U.S. Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this Indenture was executed; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “Trust Indenture Act” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

 

“Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this Indenture 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 such series.

 

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“U.S. Government Obligation” has the meaning specified in Section 1304(1).

 

Section 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

 

Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee, if requested by the Trustee, an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of an Officer’s Certificate and/or an Opinion of Counsel is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

 

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (except for certificates provided for in Section 1004) shall include:

 

(1) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;

 

(2) 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;

 

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

 

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

 

Section 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

 

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

 

Any certificate or opinion of an Officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such Officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which such Officer’s certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an Officer or Officers of the Company stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

 

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

 

Section 104. Acts of Holders; Record Dates.

 

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and, subject to Section 601, conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section 104.

 

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The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved in any manner which the Trustee reasonably deems sufficient. Where such execution is by a Person acting in a capacity other than such Person’s individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of such Person’s authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

 

The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register.

 

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.

 

The Company may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to give, make or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders of Securities of such series; provided that the Company may not set a record date for, and the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply with respect to, the giving or making of any notice, declaration, request or direction referred to in the next paragraph. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to take the relevant action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Company from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company, at its own expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106.

 

The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to join in the giving or making of (i) any Notice of Default, (ii) any declaration of acceleration referred to in Section 502, (iii) any request to institute proceedings referred to in Section 507(2) or (iv) any direction referred to in Section 511, in each case with respect to Securities of such series. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Company in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106.

 

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With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section 104, the party hereto which sets such record dates may designate any day as the “Expiration Date” and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day; provided that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106, on or prior to the existing Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section 104, the party hereto which set such record date shall be deemed to have initially designated the 180th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided in this paragraph.

 

Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount.

 

In addition to the foregoing, the Trustee agrees to accept and act upon notice, instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by unsecured e-mail, facsimile transmission or other similar unsecured electronic methods; provided, however, that (a) the party providing such written instructions, subsequent to such transmission of written instructions, shall provide the originally executed instructions or directions to the Trustee in a timely manner, and (b) such originally executed instructions or directions shall be signed by an authorized representative of the party providing such instructions or directions. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reasonable reliance upon and compliance with such instructions notwithstanding such instructions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction.

 

Section 105. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company.

 

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,

 

(1) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing (which may be by facsimile) to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office at the location specified in Section 101; or

 

(2) the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company addressed to the attention of the Secretary of the Company at the address of the Company’s principal office specified in writing to the Trustee by the Company and, until further notice, at, in the case of the Company, 4931 North 300 West, Provo, UT 84604, facsimile: (801) 705-8087, Attention: Chief Legal Officer.

 

Section 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver.

 

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

 

In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

 

Where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to a Holder of a Global Security, such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary for such Security (or its designee), pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary, not later than the latest date, if any, and not earlier than the earliest date, if any, prescribed for the giving of such notice.

 

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Section 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

 

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act which is required under such Act to be a part of and govern this Indenture, the latter provision shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act which may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.

 

Section 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

 

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

 

Section 109. Successors and Assigns.

 

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

 

Section 110. Separability Clause.

 

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

 

Section 111. Benefits of Indenture.

 

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

 

Section 112. Governing Law.

 

This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.

 

Section 113. Legal Holidays.

 

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security, or any date on which a Holder has the right to convert such Holder’s Security, shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities (other than a provision of any Security which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section 113)) payment of principal and premium, if any, or interest, or the Redemption Price or conversion of such Security, need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, or at the Stated Maturity, or on such conversion date. In the case, however, of Securities of a series bearing interest at a floating rate based on the secured overnight financing rate as administered by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (SOFR), if any Interest Payment Date (other than the Redemption Date or Stated Maturity) would otherwise be a date that is not a Business Day, then the Interest Payment Date shall be postponed to the following date which is a Business Day, unless that Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, in which case the Interest Payment Date will be the immediately preceding Business Day. No interest shall accrue for the period from and after any such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Stated Maturity or conversion date, as the case may be, to the date of such payment.

 

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Section 114. 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 this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Security, each Holder shall waive and release all such liability. The waiver and release shall be part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.

 

Section 115. Waiver of Jury Trial; Jurisdiction.

 

EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY (AND THE HOLDERS, BY THEIR ACCEPTANCE OF THE NOTES) IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING AS BETWEEN THE COMPANY, THE HOLDERS AND THE TRUSTEE, AS APPLICABLE, ONLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE OR THE SECURITIES; AND (I) EACH OF THE COMPANY AND TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY FEDERAL OR STATE COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, THE CITY OF NEW YORK, (II) WAIVE ANY OBJECTION TO LAYING OF VENUE IN SUCH ACTION OR PROVEEDING IN SUCH COURTS, AND (III) WAIVE ANY OBJECTION THAT SUCH COURTS ARE IN THE INCONVENIENT FORUM OR DO NOT HAVE JURISDICTION OVER ANY PARTY.

 

Section 116. USA PATRIOT Act.

 

The parties hereto acknowledge that in order to help the United States government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, pursuant to Federal regulations that became effective on October 1, 2003 (Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act) all financial institutions are required to obtain, verify, record and update information that identifies each person establishing a relationship or opening an account. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide to the Trustee such information as it may request, from time to time, in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act, including but not limited to the name, address, tax identification number and other information that will allow it to identify the individual or entity who is establishing the relationship or opening the account and may also ask for formation documents such as articles of incorporation or other identifying documents to be provided.

 

Section 117. Entire Agreement.

 

This Indenture sets forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties related to this transaction and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written.

 

ARTICLE II

SECURITY FORMS

 

Section 201. Forms Generally.

 

The Securities of each series shall be in substantially such form or forms as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or, subject to Section 303, set forth in, or determined in the manner provided in, an Officer’s Certificate pursuant to authority granted by one or more Board Resolutions, or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with applicable tax laws or the rules of any securities exchange or Depositary therefor or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the Officer executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution thereof. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 303 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities. If all of the Securities of any series established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution are not to be issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver a record of such action at the time of issuance of each Security of such series, but an appropriate record of such action shall be delivered at or before the time of issuance of the first Security of such series.

 

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

 

Section 202. Form of Legend for Global Securities.

 

Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for the Securities evidenced thereby, every Global Security authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (“DTC”) TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

 

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF. TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

 

Section 203. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.

 

The Trustee’s certificates of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

 

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

 

Dated:

 

Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee
   
By:    
  Authorized Signatory  

 

ARTICLE III

THE SECURITIES

 

Section 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.

 

The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

 

The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to (a) a Board Resolution or pursuant to authority granted by one or more Board Resolutions and, subject to Section 303, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officer’s Certificate, or (b) one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series:

 

(1) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from Securities of any other series);

 

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(2) the limit, if any, on 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 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1107 and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 303, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);

 

(3) the Person to whom any interest on a Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest;

 

(4) whether the Securities rank as senior Securities, subordinated Securities or any combination thereof and the terms of any such subordination;

 

(5) the date or dates on which the principal of any Securities of the series is payable or the method used to determine or extend those dates;

 

(6) the rate or rates at which any Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which any such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date for any such interest payable on any Interest Payment Date;

 

(7) the place or places where the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable and the manner in which any payment may be made;

 

(8) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to redeem the Securities shall be evidenced;

 

(9) the obligation or the right, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase any Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or at the option of the Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

(10) if other than minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, the denominations in which any Securities of the series shall be issuable;

 

(11) if the amount of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Securities of the series may be determined with reference to a financial or economic measure or index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

 

(12) if other than the currency of the United States of America, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States of America for any purpose, including for purposes of the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 101;

 

(13) if the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Securities of the series is to be payable, at the election of the Company or the Holder thereof, in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such Securities are stated to be payable, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such Securities as to which such election is made shall be payable, the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made and the amount so payable (or the manner in which such amount shall be determined);

 

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(14) if other than the entire principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of any Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502;

 

(15) if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of any Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such Securities as of any such date for any purpose thereunder or hereunder, including the principal amount thereof which shall be due and payable upon any Maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which shall be deemed to be Outstanding as of any date prior to the Stated Maturity (or, in any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal amount shall be determined);

 

(16) if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to defease any Securities of the series pursuant to Section 1302 or Section 1303 shall be evidenced; whether any Securities of the series other than Securities denominated in U.S. dollars and bearing interest at a fixed rate are to be subject to Section 1302 or Section 1303; or, in the case of Securities denominated in U.S. dollars and bearing interest at a fixed rate, if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or any specified part, shall not be defeasible pursuant to Section 1302 or Section 1303 or both such Sections;

 

(17) if applicable, that any Securities of the series shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the respective Depositaries for such Global Securities, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by any such Global Security in addition to or in lieu of that set forth in Section 202 and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in clause (2) of the last paragraph of Section 305 in which any such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and any transfer of such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and any other provisions governing exchanges or transfers of such Global Security;

 

(18) any addition to, deletion from 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 502;

 

(19) any addition to, deletion from or change in the covenants set forth in Article X which applies to Securities of the series;

 

(20) if the Securities of the series are to be convertible into or exchangeable for cash and/or any securities or other property of any Person (including the Company), the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable;

 

(21) whether the Securities of the series will be guaranteed by any Person or Persons and, if so, the identity of such Person or Persons, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities shall be guaranteed and, if applicable, the terms and conditions upon which such guarantees may be subordinated to other indebtedness of the respective guarantors;

 

(22) whether the Securities of the series will be secured by any collateral and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities shall be secured and, if applicable, upon which such liens may be subordinated to other liens securing other indebtedness of the Company or any guarantor;

 

(23) if other than Wilmington Trust, National Association is to act as Trustee for the Securities of such series, the name and Corporate Trust Office of such Trustee;

 

(24) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 901(11)); and

 

(25) the CUSIP and/or ISIN number(s) of the Securities of the series.

 

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All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution referred to above or pursuant to authority granted by one or more Board Resolutions and, subject to Section 303, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officer’s Certificate referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

 

All Securities of any one series need not be issued at one time and, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution referred to above and, subject to Section 303, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officer’s Certificate referred to above or pursuant to authority granted by one or more Board Resolutions or in any such indenture supplemental hereto with respect to a series of Securities, additional Securities of a series may be issued, at the option of the Company, without the consent of any Holder, at any time and from time to time.

 

If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officer’s Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.

 

Section 302. Denominations.

 

The Securities of each series shall be issuable only in registered form without coupons and only in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 301. In the absence of any such specified denomination with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

Section 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

 

At least one Officer of the Company shall execute the Securities on behalf of the Company by manual, facsimile or electronic (including “.pdf”) signature.

 

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

 

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. If the form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions or pursuant to authority granted by one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Sections 201 and 301, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and, subject to Section 601, shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating,

 

(1) if the form of such Securities has been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution or pursuant to authority granted by one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Section 201, that such form has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

(2) if the terms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution or pursuant to authority granted by one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Section 301, that such terms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

 

(3) that such Securities, when authenticated by the Trustee and issued and delivered by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general equitable principles and (iii) an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

 

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If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will adversely affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not acceptable to the Trustee.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of the preceding paragraph of this Section 303, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, including in the event that the aggregate principal amount of a series of Outstanding Securities is increased as contemplated by Section 301, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officer’s Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 301 or Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to this Section 303 at or prior to the authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.

 

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 309, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

 

Section 304. Temporary Securities.

 

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and, upon Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities of such series in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the Officer or Officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution thereof.

 

If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of such series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for such series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor one or more definitive Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series and tenor.

 

Section 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

 

The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee a register (the register maintained in such office and in any other office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby appointed “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided.

 

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of a series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for such series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and principal amount.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906 or 1107 not involving any transfer.

 

If the Securities of any series (or of any series and specified tenor) are to be redeemed in part, the Company shall not be required (A) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of such series (or of such series and specified tenor, as the case may be) during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before sending a notice of redemption of any such Securities selected for redemption under Section 1103 and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (B) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

 

The provisions of clauses (1), (2), (3) and (4) of this paragraph shall apply only to Global Securities:

 

(1) Each Global Security authenticated under this Indenture shall be registered in the name of the Depositary designated for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depositary or a nominee thereof or custodian therefor, and each such Global Security shall constitute a single Security for all purposes of this Indenture.

 

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, and subject to such applicable provisions, if any, as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301, no Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and no transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof unless (A) such Depositary has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable or no longer permitted under applicable law to continue as Depositary for such Global Security, (B) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to such Global Security, (C) the Company so directs the Trustee by a Company Order or (D) there shall exist such circumstances, if any, in addition to or in lieu of the foregoing as have been specified for this purpose as contemplated by Section 301.

 

(3) Subject to clause (2) above and to such applicable provisions, if any, as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301, any exchange of a Global Security for other Securities may be made in whole or in part, and all Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof shall be registered in such names as the Depositary for such Global Security shall direct.

 

(4) Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security or any portion thereof, whether pursuant to this Section 305, Section 304, 306, 906 or 1107 or otherwise, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Security, unless such Security is registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof.

 

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None of the Trustee, the Security Registrar or any Paying Agent shall have any responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of an interest in a Global Security, any agent member or other member of, or a participant in, Depositary or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of Depositary or any nominee or participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Securities or with respect to the delivery to any agent member or other participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than Depositary) of any notice or the payment of any amount or delivery of any Securities (or other security or property) under or with respect to such Securities. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders in respect of the Securities shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holders (which shall be Depositary or its nominee in the case of a Global Security). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Security shall be exercised only through Depositary, subject to its applicable rules and procedures. The Trustee, Security Registrar and any Paying Agent may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by Depositary with respect to its agent members and other members, participants and any beneficial owners.

 

Neither the Trustee nor the Security Registrar or any Paying Agent shall have any obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Securities (including any transfers between or among direct participants or indirect participants in any Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

 

Section 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

 

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate, upon receipt of a Company Order, 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 (1) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (2) 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 protected purchaser, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate, upon receipt of a Company Order, and deliver, 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 306, 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 counsel to the Company and the fees and expenses of the Trustee and its counsel) connected therewith.

 

Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section 306 in lieu of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the mutilated, 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 such series duly issued hereunder.

 

The provisions of this Section 306 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.

 

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Section 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

 

Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

 

Any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (1) or (2) below:

 

(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest payable on Securities of a series to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Company shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of such Special Record Date and the Company or the Trustee, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be given to each Holder of Securities of such series in the manner set forth in Section 106, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (2).

 

(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

 

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 307, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

 

In the case of any Security which is converted after any Regular Record Date and on or prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (other than any Security whose Maturity is prior to such Interest Payment Date), interest whose Stated Maturity is on such Interest Payment Date shall be payable on such Interest Payment Date notwithstanding such conversion, and such interest (whether or not punctually paid or made available for payment) shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on such Regular Record Date. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the immediately preceding sentence, in the case of any Security which is converted, interest whose Stated Maturity is after the date of conversion of such Security shall not be payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the terms of any Security that may be converted may provide that the provisions of this paragraph do not apply, or apply with such additions, changes or omissions as may be provided thereby, to such Security.

 

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Section 308. Persons Deemed Owners.

 

Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and premium, if any, and, subject to Section 307, any interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

Section 309. Cancellation.

 

All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or conversion or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly cancelled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section 309, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of in accordance with its customary procedures.

 

Section 310. Computation of Interest.

 

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

Section 311. CUSIP Numbers.

 

The Company in issuing any series of the Securities may use “CUSIP” or “ISIN” numbers and/or other similar numbers, if then generally in use, and thereafter with respect to such series, the Trustee may use such numbers in any notice of redemption with respect to such series; provided , the Trustee shall have no liability for any defect in the CUSIP and ISIN numbers as they appear on any Security, notice or elsewhere and that that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities of such series or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities of such series, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any changes in the CUSIP or ISIN number(s).

 

Section 312. Original Issue Discount.

 

If any of the Securities is an Original Issue Discount Security, the Company shall file with the Trustee promptly at the end of each calendar year (1) a written notice specifying the amount of original issue discount (including daily rates and accrual periods) accrued on such Outstanding Original Issue Discount Securities as of the end of such year and (2) such other specific information relating to such original issue discount as may then be relevant under the Internal Revenue Code.

 

ARTICLE IV

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

Section 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

 

This Indenture shall, upon Company Request, cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Securities specified in such Company Request (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities of such series herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, at the request and expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series, when:

 

(1) either

 

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(A) all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities which have been mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306 and (ii) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(B) all such Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation

 

(i) have become due and payable, or

 

(ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year of the date of deposit, or

 

(iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose money in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and premium, if any, and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

 

(2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (1) of this Section 401, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive.

 

Section 402. Application of Trust Money.

 

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the applicable series of 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 premium, if any, and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee. All money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 (and held by it or any Paying Agent) for the payment of Securities subsequently converted into other property shall be returned to the Company upon Company Request. The Company may direct by a Company Order the investment of any money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401, without distinction between principal and income, in (1) United States Treasury securities with a maturity of one year or less or (2) a money market fund that invests solely in short-term United States Treasury securities (including money market funds for which the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee serves as investment advisor, administrator, shareholder, servicing agent and/or custodian or sub-custodian, notwithstanding that (a) the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee charges and collects fees and expenses from such funds for services rendered and (b) the Trustee charges and collects fees and expenses for services rendered pursuant to this Indenture at any time) and from time to time the Company may direct the reinvestment of all or a portion of such money in other securities or funds meeting the criteria specified in clause (1) or (2) of this Section 402. In the absence of receipt of such Company Order, the Trustee shall hold all such funds uninvested. The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability for any loss which may result from any investment or sale made pursuant to such Company Order. The Trustee is hereby authorized, in making or disposing of any investment permitted by this Indenture, to deal with itself (in its individual capacity) or with any one or more of its affiliates, whether it or any such affiliate is acting as agent of the Trustee or for any third person or dealing as principal for its own account. The Parties acknowledge that the Trustee is not providing investment supervision, recommendations, or advice.

 

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ARTICLE V 

REMEDIES

 

Section 501. Events of Default.

 

Except as may be otherwise provided pursuant to Section 301 for Securities of any series, an “Event of Default” means, whenever used herein or in a Security issued hereunder with respect to Securities of any series, any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

 

(1) the Company defaults in the payment of any installment of interest on any Security of such series for 30 consecutive days after becoming due (subject to the deferral of any interest payment in case of an extension period);

 

(2) the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on any Security of such series when the same becomes due and payable at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon declaration or otherwise;

 

(3) the Company defaults in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, which continues for 30 consecutive days after becoming due by the terms of a Security of such series;

 

(4) the Company defaults in the performance of, or breaches, any of its covenants and agreements in respect of any Security of such series contained in this Indenture or in the Securities of such series (other than those referred to in (1), (2) or (3) above), and such default or breach continues for a period of 90 days (except that, in the case of a default in the performance or breach of a reporting covenant, such period shall be 180 days) after the notice specified below;

 

(5) the Company, pursuant to or within the meaning of the Bankruptcy Law (as defined below):

 

(A) commences a voluntary case or proceeding;

 

(B) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding;

 

(C) consents to the appointment of a Custodian (as defined below) of it or for all or substantially all of its property;

 

(D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;

 

(E) files a petition in bankruptcy or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief;

 

(F) consents to the filing of such petition or the appointment of or taking possession by a Custodian; or

 

(G) takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency;

 

(6) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

 

(A) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case, or adjudicates the Company insolvent or bankrupt;

 

(B) appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company; or

 

(C) orders the winding-up or liquidation of the Company (or any similar relief is granted under any foreign laws) and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days; or

 

(7) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of such series occurs.

 

The term “Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, United States Code, or any similar Federal or state or foreign law for the relief of debtors. The term “Custodian” means any custodian, receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or other similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

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A Default with respect to Securities of any series under clause (4) of this Section 501 shall not be an Event of Default until the Trustee (by written notice to the Company) or the Holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such series (by written notice to the Company and the Trustee) gives notice of the Default and the Company does not cure such Default within the time specified in clause (4) after receipt of such notice. Such notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that such notice is a “Notice of Default.”

 

Section 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 501(5) or (6)) occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 30% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series may declare the principal amount of all the Securities of such series (or, if any Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms thereof), together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, 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), together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 501(5) or (6) with respect to the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the Securities of such series (or, in the case of any Security of such series which specifies an amount to be due and payable thereon upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof, such amount as may be specified by the terms thereof), together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable. Upon payment of such amount, all obligations of the Company in respect of the payment of principal and interest of the Securities of such series shall terminate.

 

Except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to Section 301 for all or any specific Securities of any series, at any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Securities of 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 V provided, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

 

(1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:

 

(A) all overdue interest on all Securities of such series,

 

(B) the principal of and premium, if any, on any Securities of such series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in the Securities of such series,

 

(C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and

 

(D) 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

 

(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of such series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of such series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 512.

 

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

 

Section 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

 

The Company covenants that if (1) 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 (2) default is made in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on any Security at the Maturity thereof, it will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and premium, if any, and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and premium and on 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.

 

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If an Event of Default with respect to 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 necessary 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 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

 

In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), its property or its creditors, the Trustee shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such proceeding. In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized 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 and any predecessor Trustee under Section 607.

 

No provision of this Indenture 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; provided, however, that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors’ or other similar committee.

 

Section 505. 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, and any indemnities and other amounts owed to, the Trustee, any predecessor Trustee under Section 607, 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 506. Application of Money Collected.

 

Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article V 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 premium, if any, 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, the Paying Agent and the Security Registrar under Section 607;

 

SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and premium, if any, 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 premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and

 

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THIRD: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company.

 

Section 507. 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, assignee, trustee, liquidator or sequestrator (or similar official) or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:

 

(1) An Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of such continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series;

 

(2) the Holders of not less than 30% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

 

(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee security and/or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

 

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

 

(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such 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 for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders.

 

Section 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest and to Convert Securities.

 

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 premium, if any, and, subject to Section 307, interest on such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption or repayment, on the Redemption Date or date for repayment, as the case may be, and, if the terms of such Security so provide, to convert such Security in accordance with its terms) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment and, if applicable, any such right to convert, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

Section 509. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

 

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 306, 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 510. 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 V 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.

 

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Section 511. Control by Holders.

 

Subject to Section 603(5), the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate 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

 

(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture or be determined by the Trustee to be unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder or expose the Trustee to the risk of personal liability (provided, that the Trustee shall not have an affirmative duty to determine whether such direction is prejudicial to any Holder), and

 

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

 

Section 512. Waiver of Past Defaults.

 

The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate 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

 

(1) in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Security of such series, or

 

(2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article IX cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.

 

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 513. Undertaking for Costs.

 

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess reasonable costs against any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided that neither this Section 513 nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Company or the Trustee, a suit by a Holder under Section 508, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities.

 

Section 514. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.

 

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

 

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Section 515. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

 

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

 

ARTICLE VI 

THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee.

 

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

 

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

 

(B) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely with respect to the Securities of such series, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

 

(2) In case an Event of Default with respect to any series of Securities has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.

 

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

 

(A) this Section 601(3) shall not be construed to limit the effect of Section 601(1);

 

(B) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

 

(C) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, determined as provided in Sections 101, 104 and 511, 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; and

 

(D) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it believes that repayment of such funds or satisfactory indemnity against such risk or liability is not assured to it.

 

(4) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 601.

 

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Section 602. Notice of Defaults.

 

If a Default or an Event of Default occurs with respect to Securities of any series and is continuing and if it is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder of Securities of such series notice of the Default within 90 days after it is actually known to a Responsible Officer or written notice of it is received by a Responsible Officer and such notice references the Securities of such series and this Indenture. Except in the case of a Default in payment of principal of or interest on any Security, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a the Trustee in good faith determines that withholding the notice is not opposed to the interests of Holders of Securities of such series.

 

Section 603. Certain Rights of Trustee.

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 601:

 

(1) the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, judgment, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties, not only as to due execution, validity and effectiveness, but also as to the truth and accuracy of any information contained therein;

 

(2) if so requested by the Trustee, any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order and Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability for any losses or damages of any nature that may arise from any action taken or not taken by the Trustee in accordance with such Company Request or Company Order, and any resolution of the Board of Directors shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution thereof;

 

(3) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request and conclusively rely upon an Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel and shall be fully protected acting or refraining from acting in accordance with such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel;

 

(4) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection 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;

 

(5) 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 pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security and/or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

 

(6) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, judgment, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Company and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation;

 

(7) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;

 

(8) the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder and to its agents;

 

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(9) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;

 

(10) in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, incidental, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action;

 

(11) in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental authority, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, labor disputes, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, pandemics, sabotage, epidemics, riots and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services or the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or telex or other wire or communication facility (it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances);

 

(12) the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer shall have actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default shall have been received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture; and

 

(13) the permissive rights of the Trustee to take certain action under this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty.

 

Section 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

 

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

 

Section 605. May Hold Securities.

 

The Trustee, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 608 and 613, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

 

Section 606. Money Held in Trust.

 

Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder or to invest any such money except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company.

 

Section 607. Compensation and Reimbursement.

 

The Company agrees:

 

(1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation as shall be agreed to in writing between the parties hereto for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

 

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

 

(3) to defend, release, and indemnify the Trustee, its directors, officers, employees and agents (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”) for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense (including, without limitation, attorney’s fees and expenses) , arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the enforcement of its right to indemnity hereunder and including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim (regardless of whether such claim is asserted by the Company, a Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent the same shall have been finally adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to have been directly caused by the an Indemnified Party’s negligence or willful misconduct.

 

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 501(5) or (6), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute administrative expenses for purposes of priority under any applicable Federal, state or non-United States bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.

 

The Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities as to all property and funds held by it hereunder for any amount owing it or any predecessor Trustee pursuant to this Section 607, except with respect to funds held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of Securities.

 

The provisions of this Section 607 shall survive the satisfaction, discharge or termination of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

 

Section 608. Conflicting Interests.

 

If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture.

 

To the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to Securities of more than one series.

 

Section 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

 

There shall at all times be one (and only one) Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of each series, which may be Trustee hereunder for Securities of one or more other series. Each Trustee shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such, has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If any such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 609 and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent annual report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 609, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article VI.

 

Section 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

 

No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article VI shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611.

 

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The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving 30 days’ prior written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 611 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, upon 30 days’ prior written notice delivered to the Trustee and to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 611 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of removal, the Trustee being removed may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

If at any time:

 

(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 608 after written request therefor by the Company or any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

 

(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 609 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or any such Holder, or

 

(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then, in any such case, (A) the Company may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities or (B) subject to Section 513, Holders of 10% in aggregate principal amount of Securities of any series who have been bona fide Holders of such Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

 

If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 611. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, or, if the Company has previously appointed a successor Trustee, such successor Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed by such Holders shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 611, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 611, Holders of 10% in aggregate principal amount of Securities of any series who have been bona fide Holders of Securities of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 106. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

 

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Section 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

 

In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and the retiring Trustee a written instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee, but, on the request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver a written instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.

 

In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; provided all sums owing to the retiring Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the lien provided for in Section 607 hereof.

 

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

 

No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article VI.

 

Section 612. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

 

Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder and will have and succeed to the rights, powers, duties, immunities and privileges as its predecessor; without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion, consolidation or sale to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities; and in case at that time any Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Securities or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.

 

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Section 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

 

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

 

ARTICLE VII 

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE 

AND THE COMPANY

 

Section 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

 

If the Trustee is not the Security Registrar, the Company shall cause the Security Registrar to furnish to the Trustee, in writing at least five Business Days before each Interest Payment Date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Holders of Securities of each series.

 

Section 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.

 

The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

 

The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Section 703. Reports by Trustee.

 

The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto. If required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall, within sixty days after each anniversary of this Indenture, following the date of the initial issuance of Securities under this Indenture deliver to Holders a brief report, dated as of such anniversary date of this Indenture which complies with the provisions of such Section 313(a). The Trustee shall promptly deliver to the Company a copy of any report it delivers to Holders pursuant to this Section 703.

 

A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange and automated quotation system, if any, upon which any Securities are listed, with the Commission and the Company. The Company will notify the Trustee in writing when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange or automated quotation system or delisted therefrom.

 

Section 704. Reports by the Company.

 

The Company shall comply with all the applicable provisions of the Trust Indenture Act. Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and shall not constitute a representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the reports, information and documents. The Trustee’s receipt of such shall not actual or constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).

 

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ARTICLE VIII 

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE OF ASSETS

 

Section 801. Company May Merge or Transfer Assets on Certain Terms.

 

The Company may consolidate with or merge with or into, or sell, transfer, lease or convey all or substantially all of its properties and assets to, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, any other Person, provided that:

 

(1) the Company shall be the continuing entity, or the resulting, surviving or transferee Person shall be a corporation, limited liability company, partnership (including a limited partnership), trust or other entity organized and validly existing under the laws of any domestic or foreign jurisdiction, and such successor Person (if not the Company) shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto or other document or instrument, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Company under the Securities and this Indenture and, for each Security that by its terms provides for conversion, shall have provided for the right to convert such Security in accordance with its terms;

 

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

(3) if requested, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, lease or conveyance and such supplemental indenture, if any, complies with this Indenture (except that such Opinion of Counsel need not opine as to clause (2) above).

 

Section 802. Successor Person Substituted.

 

Upon any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company into, any other Person or any sale, transfer, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company, in each case in accordance with Section 801, the successor Person 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 had been an original party to this Indenture, and the Company shall be released from all of its liabilities and obligations under this Indenture and the Securities.

 

ARTICLE IX 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

Section 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.

 

Without the consent of any Holders, the Company and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

 

(1) to add to the covenants for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company;

 

(2) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company, or successive successions, and the assumption by the successor Person of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company pursuant to Article VIII;

 

(3) to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such additional Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such additional Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series);

 

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(4) to add one or more guarantees for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities, and to evidence the release and discharge of any guarantor from its obligations under its guarantee of Securities and its obligations under this Indenture in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

 

(5) to secure the Securities;

 

(6) 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, pursuant to the requirements of Section 611;

 

(7) to provide for the issuance of additional Securities of any series;

 

(8) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 201 and 301;

 

(9) to comply with the rules of any applicable Depositary;

 

(10) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form;

 

(11) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities; provided that any such addition, change or elimination (A) shall neither (i) apply to any Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (ii) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision or (B) shall become effective only when there is no Security described in clause (i) Outstanding;

 

(12) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, as amended;

 

(13) to conform any provision of this Indenture, any supplemental indenture, one or more series of Securities or any related guarantees or security documents to the description of such securities contained in a prospectus, prospectus supplement, offering memorandum or similar document with respect to the offering of the Securities of such series;

 

(14) to cure any ambiguity, omission or mistake, or to correct or supplement any provision of this Indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein; and

 

(15) to change any other provision under this Indenture; provided that such action pursuant to this clause (15) shall not materially adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any applicable series.

 

Section 902. Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders.

 

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

 

(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security;

 

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(2) reduce the principal amount of any Security or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Security which would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 503, or reduce the rate of interest on any Security;

 

(3) reduce any premium payable upon the redemption of or change the date on which any Security may or must be redeemed;

 

(4) change the coin or currency in which the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Security is payable;

 

(5) impair the right of any Holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date);

 

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

 

(7) modify any of the provisions of this Section 902, Section 512 or Section 1005, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby; provided, however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section 902 and Section 1005, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 611 and 901(6); or

 

(8) if the Securities of any series are convertible into or for any other securities or property of the Company, make any change that adversely affects in any material respect the right to convert any Security of such series (except as permitted by Section 901) or decrease the conversion rate or increase the conversion price of any such Security of such series, unless such decrease or increase is permitted by the terms of such Security.

 

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

 

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section 902 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

 

After a supplemental indenture under this Section 902 becomes effective, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee a notice briefly describing such supplemental indenture or a copy of such supplemental indenture and, at the Company’s written request, the Trustee shall deliver such notice or supplemental indenture to Holders affected thereby. Any failure of the Company to deliver such notice, or any defect therein, or any failure of the Company to deliver such supplemental indenture, shall not in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

 

Section 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

 

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article IX or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and, subject to Section 601, shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel and Officer’s Certificate stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture, that such Supplemental Indenture is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms and that all conditions precedent in this Indenture to the execution of such supplemental indenture, if any, have been complied with. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

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Section 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

 

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article IX, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

 

Section 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

 

Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article IX shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Section 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

 

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

 

ARTICLE X 

COVENANTS

 

Section 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest.

 

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of such series in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture. Principal and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if, on or before 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on such date, the Trustee or the Paying Agent (or, if the Company or any Subsidiary is the Paying Agent, the segregated account or separate trust fund maintained by the Company or such Subsidiary pursuant to Section 1003) holds in accordance with this Indenture money sufficient to pay all principal and interest then due.

 

The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate specified therefor in the Securities, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful as provided in Section 307.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture, the Company or the Paying Agent may, to the extent it is required to do so by law, deduct or withhold income or other similar taxes imposed by the United States of America or other domestic or foreign taxing authorities from principal or interest payments hereunder.

 

Section 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency.

 

The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities of such series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of such series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, where Securities may be surrendered for conversion, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such series and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee. The Company hereby appoints the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands; provided, however, that the Trustee shall not be deemed an agent of the Company for service of legal process.

 

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes 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 obligation to maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment 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 location of any such other office or agency.

 

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With respect to any Global Security, and except as otherwise may be specified for such Global Security as contemplated by Section 301, the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee shall be the Place of Payment where such Global Security may be presented or surrendered for payment or for registration of transfer or exchange, or where successor Securities may be delivered in exchange therefor; provided, however, that any such payment, presentation, surrender or delivery effected pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary for such Global Security shall be deemed to have been effected at the Place of Payment for such Global Security in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

Section 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.

 

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

 

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, no later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on each due date for the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Securities of such series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held in trust for the Holders of such Securities entitled to the same, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 1003, that such Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by such Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Securities and shall notify the Trustee in writing of any default by the Company in making any such payment.

 

The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

 

Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

 

Section 1004. Statement by Officers as to Default.

 

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof an Officer’s Certificate signed by its principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer, stating whether or not, to the best knowledge of such Officer, the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture applicable to it (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which such Officer may have knowledge.

 

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Section 1005. Waiver of Certain Covenants.

 

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of such series, the Company may, with respect to the Securities of any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in any covenant provided pursuant to Section 301(19), Section 901(1) or Section 901(8) for the benefit of the Holders of such series or in Article VIII, if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

 

ARTICLE XI 

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 1101. Applicability of Article.

 

Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities) in accordance with this Article XI.

 

Section 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

 

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of the Securities of any series (including any such redemption affecting only a single Security), the Company shall, at least 10 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date, of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officer’s Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction.

 

Section 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.

 

If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed (unless all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed or unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by, in the case of a Global Security, such method as shall be in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary and, in the case of a Security other than a Global Security, by lot and, in each case, which may provide for the selection for redemption of a portion of the principal amount of any Security of such series; provided that the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of any Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security. If less than all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed (unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series and specified tenor not previously called for redemption in accordance with the preceding sentence.

 

If any Security selected for partial redemption is converted in part before termination of the conversion right with respect to the portion of the Security so selected, the converted portion of such Security shall be deemed (so far as may be) to be the portion selected for redemption. Securities which have been converted during a selection of securities to be redeemed shall be treated by the Trustee as Outstanding for the purpose of such selection.

 

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities selected for redemption as aforesaid and, in case of any Securities selected for partial redemption as aforesaid, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

 

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The provisions of the two preceding paragraphs shall not apply with respect to any redemption affecting only a single Security, whether such Security is to be redeemed in whole or in part. In the case of any such redemption in part, the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of the Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security.

 

For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.

 

Section 1104. Notice of Redemption.

 

Notice of redemption shall be given to Holders not less than 10 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date (or within such period as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of a series), to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at such Holder’s address appearing in the Security Register.

 

All notices of redemption shall identify the Securities to be redeemed and shall state:

 

(1) the Redemption Date;

 

(2) the Redemption Price (or the method of calculating such price);

 

(3) if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series consisting of more than a single Security are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption of any such Securities, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed and, if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series consisting of a single Security are to be redeemed, the principal amount of the particular Security to be redeemed;

 

(4) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date;

 

(5) the place or places where each such Security is to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price;

 

(6) for any Securities that by their terms may be converted, the terms of conversion, the date on which the right to convert the Security to be redeemed will terminate and the place or places where such Securities may be surrendered for conversion;

 

(7) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case;

 

(8) any conditions to the redemption; and

 

(9) if applicable, the CUSIP numbers of the Securities of such series; provided, however, that no representation will be made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number, or any similar number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Securities.

 

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s written request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company; provided that the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee not later than the two Business Days prior to the date the notice of redemption is to be sent (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), an Officer’s Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice of redemption, together with the notice of redemption to be given setting forth the information to be stated therein as provided in the preceding paragraph. The notice, if mailed in the manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice by mail or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Security designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities.

 

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Section 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price.

 

By no later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date or the Securities of the series provide otherwise) accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date, other than Securities or portions of Securities called for redemption which are owned by the Company or a Subsidiary and have been delivered by the Company or such Subsidiary to the Trustee for cancellation. All money, if any, earned on funds held by the Paying Agent shall be remitted to the Company. In addition, the Paying Agent shall promptly, upon Company request, return to the Company any money deposited with the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the Redemption Price of, and accrued interest, if any, on, all Securities to be redeemed.

 

If any Security called for redemption is converted, any money deposited with the Trustee or with any Paying Agent or so segregated and held in trust for the redemption of such Security shall (subject to any right of the Holder of such Security or any Predecessor Security to receive interest as provided in the last paragraph of Section 307 or in the terms of such Security) be paid to the Company upon Company Request or, if then held by the Company, shall be discharged from such trust.

 

Section 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

 

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together, if applicable, with accrued interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307; provided further that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, if the Redemption Date is after a Regular Record Date and on or prior to the Interest Payment Date, the accrued and unpaid interest shall be payable to the Holder of the redeemed Securities registered on the relevant Regular Record Date.

 

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal and premium, if any, shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.

 

Section 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part.

 

Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and, upon Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

 

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ARTICLE XII 

[RESERVED]

 

ARTICLE XIII 

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

Section 1301. Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301, Sections 1302 and 1303 shall apply to all Securities and each series of Securities, denominated in U.S. dollars and bearing interest at a fixed rate, in accordance with any applicable requirements provided pursuant to Section 301 and upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article XIII; and the Company may elect, at its option at any time, to have Sections 1302 and 1303 applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, designated pursuant to Section 301 as being defeasible pursuant to such Section 1302 or 1303, in accordance with any applicable requirements provided pursuant to Section 301 and upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article XIII. Any such election shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities.

 

Section 1302. Defeasance and Discharge.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise of its option, if any, to have this Section 1302 applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, or if this Section 1302 shall otherwise apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Securities as provided in this Section 1302 on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1304 are satisfied (hereinafter called “Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Securities and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the request and expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), subject to the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (1) the rights of Holders of such Securities to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 1304 and as more fully set forth in such Section 1305, payments in respect of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Securities when payments are due, (2) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 304, 305, 306, 1002 and 1003, (3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (4) this Article XIII. Subject to compliance with this Article XIII, the Company may exercise its option, if any, to have this Section 1302 applied to the Securities of any series notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option, if any, to have Section 1303 applied to such Securities.

 

Section 1303. Covenant Defeasance.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise of its option, if any, to have this Section 1303 applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, or if this Section 1303 shall otherwise apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, (1) the Company shall be released from its obligations under Section 801(3) and any covenants provided pursuant to Section 301(19), Section 901(1) or Section 901(8) for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities and (2) the occurrence of any event specified in Section 501(4) and Section 501(7) shall be deemed not to be or result in an Event of Default, in each case with respect to such Securities as provided in this Section 1303 on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1304 are satisfied (hereinafter called “Covenant Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to such Securities, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such specified Section, whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or by reason of any reference in any such Section to any other provision herein or in any other document, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.

 

41 

 

 

Section 1304. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

The following shall be the conditions to the application of Section 1302 or 1303 to any Securities or any series of Securities:

 

(1) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee which satisfies the requirements contemplated by Section 609 and agrees to comply with the provisions of this Article XIII applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefits of the Holders of such Securities, (A) money in an amount, or (B) U.S. Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount, or (C) a combination thereof, in each case sufficient to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or any such other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Securities on the respective Stated Maturities, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and such Securities. As used herein, “U.S. Government Obligation” means (x) any security which is (i) a direct obligation of the United States of America for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged or (ii) an obligation 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, which, in either case (i) or (ii), is not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and (y) any depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any U.S. Government Obligation which is specified in clause (x) above and held by such bank for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt, or with respect to any specific payment of principal of or interest on any U.S. Government Obligation which is so specified and held; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal or interest evidenced by such depositary receipt.

 

(2) In the event of an election to have Section 1302 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case (A) or (B) to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the beneficial owners of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, Defeasance and discharge to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit, Defeasance and discharge were not to occur.

 

(3) In the event of an election to have Section 1303 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the beneficial owners of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and Covenant Defeasance to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit and Covenant Defeasance were not to occur.

 

(4) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate to the effect that neither such Securities nor any other Securities of the same series, if then listed on any securities exchange, will be delisted as a result of such deposit.

 

(5) No Event of Default with respect to such Securities or any other Securities shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such deposit or, insofar as Section 501(5) or Section 501(6) are concerned, at any time on or prior to the 90th day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until after such 90th day).

 

(6) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

 

(7) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent with respect to such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance have been complied with (in each case, subject to the satisfaction of the condition in clause (5)).

 

Before or after a deposit, the Company may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Securities at a future date in accordance with Article XI.

 

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Section 1305. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee or other qualifying trustee (solely for purposes of this Section 1305 and Section 1306, the Trustee and any such other trustee are referred to collectively as the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 1304 in respect of any Securities shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any such Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities, of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal and premium, if any, and interest, but money so held in trust need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 1304 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of Outstanding Securities; provided that the Trustee shall be entitled to charge any such tax, fee or other charge to such Holder’s account.

 

Anything in this Article XIII to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 1304 with respect to any Securities which are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect the Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, with respect to such Securities.

 

Section 1306. Reinstatement.

 

If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with this Article XIII with respect to any Securities by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the obligations under this Indenture and such Securities from which the Company has been discharged or released pursuant to Section 1302 or 1303 shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article XIII with respect to such Securities, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all money held in trust pursuant to Section 1305 with respect to such Securities in accordance with this Article XIII; provided, however, that (a) if the Company makes any payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any such Security following such reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights, if any, of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money so held in trust and (b) unless otherwise required by any legal proceeding or any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall return all such money and U.S. Government Obligations to the Company promptly after receiving a written request therefor at any time, if such reinstatement of the obligations of the Company has occurred and continues to be in effect.

 

Section 13.07 Multiple Originals; Electronic Signatures

 

This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. This Indenture may be executed in multiple counterparts which, when taken together, shall constitute one instrument. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmissions shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Indenture or any document to be signed in connection with this Indenture shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for under applicable law, including the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act of 2000 (15 U.S.C. §§ 7001-7006), the Electronic Signatures and Records Act of 1999 (N.Y. State Tech. §§ 301-309), or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Trustee is not under any obligation to agree to accept electronic signatures in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by such Trustee pursuant to procedures approved by such Trustee.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

  ASURE SOFTWARE, INC
   
  By:  
  Name:
  Title:
   
  WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
  as Trustee
 
  By: 
  Name:
  Title:

 

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Exhibit 5.1

 

April 9, 2024

 

Asure Software, Inc. 

405 Colorado Street, Suite 1800 

Austin, TX 78701 

Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have examined the registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) filed by Asure Software, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on April 9, 2024, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Registration Statement relates to the proposed offer and sale from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of up to an aggregate offering price of $150,000,000 of (i) one or more series of debt securities of the Company, which may be either senior, senior subordinated or subordinated debt securities (the “Debt Securities”), (ii) shares of the Company’s preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), (iii) shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), (iv) debt warrants to purchase Debt Securities (the “Debt Warrants”) and equity warrants to purchase Preferred Stock or Common Stock (the “Equity Warrants” and together with the Debt Warrants, the “Warrants”), (v) rights to purchase shares of Common Stock (the “Rights”), and (vi) units consisting of two or more of the Securities (as defined below) (the “Units”). The Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Common Stock, Warrants, Rights and Units are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.” The Debt Securities and Preferred Stock may be exchangeable for or convertible into other Securities of the Company, including Common Stock or Preferred Stock.

 

The Securities may be offered and sold from time to time by the Company as set forth in the Registration Statement, the prospectus contained within the Registration Statement (the “Prospectus”), and one or more supplements to the Prospectus (each, a “Prospectus Supplement”). The Debt Securities may be issued pursuant to an indenture by and between the Company and a financial institution to be identified therein as trustee in the form included as Exhibit 4.10 to the Registration Statement, as such indenture may be supplemented from time to time (the “Indenture”). The Warrants may be issued under one or more warrant agreements (each, a “Warrant Agreement”) by and between the Company and a bank or trust company to be identified therein as warrant agent. The Rights may be issued under one or more rights agreements in a form to be filed and incorporated into the Registration Statement (each, a “Rights Agreement”) to be entered into by and between the Company and a bank, trust company or other financial institution to be identified therein as rights agent. The Units may be issued under one or more unit agreements (each, a “Unit Agreement”) between the Company and a third party to be identified therein as unit agent. The Indenture, each Warrant Agreement, each Rights Agreement and each Unit Agreement are herein collectively called the “Agreements.”

 

This opinion is being furnished in connection with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement.

 

In rendering the opinions set forth below, we have examined and relied upon the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Third Amended and Restated Bylaws, as currently in effect, and the originals or copies certified to our satisfaction of such records, documents, certificates, memoranda and other instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinion expressed below. Based upon the foregoing and subject to the limitations, assumptions, exceptions and qualifications expressed herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof, with respect to each of the matters set forth in Paragraphs 1 through 6 below:

 

1. With respect to shares of Common Stock, when an issuance of Common Stock has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, upon issuance, delivery and payment therefor in an amount not less than the par value thereof in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, the applicable Prospectus or Prospectus Supplement and by such corporate action, and in total amounts and numbers of shares that do not exceed the respective total amounts and numbers of shares (a) available under the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation then-in-effect, and (b) authorized by the board of directors in connection with the offering contemplated by the applicable Prospectus, such shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. In rendering the foregoing opinion, we have assumed that the Company will comply with all applicable notice requirements regarding uncertificated shares provided in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

 

 

2. With respect to shares of Preferred Stock, when a series of Preferred Stock has been duly established in accordance with the terms of the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as then amended and authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, upon issuance, delivery and payment therefor in an amount not less than the par value thereof in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, the applicable Prospectus or Prospectus Supplement and by such corporate action, and in total amounts and numbers of shares that do not exceed the respective total amounts and numbers of shares (a) available under the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation then-in-effect, and (b) authorized by the board of directors in connection with the offering contemplated by the applicable Prospectus, such shares of such series of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. In rendering the foregoing opinion, we have assumed that the Company will comply with all applicable notice requirements regarding uncertificated shares provided in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

3. With respect to Debt Securities, when the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by all necessary corporate action of the Company, and when the specific terms of a particular series of Debt Securities have been duly established in accordance with such Indenture and authorized by all necessary corporation action of the Company, and such Debt Security has been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of such Indenture and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the board of directors and in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and related Prospectus Supplement(s), such Debt Securities will be a legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

4. With respect to Warrants, when a Warrant Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by all necessary corporate action of the Company, and when the specific terms of a particular issuance of Warrants have been duly established in accordance with such Warrant Agreement and authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, and the Warrants have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of such Warrant Agreement and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the board of directors and in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and related Prospectus Supplement(s) (assuming the Securities issuable upon exercise of the Warrants have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance by all necessary corporate action), the Warrants will be legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

5. With respect to Rights, when a Rights Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by all necessary corporate action of the Company, and when the specific terms of a particular issuance of Rights have been duly established in accordance with such Rights Agreement and authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, and the Rights have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of such Rights Agreement and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the board of directors and in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and related Prospectus Supplement(s), the Rights will be legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

6. With respect to Units, when a Unit Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by all necessary corporate action of the Company, and when the specific terms of a particular issuance of Units have been duly established in accordance with such Unit Agreement and authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, and the Units have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with such Unit Agreement and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the board of directors and in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and related Prospectus Supplement(s) (assuming the constituent Securities of the Units have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance by all necessary corporate action), the Units will be legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

Our opinions are subject to: (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, preference, fraudulent transfer, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors; (ii) the effect of general principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law (including the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief), concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, and the discretion of the court before which a proceeding is brought; and (iii) the invalidity under certain circumstances under law or court decisions of provisions providing for the indemnification of or contribution to a party with respect to a liability where such indemnification or contribution is contrary to public policy.

 

 

 

We express no opinion as to (i) any provision for liquidated damages, default interest, late charges, monetary penalties, make-whole premiums or other economic remedies to the extent such provisions are deemed to constitute a penalty, (ii) consents to, or restrictions upon, governing law, jurisdiction, venue, arbitration, remedies or judicial relief, (iii) waivers of rights or defenses, (iv) any provision requiring the payment of attorneys’ fees, where such payment is contrary to law or public policy, (v) any provision permitting, upon acceleration of any Debt Securities, collection of that portion of the stated principal amount thereof which might be determined to constitute unearned interest thereon, (vi) the creation, validity, attachment, perfection, or priority of any lien or security interest, (vii) advance waivers of claims, defenses, rights granted by law, or notice, opportunity for hearing, evidentiary requirements, statutes of limitation, trial by jury or at law, or other procedural rights, (viii) waivers of broadly or vaguely stated rights, (ix) provisions for exclusivity, election or cumulation of rights or remedies, (x) provisions authorizing or validating conclusive or discretionary determinations, (xi) grants of setoff rights, (xii) proxies, powers and trusts, (xiii) provisions prohibiting, restricting, or requiring consent to assignment or transfer of any right or property, (xiv) provisions purporting to make a guarantor primarily liable rather than as a surety, (xv) provisions purporting to waive modifications of any guaranteed obligation to the extent such modification constitutes a novation, (xvi) any provision to the extent it requires that a claim with respect to a security denominated in other than U.S. dollars (or a judgment in respect of such a claim) be converted into U.S. dollars at a rate of exchange at a particular date, to the extent applicable law otherwise provides, (xvii) any provision to the extent it requires that a claim with respect to the Debt Securities (or a judgment in respect of such a claim) be converted into U.S. dollars at a rate of exchange at a particular date, to the extent applicable law otherwise provides, and (xviii) the severability, if invalid, of provisions to the foregoing effect.

 

We have assumed (i) that each of the Agreements, Debt Securities and Warrants (collectively, the “Documents”) has been or will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto, (ii) that each of the Documents constitutes or will constitute legally valid and binding obligations of the parties thereto other than the Company, enforceable against each of them in accordance with their respective terms, (iii) that the status of each of the Documents as legally valid and binding obligations of the parties will not be affected by any (a) breaches of, or defaults under, agreements or instruments, (b) violations of statutes, rules, regulations or court or governmental orders, or (c) failures to obtain required consents, approvals or authorizations from, or to make required registrations, declarations or filings with, governmental authorities, (iv) the genuineness and authenticity of all signatures on original documents, (v) the genuineness and authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, (vi) the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as copies, (vii) the accuracy, completeness and authenticity of certificates of public officials and (viii) the legal capacity for all purposes relevant hereto of all natural persons. As to questions of fact material to our opinions, we have relied upon certificates or comparable documents of officers and other representatives of the Company and of public officials.

 

Our opinion herein is expressed solely with respect to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the federal laws of the United States, and, solely in connection with our opinion under paragraph 3 above, the laws of the State of New York, in each case as in effect on April 9, 2024. We do not express any opinion with respect to the law of any other jurisdiction or to the securities or "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction. The opinions expressed in this opinion letter are strictly limited to the matters stated in this opinion letter and no other opinions are to be implied.

 

This opinion is for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement and may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Securities Act. We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm in the Prospectus under the heading “Legal Matters.” In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ Cozen O’Connor, P.C.

 

 

EXHIBIT 23.1

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Consent

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of Asure Software, Inc. on Form S-3 dated April 9, 2024 of our report dated February 26, 2024, with respect to our audits of the consolidated financial statements of Asure Software, Inc. as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 and for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Asure Software, Inc. for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2023. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.

 

/s/ Marcum llp

 

Marcum llp

Los Angeles, California

April 9, 2024

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 25.1

 

 

UNITED STATES 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM T-1

 

¨ Check if an Application to Determine Eligibility of a Trustee Pursuant to Section 305(b)(2)

 

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION 

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 

16-1486454 

(I.R.S. employer identification no.)

 

1100 North Market Street 

Wilmington, DE 19890-0001 

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Kyle Barry 

Senior Vice President 

Wilmington Trust Company 

285 Delaware Ave. 

Buffalo, NY 14202 

(716) 839-6909 

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

 

Asure Software, Inc. 

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware 74-2415696
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

405 Colorado Street, Suite 1800
Austin, Texas 78701 

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

Debt Securities 

(Title of the indenture securities)

 

 

 

 

ITEM 1. GENERAL INFORMATION. 

Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

 

(a)Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

 

Comptroller of Currency, Washington, D.C.
  Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C.

 

(b)Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

 

ITEM 2.AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR.

 

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each affiliation:

 

Based upon an examination of the books and records of the trustee and information available to the trustee, the obligor is not an affiliate of the trustee.

 

ITEM 3 – 15. Not applicable.

 

ITEM 16.LIST OF EXHIBITS.

Listed below are all exhibits filed as part of this Statement of Eligibility and Qualification. 

 

1.A copy of the Charter for Wilmington Trust, National Association.

2.The authority of Wilmington Trust, National Association to commence business was granted under the Charter for Wilmington Trust, National Association, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 above.

3.The authorization to exercise corporate trust powers was granted under the Charter for Wilmington Trust, National Association, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 above.

4.A copy of the existing By-Laws of Trustee, as now in effect, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4of this Form T-1.

5.Not applicable.

6.The consent of Wilmington Trust, National Association as required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, attached hereto as Exhibit 6 of this Form T-1.

7.Current Report of the Condition of Wilmington Trust, National Association, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, attached hereto as Exhibit 7 of this Form T-1.

8.Not applicable.

9.Not applicable.

 

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the trustee, Wilmington Trust, National Association, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this Statement of Eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City Wilmington and State of Delaware on the 9th day of April, 2024.

 

 WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
  
By:/s/ Michael H. Wass
 Name:Michael H. Wass
 Title: Vice President

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 1

 

CHARTER OF WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

 

 

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION 

OF 

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

For the purpose of organizing an association to perform any lawful activities of national banks, the undersigned do enter into the following articles of association:

 

FIRST.                The title of this association shall be Wilmington Trust, National Association.

 

SECOND.           The main office of the association shall be in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware. The general business of the association shall be conducted at its main office and its branches.

 

THIRD.               The board of directors of this association shall consist of not less than five nor more than twenty-five persons, unless the OCC has exempted the bank from the 25-member limit. The exact number is to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of a majority of the full board of directors or by resolution of a majority of the shareholders at any annual or special meeting thereof. Each director shall own common or preferred stock of the association or of a holding company owning the association, with an aggregate par, fair market or equity value $1,000. Determination of these values may be based as of either (i) the date of purchase or (ii) the date the person became a director, whichever value is greater. Any combination of common or preferred stock of the association or holding company may be used.

 

Any vacancy in the board of directors may be filled by action of a majority of the remaining directors between meetings of shareholders. The board of directors may not increase the number of directors between meetings of shareholders to a number which:

 

1)exceeds by more than two the number of directors last elected by shareholders where the number was 15 or less; or

 

2)exceeds by more than four the number of directors last elected by shareholders where the number was 16 or more, but in no event shall the number of directors exceed 25, unless the OCC has exempted the bank from the 25-member limit.

 

Directors shall be elected for terms of one year and until their successors are elected and qualified. Terms of directors, including directors selected to fill vacancies, shall expire at the next regular meeting of shareholders at which directors are elected, unless the directors resign or are removed from office. Despite the expiration of a director's term, the director shall continue to serve until his or her successor is elected and qualifies or until there is a decrease in the number of directors and his or her position is eliminated.

 

Honorary or advisory members of the board of directors, without voting power or power of final decision in matters concerning the business of the association, may be appointed by resolution of a majority of the full board of directors, or by resolution of shareholders at any annual or special meeting. Honorary or advisory directors shall not be counted to determine the number of directors of the association or the presence of a quorum in connection with any board action, and shall not be required to own qualifying shares.

 

FOURTH.       There shall be an annual meeting of the shareholders to elect directors and transact whatever other business may be brought before the meeting. It shall be held at the main office or any other convenient place the board of directors may designate, on the day of each year specified therefor in the bylaws, or, if that day falls on a legal holiday in the state in which the association is located, on the next following banking day. If no election is held on the day fixed, or in the event of a legal holiday on the following banking day, an election may be held on any subsequent day within 60 days of the day fixed, to be designated by the board of directors, or, if the directors fail to fix the day, by shareholders representing two-thirds of the shares issued and outstanding. In all cases at least 10 days advance notice of the time, place and purpose of a shareholders’ meeting shall be given to the shareholders by first class mail, unless the OCC determines that an emergency circumstance exists. The sole shareholder of the bank is permitted to waive notice of the shareholders’ meeting.

 

 

 

In all elections of directors, the number of votes each common shareholder may cast will be determined by multiplying the number of shares such shareholder owns by the number of directors to be elected. Those votes may be cumulated and cast for a single candidate or may be distributed among two or more candidates in the manner selected by the shareholder. If, after the first ballot, subsequent ballots are necessary to elect directors, a shareholder may not vote shares that he or she has already fully cumulated and voted in favor of a successful candidate. On all other questions, each common shareholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by him or her.

 

Nominations for election to the board of directors may be made by the board of directors or by any stockholder of any outstanding class of capital stock of the association entitled to vote for election of directors. Nominations other than those made by or on behalf of the existing management shall be made in writing and be delivered or mailed to the president of the association not less than 14 days nor more than 50 days prior to any meeting of shareholders called for the election of directors; provided, however, that if less than 21 days notice of the meeting is given to shareholders, such nominations shall be mailed or delivered to the president of the association not later than the close of business on the seventh day following the day on which the notice of meeting was mailed. Such notification shall contain the following information to the extent known to the notifying shareholder:

 

1)The name and address of each proposed nominee.

2)The principal occupation of each proposed nominee.

3)The total number of shares of capital stock of the association that will be voted for each proposed nominee.

4)The name and residence address of the notifying shareholder.

5)The number of shares of capital stock of the association owned by the notifying shareholder.

 

Nominations not made in accordance herewith may, in his/her discretion, be disregarded by the chairperson of the meeting, and the vote tellers may disregard all votes cast for each such nominee. No bylaw may unreasonably restrict the nomination of directors by shareholders.

 

A director may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the board of directors, its chairperson, or to the association, which resignation shall be effective when the notice is delivered unless the notice specifies a later effective date.

 

A director may be removed by shareholders at a meeting called to remove the director, when notice of the meeting stating that the purpose or one of the purposes is to remove the director is provided, if there is a failure to fulfill one of the affirmative requirements for qualification, or for cause; provided, however, that a director may not be removed if the number of votes sufficient to elect the director under cumulative voting is voted against the director's removal.

 

 

 

FIFTH.            The authorized amount of capital stock of this association shall be ten thousand shares of common stock of the par value of one hundred dollars ($100) each; but said capital stock may be increased or decreased from time to time, according to the provisions of the laws of the United States.

 

No holder of shares of the capital stock of any class of the association shall have any preemptive or preferential right of subscription to any shares of any class of stock of the association, whether now or hereafter authorized, or to any obligations convertible into stock of the association, issued, or sold, nor any right of subscription to any thereof other than such, if any, as the board of directors, in its discretion, may from time to time determine and at such price as the board of directors may from time to time fix. Preemptive rights also must be approved by a vote of holders of two-thirds of the bank’s outstanding voting shares. Unless otherwise specified in these articles of association or required by law, (1) all matters requiring shareholder action, including amendments to the articles of association, must be approved by shareholders owning a majority voting interest in the outstanding voting stock, and (2) each shareholder shall be entitled to one vote per share.

 

Unless otherwise specified in these articles of association or required by law, all shares of voting stock shall be voted together as a class, on any matters requiring shareholder approval. If a proposed amendment would affect two or more classes or series in the same or a substantially similar way, all the classes or series so affected must vote together as a single voting group on the proposed amendment.

 

Shares of one class or series may be issued as a dividend for shares of the same class or series on a pro rata basis and without consideration. Shares of one class or series may be issued as share dividends for a different class or series of stock if approved by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the class or series to be issued, unless there are no outstanding shares of the class or series to be issued. Unless otherwise provided by the board of directors, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to a share dividend shall be the date authorized by the board of directors for the share dividend.

 

Unless otherwise provided in the bylaws, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting is the close of business on the day before the first notice is mailed or otherwise sent to the shareholders, provided that in no event may a record date be more than 70 days before the meeting.

 

If a shareholder is entitled to fractional shares pursuant to a stock dividend, consolidation or merger, reverse stock split or otherwise, the association may: (a) issue fractional shares; (b) in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares, issue script or warrants entitling the holder to receive a full share upon surrendering enough script or warrants to equal a full share; (c) if there is an established and active market in the association's stock, make reasonable arrangements to provide the shareholder with an opportunity to realize a fair price through sale of the fraction, or purchase of the additional fraction required for a full share; (d) remit the cash equivalent of the fraction to the shareholder; or (e) sell full shares representing all the fractions at public auction or to the highest bidder after having solicited and received sealed bids from at least three licensed stock brokers; and distribute the proceeds pro rata to shareholders who otherwise would be entitled to the fractional shares. The holder of a fractional share is entitled to exercise the rights for shareholder, including the right to vote, to receive dividends, and to participate in the assets of the association upon liquidation, in proportion to the fractional interest. The holder of script or warrants is not entitled to any of these rights unless the script or warrants explicitly provide for such rights. The script or warrants may be subject to such additional conditions as: (1) that the script or warrants will become void if not exchanged for full shares before a specified date; and (2) that the shares for which the script or warrants are exchangeable may be sold at the option of the association and the proceeds paid to scriptholders.

 

The association, at any time and from time to time, may authorize and issue debt obligations, whether or not subordinated, without the approval of the shareholders. Obligations classified as debt, whether or not subordinated, which may be issued by the association without the approval of shareholders, do not carry voting rights on any issue, including an increase or decrease in the aggregate number of the securities, or the exchange or reclassification of all or part of securities into securities of another class or series.

 

 

 

SIXTH.           The board of directors shall appoint one of its members president of this association, and one of its members chairperson of the board and shall have the power to appoint one or more vice presidents, a secretary who shall keep minutes of the directors' and shareholders' meetings and be responsible for authenticating the records of the association, and such other officers and employees as may be required to transact the business of this association.

 

A duly appointed officer may appoint one or more officers or assistant officers if authorized by the board of directors in accordance with the bylaws.

 

The board of directors shall have the power to:

 

1)Define the duties of the officers, employees, and agents of the association.

2)Delegate the performance of its duties, but not the responsibility for its duties, to the officers, employees, and agents of the association.

3)Fix the compensation and enter into employment contracts with its officers and employees upon reasonable terms and conditions consistent with applicable law.

4)Dismiss officers and employees.

5)Require bonds from officers and employees and to fix the penalty thereof.

6)Ratify written policies authorized by the association's management or committees of the board.

7)Regulate the manner in which any increase or decrease of the capital of the association shall be made, provided that nothing herein shall restrict the power of shareholders to increase or decrease the capital of the association in accordance with law, and nothing shall raise or lower from two-thirds the percentage required for shareholder approval to increase or reduce the capital.

8)Manage and administer the business and affairs of the association.

9)Adopt initial bylaws, not inconsistent with law or the articles of association, for managing the business and regulating the affairs of the association.

10)Amend or repeal bylaws, except to the extent that the articles of association reserve this power in whole or in part to shareholders.

11)Make contracts.

12)Generally perform all acts that are legal for a board of directors to perform.

 

SEVENTH.     The board of directors shall have the power to change the location of the main office to any other place within the limits of Wilmington, Delaware, without the approval of the shareholders, or with a vote of shareholders owning two-thirds of the stock of such association for a relocation outside such limits and upon receipt of a certificate of approval from the Comptroller of the Currency, to any other location within or outside the limits of Wilmington Delaware, but not more than 30 miles beyond such limits. The board of directors shall have the power to establish or change the location of any branch or branches of the association to any other location permitted under applicable law, without approval of shareholders, subject to approval by the Comptroller of the Currency.

 

 

 

EIGHTH.        The corporate existence of this association shall continue until termination according to the laws of the United States.

 

NINTH.           The board of directors of this association, or any one or more shareholders owning, in the aggregate, not less than 50 percent of the stock of this association, may call a special meeting of shareholders at any time. Unless otherwise provided by the bylaws or the laws of the United States, a notice of the time, place, and purpose of every annual and special meeting of the shareholders shall be given at least 10 days prior to the meeting by first-class mail, unless the OCC determines that an emergency circumstance exists. If the association is a wholly-owned subsidiary, the sole shareholder may waive notice of the shareholders’ meeting. Unless otherwise provided by the bylaws or these articles, any action requiring approval of shareholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting.

 

TENTH.          For purposes of this Article Tenth, the term “institution-affiliated party” shall mean any institution-affiliated party of the association as such term is defined in 12 U.S.C. 1813(u).

 

Any institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) may be indemnified or reimbursed by the association for reasonable expenses actually incurred in connection with any threatened, pending or completed actions or proceedings and appeals therein, whether civil, criminal, governmental, administrative or investigative, in accordance with and to the fullest extent permitted by law, as such law now or hereafter exists; provided, however, that when an administrative proceeding or action instituted by a federal banking agency results in a final order or settlement pursuant to which such person: (i) is assessed a civil money penalty, (ii) is removed from office or prohibited from participating in the conduct of the affairs of the association, or (iii) is required to cease and desist from or to take any affirmative action described in 12 U.S.C. 1818(b) with respect to the association, then the association shall require the repayment of all legal fees and expenses advanced pursuant to the next succeeding paragraph and may not indemnify such institution-affiliated parties (or their heirs, executors or administrators) for expenses, including expenses for legal fees, penalties or other payments incurred. The association shall provide indemnification in connection with an action or proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by an institution-affiliated party (or by his or her heirs, executors or administrators) only if such action or proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the board of directors.

 

Expenses incurred by an institution-affiliated party (or by his or her heirs, executors or administrators) in connection with any action or proceeding under 12 U.S.C. 164 or 1818 may be paid by the association in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding upon (a) a determination by the board of directors acting by a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to such action or proceeding that the institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) has a reasonable basis for prevailing on the merits, (b) a determination that the indemnified individual (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) will have the financial capacity to reimburse the bank in the event he or she does not prevail, (c) a determination that the payment of expenses and fees by the association will not adversely affect the safety and soundness of the association, and (d) receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such institution-affiliated party (or by his or her heirs, executors or administrators) to repay such advancement in the event of a final order or settlement pursuant to which such person: (i) is assessed a civil money penalty, (ii) is removed from office or prohibited from participating in the conduct of the affairs of the association, or (iii) is required to cease and desist from or to take any affirmative action described in 12 U.S.C. 1818(b) with respect to the association. In all other instances, expenses incurred by an institution-affiliated party (or by his or her heirs, executors or administrators) in connection with any action or proceeding as to which indemnification may be given under these articles of association may be paid by the association in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding upon (a) receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such institution-affiliated party (or by or on behalf of his or her heirs, executors or administrators) to repay such advancement in the event that such institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) is ultimately found not to be entitled to indemnification as authorized by these articles of association and (b) approval by the board of directors acting by a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to such action or proceeding or, if such a quorum is not obtainable, then approval by stockholders. To the extent permitted by law, the board of directors or, if applicable, the stockholders, shall not be required to find that the institution-affiliated party has met the applicable standard of conduct provided by law for indemnification in connection with such action or proceeding.

 

 

 

In the event that a majority of the members of the board of directors are named as respondents in an administrative proceeding or civil action and request indemnification, the remaining members of the board may authorize independent legal counsel to review the indemnification request and provide the remaining members of the board with a written opinion of counsel as to whether the conditions delineated in the first four paragraphs of this Article Tenth have been met. If independent legal counsel opines that said conditions have been met, the remaining members of the board of directors may rely on such opinion in authorizing the requested indemnification.

 

In the event that all of the members of the board of directors are named as respondents in an administrative proceeding or civil action and request indemnification, the board shall authorize independent legal counsel to review the indemnification request and provide the board with a written opinion of counsel as to whether the conditions delineated in the first four paragraphs of this Article Tenth have been met. If legal counsel opines that said conditions have been met, the board of directors may rely on such opinion in authorizing the requested indemnification.

 

To the extent permitted under applicable law, the rights of indemnification and to the advancement of expenses provided in these articles of association (a) shall be available with respect to events occurring prior to the adoption of these articles of association, (b) shall continue to exist after any restrictive amendment of these articles of association with respect to events occurring prior to such amendment, (c) may be interpreted on the basis of applicable law in effect at the time of the occurrence of the event or events giving rise to the action or proceeding, or on the basis of applicable law in effect at the time such rights are claimed, and (d) are in the nature of contract rights which may be enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction as if the association and the institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) for whom such rights are sought were parties to a separate written agreement.

 

The rights of indemnification and to the advancement of expenses provided in these articles of association shall not, to the extent permitted under applicable law, be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which any such institution affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) may now or hereafter be otherwise entitled whether contained in these articles of association, the bylaws, a resolution of stockholders, a resolution of the board of directors, or an agreement providing such indemnification, the creation of such other rights being hereby expressly authorized. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the rights of indemnification and to the advancement of expenses provided in these articles of association shall not be deemed exclusive of any rights, pursuant to statute or otherwise, of any such institution-affiliated party (or of his or her heirs, executors or administrators) in any such action or proceeding to have assessed or allowed in his or her favor, against the association or otherwise, his or her costs and expenses incurred therein or in connection therewith or any part thereof.

 

If this Article Tenth or any part hereof shall be held unenforceable in any respect by a court of competent jurisdiction, it shall be deemed modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, and the remainder of this Article Tenth shall remain fully enforceable.

 

 

 

The association may, upon affirmative vote of a majority of its board of directors, purchase insurance to indemnify its institution-affiliated parties to the extent that such indemnification is allowed in these articles of association; provided, however, that no such insurance shall include coverage to pay or reimburse any institution-affiliated party for the cost of any judgment or civil money penalty assessed against such person in an administrative proceeding or civil action commenced by any federal banking agency. Such insurance may, but need not, be for the benefit of all institution-affiliated parties.

 

ELEVENTH.      These articles of association may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the shareholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of this association, unless the vote of the holders of a greater amount of stock is required by law, and in that case by the vote of the holders of such greater amount. The association's board of directors may propose one or more amendments to the articles of association for submission to the shareholders.

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 4

 

BY-LAWS OF WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

 

 

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

 

(Effective as of September 12, 2023)

 

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS OF

 

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

ARTICLE I 

Meetings of Shareholders

 

Section 1.      Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of shareholders shall be held on such date and at such time as may be designated by the chair of the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the president, the chief operating officer, the secretary, or the Board of Directors for the purpose of the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, except such date shall not be a legal holiday in Delaware. Notice of the meeting shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, at least 10 days and no more than 60 days prior to the date thereof, addressed to each shareholder at his or her address appearing on the books of the association. If, for any cause, an election of directors is not made on that date, an election may be held on any subsequent day within 60 days of the date fixed, to be designated by the Board of Directors, or, if the directors fail to fix the date, by shareholders representing two-thirds of the shares. In these circumstances, at least 10 days’ notice must be given by first class mail to shareholders.

 

Section 2.      Special Meetings. The chair of the Board of Directors, the president, the chief executive officer, the secretary, or the Board of Directors may call a special meeting of the shareholders. A special meeting shall be called to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of shareholders upon the written request of shareholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at the meeting. Every such special meeting, unless otherwise provided by law, shall be called by mailing, postage prepaid, not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting, to each shareholder at the address appearing on the books of the association a notice stating the purpose of the meeting.

 

The Board of Directors may fix a record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice and to vote at any meeting, in reasonable proximity to the date of giving notice to the shareholders of such meeting. The record date for determining shareholders entitled to demand a special meeting is the date the first shareholder signs a demand for the meeting describing the purpose or purposes for which it is to be held.

 

Section 3.      Adjournment. If an annual or special shareholders' meeting is adjourned to a different date, time, or place, notice need not be given of the new date, time or place, if the new date, time or place is announced at the meeting before adjournment, unless any additional items of business are to be considered, or the association becomes aware of an intervening event materially affecting any matter to be voted on more than 10 days prior to the date to which the meeting is adjourned. If a new record date for the adjourned meeting is fixed, however, notice of the adjourned meeting must be given to persons who are shareholders as of the new record date. If, however, the meeting to elect the directors is adjourned before the election takes place, at least ten days’ notice of the new election must be given to the shareholders by first-class mail.

 

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Section 4.      Nominations of Directors. Nominations for election to the Board of Directors may be made by the Board of Directors or by any shareholder of any outstanding class of capital stock of the association entitled to vote for the election of directors. Nominations, other than those made by or on behalf of the existing management of the association, shall be made in writing and shall be delivered or mailed to the president of the association, not less than 14 days nor more than 50 days prior to any meeting of shareholders called for the election of directors; provided, however, that if less than 21 days' notice of the meeting is given to shareholders, such nomination shall be mailed or delivered to the president of the association not later than the close of business on the seventh day following the day on which the notice of meeting was mailed. Such notification shall contain the following information to the extent known to the notifying shareholder:

 

(1)The name and address of each proposed nominee;

 

(2)The principal occupation of each proposed nominee;

 

(3)The total number of shares of capital stock of the association that will be voted for each proposed nominee;

 

(4)The name and residence of the notifying shareholder; and

 

(5)The number of shares of capital stock of the association owned by the notifying shareholder

 

Nominations not made in accordance herewith may, in his/her discretion, be disregarded by the chair of the meeting, and upon his/her instructions, all votes cast for each such nominee may be disregarded.

 

Section 5.      Proxies. Shareholders may vote at any meeting of the shareholders by proxies duly authorized in writing, but no officer or employee of this association shall act as proxy. A director or an attorney of the association may act as proxy for shareholders voting if they are not also employed as an officer of the association. Proxies shall be valid only for one meeting, to be specified therein, and any adjournments of such meeting. Proxies shall be dated and filed with the records of the meeting. Proxies with facsimile signatures may be used and unexecuted proxies may be counted upon receipt of a written confirmation from the shareholder. Proxies meeting the above requirements submitted at any time during a meeting shall be accepted.

 

Section 6.      Quorum. A majority of the outstanding capital stock, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of shareholders, unless otherwise provided by law, but less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held, as adjourned, without further notice. A majority of the votes cast shall decide every question or matter submitted to the shareholders at any meeting, unless otherwise provided by law or by the articles of association. If a meeting for the election of directors is not held on the fixed date, at least 10 days’ notice must be given by first-class mail to the shareholders.

 

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ARTICLE II 

Directors

 

Section 1.      Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall have the power to manage and administer the business and affairs of the association. Except as expressly limited by law, all corporate powers of the association shall be vested in and may be exercised by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2.       Number. The Board of Directors shall consist of not less than five nor more than twenty-five members, unless the OCC has exempted the association from the 25-member limit. The exact number within such minimum and maximum limits is to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of a majority of the full Board of Directors or by resolution of a majority of the shareholders at any meeting thereof. The Board of Directors may not increase the number of directors between meetings of shareholders to a number which: (a) exceeds by more than 2 the number of directors last elected by shareholders where the number was 15 or less; or (b) exceeds by more than 4 the number of directors last elected by shareholders where the number was 16 or more, but in no event shall the number of directors exceed 25, unless the OCC has exempted the association from the 25-member limit.

 

Section 3.      Qualifications. Each director must be a citizen of the United States and must own in his or her own right either shares of the capital stock of the association or a company that controls the association that has not less than an aggregate par value of $1,000, an aggregate shareholders’ equity of $1,000, or an aggregate fair market value of $1,000. The value of the common or preferred stock held by a director is valued as of the date purchased or the date on which the individual became a director, whichever is greater.

 

Section 4.      Organization Meeting.      After each annual meeting of shareholders at which directors shall have been elected, the Board of Directors shall meet as soon as practicable for the purpose of organization and the transaction of other business. Such first regular meeting shall be held at any place as may be designated by the chair, the president or the Board of Directors for such first regular meeting or, in default of such designation, where the immediately preceding meeting of shareholders was held.

 

Section 5.      Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held on such dates and at such places as may be designated from time to time by the chair. No notice of regular meetings shall be necessary.

 

Section 6. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called at any time by the chair, the chief executive officer, the president or by a majority of the then- acting directors by vote at a meeting or in writing, or by a majority of the members of the executive committee, if one is constituted, by vote at a meeting or in writing. A special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held on such date and at any place as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors. In the absence of such designation, such meeting shall be held at such place as may be designated in the call. Each member of the Board of Directors shall be given notice stating the date, time and place, by letter, electronic delivery or in person, of each special meeting not less than one day before the meeting. Such notice need not specify the purpose for which the meeting is called, unless required by the Articles of Association or the bylaws.

 

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Section 7.      Quorum. A majority of the entire Board then in office shall constitute a quorum at any meeting, except when otherwise provided by law or these Bylaws, but a lesser number may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held, as adjourned, without further notice. If the number of directors present at the meeting is reduced below the number that would constitute a quorum, no business may be transacted, except selecting directors to fill vacancies in conformance with Article II, Section 11. If a quorum is present, the board of directors may take action through the vote of a majority of the directors who are in attendance. No director may vote by proxy.

 

Section 8.      Attendance by Electronic, Telephonic or Similar Means. Any one or more members of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may participate in a regular or special meeting of such board or committee by, or conduct the meeting through the use of, conference telephone or other communications equipment by which all directors or committee members participating may simultaneously hear each other during the meeting. Participation in a meeting by these means constitutes presence in person at a meeting.

 

Section 9.      Procedures. The order of business and all other matters of procedure at every meeting of the Board of Directors may be determined by the person presiding at the meeting.

 

Section 10.    Removal of Directors. Any director may be removed for cause at any meeting of shareholders, notice of which shall have referred to the proposed action, by vote of the shareholders. Any director may be removed without cause at any meeting of shareholders, notice of which shall have referred to the proposed action, by the vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the association entitled to vote. Any director may be removed for cause at any meeting of the directors, notice of which shall have referred to the proposed action, by vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors.

 

Section 11.    Vacancies. When any vacancy occurs among the directors, a majority of the remaining members of the Board of Directors may appoint a director to fill such vacancy until the next election at any regular meeting of the Board of Directors, or at a special meeting called for that purpose at which a quorum is present, or if the directors remaining in office constitute fewer than a quorum of the Board of Directors, by the affirmative vote of a majority of all the directors remaining in office, or by shareholders at a special meeting called for that purpose in conformance with Section 2 of Article I. A vacancy that will occur at a specific later date (by reason of a resignation effective at a later date) may be filled before the vacancy occurs but the new director may not take office until the vacancy occurs.

 

Section 12.    Consent of Directors without a Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if the action is taken by all members of the Board. The action may be evidenced by one or more written consents signed by each director before or after such action, describing the action taken, and included in the minutes or filed with the corporate records. A director’s consent to action taken without a meeting may be in electronic form and delivered by electronic means.

 

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Section 13.    Ratification. The board of directors may ratify and make binding on the association any action or inaction by the association or its officers to the extent that the Board of Directors or the shareholders could have originally authorized the matter and as permitted by law. Moreover, any action or inaction questioned in any shareholders’ derivative proceeding or any other proceeding on the ground of lack of authority, defective or irregular execution, adverse interest of a director, officer or shareholder, non-disclosure, miscomputation, the application of improper principles or practices of accounting or otherwise, may be ratified, before or after judgment, by the Board of Directors or by the shareholders, and if so ratified, shall have the same force and effect as if the questioned action or inaction had been originally duly authorized, and such ratification shall be binding upon the shareholders and shall constitute a bar to any claim or execution of any judgment in respect of such questioned action or inaction.

 

ARTICLE III 

Committees

 

Section 1.      Executive Committee. The Board of Directors may appoint an Executive Committee, which shall have and may exercise, during the intervals between meetings of the Board of Directors, all the powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business, properties and affairs of the association except as prohibited by law, the Articles of Association or these Bylaws. All acts done and powers conferred by the Executive Committee shall be deemed to be and may be certified as being, done or conferred under authority of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2.      Trust Audit Committee. Unless delegated pursuant to Section 5 of this Article III, there shall be a Trust Audit Committee composed of not less than 2 directors, appointed by the Board of Directors, which shall, at least once during each calendar year make suitable audits of the association’s fiduciary activities or cause suitable audits to be made by auditors responsible only to the Board, and at such time shall ascertain whether fiduciary powers have been administered according to law, Part 9 of the Regulations of the Comptroller of the Currency, and sound fiduciary principles. Such committee: (1) must not include any officers of the association or an affiliate who participate significantly in the administration of the association’s fiduciary activities; and (2) must consist of a majority of members who are not also members of any committee to which the Board of Directors has delegated power to manage and control the fiduciary activities of the bank.

 

Section 3.      Examining Committee. Unless delegated pursuant to Section 5 of this Article III, there shall be an examining committee composed of not less than 2 directors, exclusive of any active officers, appointed by the board of directors annually or more often. The duty of that committee shall be to examine at least once during each calendar year and within 15 months of the last examination the affairs of the association or cause suitable examinations to be made by auditors responsible only to the board of directors and to report the result of such examination in writing to the board of directors at the next regular meeting thereafter. Such report shall state whether the association is in a sound condition, and whether adequate internal controls and procedures are being maintained and shall recommend to the board of directors such changes in the manner of conducting the affairs of the association as shall be deemed advisable.

 

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Section 4.      Other Committees. The Board of Directors may from time to time by resolution adopted by affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors, appoint other committees of the Board of Directors which shall have such powers and duties as the Board of Directors may properly determine. No such other committee of the Board of Directors shall be composed of fewer than three (3) directors. The Board of Directors may also appoint one or more directors as alternative members of a committee. All acts done and powers conferred by the Board of Directors on committees of the Board of Directors shall be deemed to be and may be certified as being, done or conferred under that authority of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 5.       Delegation of Responsibility and Authority. The responsibility, authority and constitution of any committee under this Article III may, if authorized by law, be given over to a duly constituted committee of the association’s parent corporation by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE IV 

Officers and Employees

 

Section 1       Officers. The Board of Directors shall annually, at the Annual Reorganization Meeting of the Board of Directors following the annual meeting of shareholders, appoint or elect a chair of the Board, a chief executive officer, a president, one or more vice presidents however denominated, a corporate secretary, a treasurer, a chief auditor, and such other officers as it may determine. At the Annual Reorganization Meeting, the Board of Directors shall also elect or reelect all of the officers of the association to hold office until the next Annual Reorganization Meeting. In the interim between Annual Reorganization Meetings, the officers of the association may be elected as follows and shall hold office until the next Annual Reorganization Meeting unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors or such authorized officer(s): The head of the Human Resources Department of M&T Bank or his or her designee or designees, may appoint officers up to and including the rank of senior executive vice president, including (without limitation as to title or number) one or more executive vice presidents, senior vice presidents, vice presidents, assistant vice presidents, assistant secretaries, assistant treasurers and assistant auditors, and any other officer positions as they deem necessary and appropriate, except the chair of the board, chief executive officer, president, any “Executive Officer” of the association for the purposes of Regulation O (codified at 12 C.F.R. §215.2(e)(1)), and any “Senior Executive Officer” within the meaning of 12 C.F.R. §5.51(c)(4) may only be appointed by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2.      Chair of the Board. The Board of Directors shall appoint one of its members to be the chair of the Board to serve at its pleasure. Such person shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors. The chair of the Board shall supervise the carrying out of the policies adopted or approved by the Board of Directors; shall have general executive powers, as well as the specific powers conferred by these Bylaws; and shall also have and may exercise such further powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred upon or assigned by the Board of Directors.

 

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Section 3.      President. The Board of Directors shall appoint one of its members to be the president of the association. The president shall be a member of the Board of Directors. In the absence of the chair, the president shall preside at any meeting of the Board of Directors. The president shall have general executive powers and shall have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation, or practice to the office of president, or imposed by these Bylaws. The president shall also have and may exercise such further powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred or assigned by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 4.      Vice President. The Board of Directors may appoint one or more vice presidents. Each vice president shall have such powers and duties as may be assigned by the Board of Directors. One vice president shall be designated by the Board of Directors, in the absence of the president, to perform all the duties of the president.

 

Section 5.      Secretary. The Board of Directors shall appoint a secretary or other designated officer who shall be secretary of the Board of Directors and of the association and who shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings. The secretary shall attend to the giving of all notices required by these Bylaws; shall be custodian of the corporate seal, records, documents and papers of the association; shall provide for the keeping of proper records of all transactions of the association; shall have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation or practice, or imposed by these bylaws; and shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time, by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 6.      Other Officers. The Board of Directors may appoint one or more assistant vice presidents, one or more trust officers, one or more officers, one or more assistant secretaries, one or more assistant treasurers, one or more managers and assistant managers of branches and such other officers and attorneys in fact as from time to time may appear to the Board of Directors to be required or desirable to transact the business of the association. Such officers shall respectively exercise such powers and perform such duties as pertain to their several offices, or as may be conferred upon or assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the chair of the Board, or the president. The Board of Directors may authorize an officer to appoint one or more officers or assistant officers.

 

Section 7.      Resignation. An officer may resign at any time by delivering notice to the association. A resignation is effective when the notice is given unless the notice specifies a later effective date.

 

ARTICLE V 

Stock and Stock Certificates

 

Section 1.      Transfers. Shares of stock shall be transferable on the books of the association, and a transfer book shall be kept in which all transfers of stock shall be recorded. Every person becoming a shareholder by such transfer shall in proportion to such shareholder's shares, succeed to all rights of the prior holder of such shares. The Board of Directors may impose conditions upon the transfer of the stock reasonably calculated to simplify the work of the association with respect to stock transfers, voting at shareholder meetings and related matters and to protect it against fraudulent transfers.

 

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Section 2.      Stock Certificates. Certificates of stock shall bear the signature of the president (which may be engraved, printed or impressed) and shall be signed manually, by facsimile process, or electronic means by the secretary, assistant secretary, treasurer, assistant treasurer, or any other officer appointed by the Board of Directors for that purpose, to be known as an authorized officer, and the seal of the association shall be engraved thereon. Each certificate shall recite on its face that the stock represented thereby is transferable only upon the books of the association properly endorsed and otherwise comply with the requirements of 12 U.S.C. 52 and 12 C.F.R. §7.2016(b).

 

Section 3.      Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. In case any certificate representing shares shall be lost, stolen or destroyed, the Board of Directors, in its discretion, or any officer or officers thereunder duly authorized by the Board of Directors, may authorize the issue of a substitute certificate or substitute shares in uncertificated form in the place of the certificate so lost, stolen or destroyed.

 

Section 4.      Fixing of Record Date. The Board of Directors may set, in advance, a record date for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of shareholders or determining shareholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any other rights, in order to make a determination of shareholders for any other proper purpose. Such date, in any case, shall be the close of business on the day before the first notice is mailed or otherwise sent to the shareholders, provided that in no event may a record date be more than 10 days before the meeting.

 

ARTICLE VII 

Corporate Seal

 

Section 1.      Seal. The seal of the association shall be in such form as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. The president, the treasurer, the secretary or any assistant treasurer or assistant secretary, or other officer thereunto designated by the Board of Directors shall have authority to affix the corporate seal to any document requiring such seal and to attest the same. The seal on any corporate obligation for the payment of money may be facsimile.

 

ARTICLE VIII 

Miscellaneous Provisions

 

Section 1.      Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the association shall be the calendar year.

 

Section 2.      Execution of Instruments. All agreements, indentures, mortgages, deeds, conveyances, transfers, certificates, declarations, receipts, discharges, releases, satisfactions, settlements, petitions, schedules, accounts, affidavits, bonds, undertakings, proxies and other instruments or documents may be signed, executed, acknowledged, verified, delivered or accepted on behalf of the association by any officer elected or appointed pursuant to Article IV of these Bylaws. Any such instruments may also be executed, acknowledged, verified, delivered or accepted on behalf of the association in such other manner and by such other officers as the Board of Directors may from time to time direct. The provisions of this Section 2 are supplementary to any other provision of these Bylaws.

 

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Section 3.      Records. The Articles of Association, the Bylaws and the proceedings of all meetings of the shareholders, the Board of Directors, and standing committees of the Board of Directors shall be recorded in appropriate minute books provided for that purpose. The minutes of each meeting shall be signed by the secretary, treasurer or other officer appointed to act as secretary of the meeting.

 

Section 4.      Corporate Governance Procedures. To the extent not inconsistent with federal banking statutes and regulations, or safe and sound banking practices, the association may follow the Delaware General Corporation Law, Del. Code Ann. tit. 8 (1991, as amended 1994, and as amended thereafter) with respect to matters of corporate governance procedures.

 

Section 5.      Indemnification. For purposes of this Section 5 of Article VIII, the term “institution-affiliated party” shall mean any institution-affiliated party of the association as such term is defined in 12 U.S.C. 1813(u).

 

Any institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) may be indemnified or reimbursed by the association for reasonable expenses actually incurred in connection with any threatened, pending or completed actions or proceedings and appeals therein, whether civil, criminal, governmental, administrative or investigative, in accordance with and to the fullest extent permitted by law, as such law now or hereafter exists; provided, however, that when an administrative proceeding or action instituted by a federal banking agency results in a final order or settlement pursuant to which such person: (i) is assessed a civil money penalty, (ii) is removed from office or prohibited from participating in the conduct of the affairs of the association, or (iii) is required to cease and desist from or to take any affirmative action described in 12 U.S.C. 1818(b) with respect to the association, then the association shall require the repayment of all legal fees and expenses advanced pursuant to the next succeeding paragraph and may not indemnify such institution-affiliated parties (or their heirs, executors or administrators) for expenses, including expenses for legal fees, penalties or other payments incurred. The association shall provide indemnification in connection with an action or proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by an institution-affiliated party (or by his or her heirs, executors or administrators) only if such action or proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors.

 

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Expenses incurred by an institution-affiliated party (or by his or her heirs, executors or administrators) in connection with any action or proceeding under 12 U.S.C. 164 or 1818 may be paid by the association in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding upon (a) a determination by the Board of Directors acting by a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to such action or proceeding that the institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) has a reasonable basis for prevailing on the merits, (b) a determination that the indemnified individual (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) will have the financial capacity to reimburse the association in the event he or she does not prevail, (c) a determination that the payment of expenses and fees by the association will not adversely affect the safety and soundness of the association, and (d) receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such institution-affiliated party (or by his or her heirs, executors or administrators) to repay such advancement in the event of a final order or settlement pursuant to which such person: (i) is assessed a civil money penalty, (ii) is removed from office or prohibited from participating in the conduct of the affairs of the association, or (iii) is required to cease and desist from or to take any affirmative action described in 12 U.S.C. 1818(b) with respect to the association. In all other instances, expenses incurred by an institution-affiliated party (or by his or her heirs, executors or administrators) in connection with any action or proceeding as to which indemnification may be given under the Articles of Association may be paid by the association in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding upon (a) receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such institution-affiliated party (or by or on behalf of his or her heirs, executors or administrators) to repay such advancement in the event that such institution- affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) is ultimately found not to be entitled to indemnification as authorized by these Bylaws and (b) approval by the Board of Directors acting by a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to such action or proceeding or, if such a quorum is not obtainable, then approval by shareholders. To the extent permitted by law, the Board of Directors or, if applicable, the shareholders, shall not be required to find that the institution-affiliated party has met the applicable standard of conduct provided by law for indemnification in connection with such action or proceeding.

 

In the event that a majority of the members of the Board of Directors are named as respondents in an administrative proceeding or civil action and request indemnification, the remaining members of the Board may authorize independent legal counsel to review the indemnification request and provide the remaining members of the Board with a written opinion of counsel as to whether the conditions delineated in the first four paragraphs of this Section 5 of Article VIII have been met. If independent legal counsel opines that said conditions have been met, the remaining members of the Board of Directors may rely on such opinion in authorizing the requested indemnification.

 

In the event that all of the members of the Board of Directors are named as respondents in an administrative proceeding or civil action and request indemnification, the Board shall authorize independent legal counsel to review the indemnification request and provide the Board with a written opinion of counsel as to whether the conditions delineated in the first four paragraphs of this Section 5 of Article VIII have been met. If legal counsel opines that said conditions have been met, the Board of Directors may rely on such opinion in authorizing the requested indemnification.

 

To the extent permitted under applicable law, the rights of indemnification and to the advancement of expenses provided in the Articles of Association (a) shall be available with respect to events occurring prior to the adoption of these Bylaws, (b) shall continue to exist after any restrictive amendment of these Bylaws with respect to events occurring prior to such amendment, (c) may be interpreted on the basis of applicable law in effect at the time of the occurrence of the event or events giving rise to the action or proceeding, or on the basis of applicable law in effect at the time such rights are claimed, and (d) are in the nature of contract rights which may be enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction as if the association and the institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) for whom such rights are sought were parties to a separate written agreement.

 

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The rights of indemnification and to the advancement of expenses provided in these Bylaws shall not, to the extent permitted under applicable law, be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which any such institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) may now or hereafter be otherwise entitled whether contained in the association’s Articles of Association, these Bylaws, a resolution of shareholders, a resolution of the Board of Directors, or an agreement providing such indemnification, the creation of such other rights being hereby expressly authorized. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the rights of indemnification and to the advancement of expenses provided in these Bylaws shall not be deemed exclusive of any rights, pursuant to statute or otherwise, of any such institution-affiliated party (or of his or her heirs, executors or administrators) in any such action or proceeding to have assessed or allowed in his or her favor, against the association or otherwise, his or her costs and expenses incurred therein or in connection therewith or any part thereof.

 

If this Section 5 of Article VIII or any part hereof shall be held unenforceable in any respect by a court of competent jurisdiction, it shall be deemed modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, and the remainder of this Section 5 of Article VIII shall remain fully enforceable.

 

The association may, upon affirmative vote of a majority of its Board of Directors, purchase insurance to indemnify its institution-affiliated parties to the extent that such indemnification is allowed in these Bylaws; provided, however, that no such insurance shall include coverage for a final order assessing civil money penalties against such persons by a bank regulatory agency. Such insurance may, but need not, be for the benefit of all institution- affiliated parties.

 

ARTICLE IX 

Inspection and Amendments

 

Section 1.      Inspection. A copy of the bylaws of the association, with all amendments, shall at all times be kept in a convenient place at the main office of the association, and shall be open for inspection to all shareholders during banking hours.

 

Section 2.      Amendments. The Board of Directors shall have the power, at any regular or special meeting thereof, to amend, alter or repeal the bylaws of the association, or to make and adopt new bylaws. These Bylaws may be amended, altered or repealed and new bylaws may be adopted by the shareholders of the association to the extent and as permitted in the Articles of Association or applicable law.

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 6

 

Section 321(b) Consent

 

Pursuant to Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, Wilmington Trust, National Association hereby consents that reports of examinations by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon requests therefor.

 

 WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
  
Dated: April 9th, 2024By:/s/ Michael H. Wass
   Name: Michael H. Wass
   Title: Vice President

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 7

 

R E P O R T O F C O N D I T I O N

 

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

As of the close of business on December 31, 2023

 

   Thousands of Dollars 
ASSETS    
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:  537,816 
Securities:  5,633 
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreement to resell:  0 
Loans and leases held for sale:  0 
Loans and leases net of unearned income, allowance:  44,955 
Premises and fixed asset  31,969 
Other real estate owned:  210 
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies:  0 
Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures:  0 
Intangible assets:  0 
Other assets:  62,185 
Total Assets:  682,768 

 

   Thousands of Dollars 
LIABILITIES    
Deposits  6,021 
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase  0 
Other borrowed money:  0 
Other Liabilities:  94,313 
Total Liabilities  100,334 

 

   Thousands of Dollars 
EQUITY CAPITAL    
Common Stock  1,000 
Surplus  345,403 
Retained Earnings  236,374 
Accumulated other comprehensive income  (343)
Total Equity Capital  582,434 
     
Total Liabilities and Equity Capital  682,768 

 

 

 

Exhibit 107

 

Calculation of Filing Fee Table

Form S-3

(Form Type)

 

Asure Software, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Table 1: Newly Registered Securities

 

    Security
Type		   Security Class
Title		   Fee
Calculation
or Carry
Forward
Rule		   Amount
Registered		  

Proposed

Maximum

Offering

Price Per

Share

Maximum

Aggregate
Offering Price(1)(2)

Fee

Rate

 Amount of
Registration
Fee(3)
 
                 
Fees to be Paid   Debt   Debt Securities   Rule 457(o)              
                 
Fees to be Paid   Equity   Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share   Rule 457(o)              
                 
Fees to be Paid   Equity   Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share   Rule 457(o)              
                 
Fees to be Paid   Other   Debt Warrants   Rule 457(o)              
                 
Fees to be Paid   Other   Equity Warrants   Rule 457(o)              
                 
Fees to be Paid   Other   Rights   Rule 457(o)              
                 
Fees to be Paid   Other   Units   Rule 457(o)              
                 
Fees Previously Paid Unallocated (Universal) Shelf Rule 457(o)     $150,000,000 .0001476 $22,140.00
           
    Total Offering Amount      $150,000,000 .0001476 $22,140.00
           
           
    Total Fee Offsets          $16,365.00
           
    Net Fee Due          $5,775.00

 

(1)            The proposed amount to be registered, maximum offering price per class of security and maximum aggregate offering price per class of security will be determined from time to time by the registrant in connection with the issuance by the registrant of the securities registered hereunder.

 

(2)            This registration statement covers such indeterminate number of shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock and an indeterminate amount of debt securities, warrants, rights and units of Asure Software, Inc., together having a maximum aggregate offering price not to exceed $150 million. The securities registered hereunder are to be issued from time to time at prices to be determined. In addition, pursuant to Rule 416 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the shares being registered hereunder include such indeterminate number of shares of common stock as may be issuable with respect to the securities being registered hereunder as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.

 

(3)            Calculated by multiplying the estimated proposed maximum aggregate offering price of the securities to be registered by 0.0001476.

 

 

 

 

Table 2 – Fee Offset Claims and Sources

 

  Registrant
or
Filer Name		 Filing
Form or
Type

File

Number

 Initial
Filing
Date		 Filing
Date		 Fee Offset
Claimed(1)		 Security
Type
Associated
with Fee
Offset
Claimed		 Security
Title
Associated
with Fee
Offset
Claimed		 Unsold
Securities
Associated
with Fee
Offset
Claimed		 Unsold
Aggregate
Offering
Amount
Associated
with Fee
Offset Claim		 Fee Paid with
Fee Offset
Source
Fee Offset Claims Asure Software, Inc. S-3 333-254138 March 11, 2021   $16,365.00 (2) Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (2) $100,004,004  
Fee Offset Sources Asure Software, Inc. S-3 333-254138   March 11, 2021           $2,450.88
Fee Offset Sources Asure Software, Inc. S-3 333-224068   April 2, 2018           $13,914.12

 

(1)In reliance on Rule 457(p) under the Securities Act. This registration statement includes an aggregate of $100,004,004 of unsold securities that were previously registered on registration statement on Form S-3 No. 333-254138 (the “2021 Registration Statement”), which expires on April 21, 2024.

 

(2)The 2021 Registration Statement covered an indeterminate number of securities, having aa maximum aggregate offering price not to exceed $150 million and included the following types of securities: Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, debt warrants, equity warrants, rights and units.

 

Table 3 – Combined Prospectus

 

Security
Type		 Security
Class Title		 Amount of
Securities
Previously
Registered(1)		 Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price
of Securities
Previously
Registered(1)		 Form
 Type		 File Number Initial
Effective
Date
Debt Debt Securities          
Equity Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share          
Equity Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share          
Other Debt Warrants          
Other Equity Warrants          
Other Rights          
Other Units          
Total     $150,000,000 S-3 333-254138 April 21, 2021

 

(1)The 2021 Registration Statement covered an indeterminate number of securities, having aa maximum aggregate offering price not to exceed $150 million and included the following types of securities: Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, debt warrants, equity warrants, rights and units.