As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on December 14, 2015

 

Registration No. 333-207976

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM S-3/A

(Amendment No. 1)

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

NORTHWEST BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or
organization)

 

94-3306718

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

4800 Montgomery Lane, Suite 800

Bethesda, MD 20814

(240) 497-9024

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

 

Linda F. Powers

Chief Executive Officer

Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc.

4800 Montgomery Lane, Suite 800

Bethesda, MD 20814

(240) 497-9024

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

Copies to:

Peter Campitiello, Esq.

Kane Kessler, P.C.

1350 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10019

Telephone (212) 519-5109

Facsimile (212) 245-3009

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to 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. x

 

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨

 

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer ¨   Accelerated filer x
Non-accelerated filer ¨   Smaller reporting company ¨

 

 

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of Each Class
of Securities to
be Registered (1)(2)
  Amount to be
Registered
   Proposed
Maximum
Offering
Price per Share
   Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price (3)
   Amount of
Registration 
Fee
 
Common Stock   -    -    -    - 
Preferred Stock   -    -    -    - 
Debt Securities (which may be senior or subordinated, convertible or non-convertible, secured or unsecured)   -    -    -    - 
Warrants   -    -    -    - 
Units   -    -    -    - 
Total for sale by Registrant  $150,000,000    100%  $150,000,000   $15,105.00(3)

 

  (1) Securities registered hereunder may be sold separately, together or as units with other securities registered hereunder.
     
  (2) Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the Registrant is registering an indeterminate aggregate principal amount and number of securities of each identified class of securities up to a proposed aggregate offering price of $150,000,000, which may be offered from time to time in unspecified numbers and at indeterminate prices, and as may be issuable upon conversion, redemption, repurchase, exchange or exercise of any securities registered hereunder, including under any applicable anti-dilution provisions.
     
  (3) Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(o) of the rules and regulations under the Securities Act.

 

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), shall determine.

 

 

 

 

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

 

Subject to completion, dated December 14, 2015

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

 

Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc.

 

$150,000,000

of

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Warrants

Debt Securities

Units

 

This prospectus relates to common stock, preferred stock, warrants, debt securities and units that we may sell from time to time in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $150,000,000 on terms to be determined at the time of sale. We may also offer common stock or preferred stock upon conversion of debt securities, common stock upon conversion of preferred stock, or common stock, preferred stock or debt securities upon the exercise of warrants. We will provide specific terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any supplement carefully before you invest. This prospectus may not be used to offer and sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement for those securities.

 

Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “NWBO.” On December 11, 2015, the last reported sale price of our common stock was $4.11. We recommend that you obtain current market quotations for our common stock and warrants prior to making an investment decision.

 

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

  

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 4.

 

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.

 

 

 

 

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

 

The date of this prospectus is December 14, 2015

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

About This Prospectus 1
About Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc. 1
Risk Factors 4
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information 4
Ratio Of Earnings To Fixed Charges 5
Use Of Proceeds 5
The Securities We May Offer 5
Description Of Common Stock 6
Description Of Preferred Stock 7
Description Of Warrants 8
Description Of Debt Securities 10
Description Of Units 18
Certain Anti-Takeover And Indemnification Provisions Of Our Certificate Of Incorporation And By-Laws And Delaware Law 19
Plan Of Distribution 21
Experts 23
Validity Of The Securities 24
Where You Can Find More Information 24
Incorporation Of Certain Documents By Reference 24

 

Important Notice about the Information Presented in this Prospectus

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. For further information, see the section of this prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.” We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

You should not assume that the information appearing in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front cover of this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement, or that the information contained in any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or any sale of a security. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since such dates. Neither this prospectus nor any accompanying supplement shall constitute an offer or solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.

 

 

 

 

About This Prospectus

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus 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 sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the securities being offered and the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add to, update or change information contained in this prospectus.

 

As permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC, the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, includes additional information not contained in this prospectus. You may read the registration statement and other reports we file with the SEC on the SEC’s web site or at the SEC’s offices, each as further describe below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

Unless otherwise expressly provided or the context otherwise requires, the terms “Northwest Biotherapeutics,” “the Company,” “our company,” “we,” “us,” “our” and similar names refer collectively to Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

 

About Northwest BIOTHERAPEUTICS, Inc.

 

We are a biotechnology company focused on developing immunotherapy products to treat cancers more effectively than current treatments, without toxicities of the kind associated with chemotherapies, and, through a proprietary batch manufacturing process, on a cost-effective basis, initially in both the United States and Europe (the two largest medical markets in the world).

 

We have developed a platform technology, DCVax®, which uses activated dendritic cells to mobilize a patient's own immune system to attack their cancer. The DCVax technology is expected to be applicable to all solid tumor cancers, and is embodied in several distinct product lines. One of the product lines (DCVax-L) is designed to cover all solid tumor cancers in which the tumors can be surgically removed. Another product line (DCVax-Direct) is designed for all solid tumor cancers which are considered inoperable and cannot be surgically removed. We believe the broad applicability of DCVax to many cancers provides multiple opportunities for commercialization and partnering.

 

Our DCVax platform technology involves dendritic cells, the master cells of the immune system, and is designed to reinvigorate and educate the immune system to attack cancers. The dendritic cells are able to mobilize the overall immune system, including T cells, B cells and antibodies, natural killer cells and many others. Such mobilization of the overall immune system provides a broader attack on the cancer than mobilizing just a particular component, such as T cells alone, or a particular antibody alone. Likewise, our DCVax technology is designed to attack the full set of biomarkers, or antigens, on a patient’s cancer, rather than just a particular selected target or several targets. Clinical experience indicates that when just one or a few biomarkers on a cancer are targeted by a drug or other treatment, sooner or later the cancer usually develops a way around that drug, and the drug stops working. We believe that mobilizing all agents of the immune system, and targeting all biomarkers on the patient’s cancer, contributes to the effectiveness of DCVax.

 

 1 

 

The DCVax Technology

 

Our platform technology, DCVax®, is a personalized immune therapy which consists of a therapeutic vaccine that uses a patient’s own dendritic cells, or DCs, the master cells of the immune system, as the therapeutic agent. The patient’s DCs are obtained through a blood draw, or leukapheresis. The DCs are then activated and loaded with biomarkers (“antigens”) from the patient’s own tumor. The loading of biomarkers into the DCs “educates” the DCs about what to attack. The activated, educated DCs are then isolated with very high purity and constitute the DCVax personalized vaccine.

 

We believe that injection of DCVax-L (the activated, educated, fresh, uncompromised dendritic cells of the patient) into the patient, through a simple intra-dermal injection, similar to a flu shot, in the upper arm, can initiate a potent immune response against cancer cells, mobilizing the overall immune system and doing so in the way nature intended, with the numerous immune agents acting in their normal roles and in combination with each other.

 

Importantly, each activated, educated dendritic cell has a large multiplier effect, mobilizing hundreds of T cells and other immune cells. As a result, small doses of such dendritic cells can mobilize large and sustained immune responses. Also very importantly, dendritic cells activate diverse populations of T cells (i.e., T cells targeted at a variety of different biomarker targets on the patient’s cancer). In contrast, T cell based therapies employ T cells aimed at just one biomarker target on the cancer, similar to targeted drugs.

 

DCVax Product Lines

 

We have developed several different product lines based on the DCVax technology, to address multiple different cancers and different patient situations. There are two main components to each DCVax product: the immune cells (dendritic cells) and the cancer biomarker targets (antigens).

 

All of our DCVax product lines are made from the patient’s own dendritic cells. The dendritic cells are freshly isolated, and newly matured and activated. We believe that the existing dendritic cells in a cancer patient have already been compromised by the cancer, and we believe that is the reason other vaccines aimed at the existing dendritic cells in patients have largely failed. However, the patient’s body continues to produce new precursors of dendritic cells, and these precursors (monocytes) circulate in the patient’s blood stream. For all DCVax products, these precursors are obtained through a blood draw, and then (through our proprietary manufacturing processes), the precursors are matured into a fresh, uncompromised batch of new dendritic cells.

 

DCVax-L - is designed for operable solid tumors. It is made with cancer antigens from tumor lysate (a protein extract from processed tumor cells) from the patient’s own tumor tissue. As such, DCVax-L incorporates the full set of tumor antigens, making it difficult for tumors to find ways around it (“escape variants”), as described above. This is the DCVax product that has been used in our brain cancer and ovarian cancer clinical trials, and is currently being studied in our 348-patient Phase III brain cancer trial. DCVax-L is expected to be applicable for any types of solid tumor cancers in situations in which the patient has their tumor surgically removed as part of the standard of care.

 

 2 

 

DCVax-Direct - is designed for inoperable solid tumors – situations in which it is not feasible or not desirable for patients to have their tumors surgically removed, either due to multiple metastases or for other reasons. Like DCVax-L, DCVax-Direct also incorporates the full set of tumor antigens - but it does so in situ in the patient’s body rather than at the manufacturing facility. With DCVax Direct, the fresh, new dendritic cells are partially matured in a special proprietary way so as to be ready to pick up antigens directly from tumor tissue in the patient’s body, and also communicate the information about those antigens to other agents of the immune system, such as T cells. The partially matured dendritic cells are then injected directly into the patient’s tumor(s). There, the dendritic cells pick up the antigens in situ rather than picking up the antigens from lysate in a lab dish at the manufacturing facility, as is done with DCVax-L. DCVax-Direct is anticipated to be applicable to any type of inoperable solid tumors.

 

Phase III Clinical Trial of DCVax®-L

 

Our DCVax-L product is currently in a 348-patient Phase III trial for newly diagnosed Glioblastoma multiforme brain cancer. The trial is a double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial with two treatment arms (standard of care plus DCVax-L vs. standard of care plus a placebo). The primary endpoint is progression free survival, or PFS, and the secondary endpoints include overall survival, or OS, and a number of other measures.

 

As of November 12, 2015, there are more than 80 clinical sites participating in the trial across the U.S. and in the U.K., Germany and Canada. We plan to continue adding sites to the trial, because the same institutional approvals, contract negotiations, personnel training and logistics arrangements that are needed for the trial also serve to prepare the sites for commercialization. Over 300 of the total 348 planned patients have been recruited into the Phase III trial and these patients are continuing to be treated in accordance with the trial protocol; new screening of patient candidates for additional recruitment has been temporarily suspended while the Company submits certain information from the trial for regulatory review. 

 

Phase I/II Trial of DCVax-Direct

 

Our DCVax®-Direct product is in a Phase I/II trial for all types of inoperable solid tumor cancers. The Phase I portion has been completed, and involved 40 patients with 13 different types of cancers. The patients had multiple metastases, had failed other treatments and had poor prognoses. Following treatment with DCVax-Direct, about half of these patients are still alive at survival times of up to 22 months.

 

For the Phase II portion of this trial, we plan to conduct several studies in parallel, applying DCVax-Direct in different cancers. We also plan to use an enhanced treatment regimen with more treatments, closer spacing of the treatments, and injections of DCVax-Direct into more tumors in the patient (in Phase I, only one of the patient’s tumors was injected with the treatment).

 

 3 

 

Target Markets for DCVax Products

 

Since our DCVax-L product is potentially applicable to all types of operable solid tumors, and our DCVax-Direct product is potentially applicable to all types of inoperable solid tumors, we believe the potential markets for DCVax products are quite large. According to the American Cancer Society, 1 in 2 men, and 1 in 3 women in the U.S. will develop some form of cancer in their lifetime. There are nearly 1.5 million new cases of cancer per year in the U.S., and nearly 600,000 deaths from cancer. The statistics are similar in Europe and in much of the rest of the world.

 

Corporate Information

 

We were formed in 1996 and incorporated in Delaware in July 1998. Our principal executive offices are located in Bethesda, Maryland, and our telephone number is (240) 497-9024. Our website address is www.nwbio.com. The information on our website is not part of this report. We have included our website address as a factual reference and do not intend it to be an active link to our website.

 

Risk Factors

 

Investing in our securities involves significant risks. Please see the risk factors under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as revised or supplemented by our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC since the filing of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, each of which are on file with the SEC and are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider these risks as well as other information we include or incorporate by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. The risks and uncertainties we have described are not the only ones facing our company. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business operations, results of operation, financial condition or prospects.

 

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

 

This prospectus includes and incorporates 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”). All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included or incorporated in this prospectus regarding our strategy, future operations, financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “projects,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. We cannot guarantee that we actually will achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements. These important factors include the factors that we identify in the documents we incorporate by reference in this prospectus, as well as other information we include or incorporate by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. See “Risk Factors.” You should read these factors and other cautionary statements made in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, and in the documents we incorporate by reference as being applicable to all related forward-looking statements wherever they appear in the prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, and in the documents incorporated by reference. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements made by us.

 

 4 

 

Numerous factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, including, among other things:

 

  · risks related to our abilities to carry out intended manufacturing expansions;
  · our ability to raise additional capital;
  · risks related to our ability to enroll patients in its clinical trials and complete the trials on a timely basis;
  · risks related to the progress, timing and results of clinical trials and research and development efforts involving our product candidates generally;
  · uncertainties about the clinical trials process;
  · uncertainties about the timely performance of third parties;
  · risks related to whether our products will demonstrate safety and efficacy;
  · risks related to our commercialization efforts and commercial opportunity for our DCVax product candidates;
  · risks related to the submission of applications for and receipt of regulatory clearances and approvals;
  · risks related to our plans to conduct future clinical trials or research and development efforts;
  · risks related to our ability to carry out our Hospital Exemption program (in Germany);
  · risks related to possible reimbursement and pricing;
  · uncertainties about estimates of the potential market opportunity for our product candidates;
  · uncertainties about our estimated expenditures and projected cash needs;
  · uncertainties about our expectations about partnering, licensing and marketing; and
  · the use of proceeds from this offering.

 

Ratio Of Earnings To Fixed Charges

 

Our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the five most recently completed fiscal years and any required interim periods will each be specified in a prospectus supplement or in a document that we file with the SEC and incorporate by reference pertaining to the issuance, if any, by us of debt securities or preference securities in the future.

 

Use Of Proceeds

 

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of these securities for general corporate purposes, which may include working capital, capital expenditures, research and development expenditures, regulatory affairs expenditures, clinical trial expenditures, acquisitions of new technologies and investments. We have not yet determined the amount of net proceeds to be used specifically for any of the foregoing purposes. Accordingly, our management will have significant discretion and flexibility in applying the net proceeds from the sale of these securities. Our plans to use the estimated net proceeds from the sale of these securities may change, and if they do, we will update this information in a prospectus supplement.

 

The Securities We May Offer

 

The descriptions of the securities contained in this prospectus, together with the applicable prospectus supplements, summarize the material terms and provisions of the various types of securities that we may offer. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any securities the particular terms of the securities offered by that prospectus supplement. If we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, the terms of the securities may differ from the terms we have summarized below. We will also include in the prospectus supplement information, where applicable, about material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the securities, and the securities exchange, if any, on which the securities may be listed.

 

 5 

 

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

 

  · common stock;

 

  · preferred stock;

 

  · debt securities;

 

  · warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, debt securities or units; or

 

  · units comprised of common stock, preferred stock, warrants, and debt securities in any combination.

 

In this prospectus, we refer to the common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, stock purchase contracts, debt securities, warrants, and units collectively as “securities.” The total dollar amount of all securities that we may issue pursuant to this prospectus will not exceed $150,000,000.

 

Description Of Common Stock

 

The following is a description of the material terms and provisions of our common stock. It may not contain all the information that is important to you. You can access complete information by referring to our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), and our Bylaws, as amended (the “Bylaws”), copies of which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

 

General

 

Under our Certificate of Incorporation, we have authority to issue 450,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 40,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share. As of November 9, 2015, there were 92,358,087 shares of common stock issued and outstanding and no shares of preferred stock outstanding. All shares of common stock will, when issued pursuant to this prospectus, be duly authorized, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

Dividends

 

Subject to the prior rights of any series of preferred stock which may from time to time be outstanding, the holders of our common stock are entitled to receive such dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors out of legally available funds. In the event we are liquidated, dissolved or our affairs are wound up, after we pay or make adequate provision for all of our known debts and liabilities, each holder of common stock will receive distributions pro rata out of assets that we can legally use to pay distributions, subject to any rights that are granted to the holders of any class or series of preferred stock. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not declared or paid any cash dividends on our shares of common stock.

 

Voting Rights

 

Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share and do not have cumulative voting rights. An election of directors by our stockholders is determined by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders entitled to vote on the election.

 

Other Rights

 

Subject to the preferential rights of any other class or series of stock, all shares of common stock have equal dividend, distribution, liquidation and other rights, and have no preference, appraisal or exchange rights. Furthermore, holders of common stock have no conversion, sinking fund or redemption rights, or preemptive rights to subscribe for any of our securities.

 

 6 

 

Transfer Agent

 

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A. Its address is P.O. Box 30170, College Station, Texas 77842 and its phone number is (866) 282-9695.

 

Listing

 

Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “NWBO.”

 

Description Of Preferred Stock

 

Our Certificate of Incorporation authorizes us to issue up to 40,000,000 shares of preferred stock, of which no shares are outstanding.

 

General

 

Our board of directors may, without stockholder approval, issue up to 40,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and, subject to the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”), with respect to each series may:

 

  · fix the designation of such series;

 

  · fix the number of shares to constitute such series;

 

  · fix whether such series is to have voting rights (full, special or limited) or is to be without voting rights;

 

  · fix if such series is to have voting rights, whether or not such series is to be entitled to vote as a separate class either alone or together with the holders of the common stock or one or more other series of preferred stock;

 

  · fix the preferences and relative, participating, optional, conversion or other special rights (if any) of such series and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions (if any) with respect to such series;

 

  · fix the redemption rights and price(s), if any, of such series, and whether or not the shares of such series shall be subject to operation of retirement or sinking funds to be applied to the or redemption of such shares for retirement and, if such retirement or sinking funds or funds are to be established, the periodic amount thereof and the terms and provisions relative to the operation thereof;

 

  · fix the dividend rights and preferences (if any) of such series, including, without limitation, (i) the rates of dividends payable thereon, (ii) the conditions upon which and the time when such dividends are payable, (iii) whether or not such dividends shall be cumulative or noncumulative and, if cumulative, the date or dates from witch such dividends shall accumulate and (iv) whether or not the payment of such dividends shall be preferred to the payment of dividends payable on the common stock or any other series of preferred stock;

 

  · fix the preferences (if any), and the amounts thereof, which the holders of such series shall be entitled to receive upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of, or upon any distribution of the assets of, the Company;

 

  · fix whether or not the shares of such series, at the option of the Company or the holders thereof or upon the happening of any specified event, shall be convertible into or exchangeable for (i) shares of common stock, (ii) shares of any other series of preferred stock or (iii) any other stock or securities of the Company;

 

 7 

 

 

  · fix if such series is to be convertible or exchangeable, the price or prices or ratio or ratios or rate or rates at which such conversion or exchange may be made and the terms and conditions (if any) upon which such price or prices or ratio or ratios or rate or rates may be adjusted;

 

  · fix such other rights, powers and preferences with respect to such series as may to the board of directors seem advisable; and

 

  · increase (but not above the total number of authorized shares of the class) or decrease (but not below the total number of such series then outstanding) the number of shares of any series of preferred stock subsequent to the issuance of shares of such series.

 

Description Of Warrants

 

The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplements, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer under this prospectus and the related warrant agreements and warrant certificates. While the terms summarized below will apply generally to any warrants that we may offer, we will describe the particular terms of any series of warrants in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we indicate in the prospectus supplement, the terms of any warrants offered under that prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. If there are differences between that prospectus supplement and this prospectus, the prospectus supplement will control. Thus, the statements we make in this section may not apply to a particular series of warrants. Specific warrant agreements will contain additional important terms and provisions and will be incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement which includes this prospectus.

 

General

 

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

 

We will evidence each series of warrants by warrant certificates that we may issue under a separate agreement. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of warrants, including:

 

  · the offering price and aggregate number of warrants offered;

 

  · the currency for which the warrants may be purchased;

 

  · in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of one warrant and the price at, and currency in which, this principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon such exercise;

 

  · if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security or each principal amount of such security;

 

  · if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;

 

  · in the case of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be, purchasable upon the exercise of one warrant and the price at which these shares may be purchased upon such exercise;

 

  · the warrant agreement under which the warrants will be issued;

 

  · the effect of any merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of our business on the warrant agreement and the warrants;

 

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  · anti-dilution provisions of the warrants, if any;

 

  · the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants;

 

  · any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price or number of securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants;

 

  · the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire or, if the warrants are not continuously exercisable during that period, the specific date or dates on which the warrants will be exercisable;

 

  · the manner in which the warrant agreement and warrants may be modified;

 

  · the identities of the warrant agent and any calculation or other agent for the warrants;

 

  · federal income tax consequences of holding or exercising the warrants;

 

  · the terms of the securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants;

 

  · any securities exchange or quotation system on which the warrants or any securities deliverable upon exercise of the warrants may be listed; and

 

  · any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of or restrictions on the warrants.

 

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

 

  · in the case of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the right to receive dividends, if any, or, payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or to exercise voting rights, if any; or

 

  · in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the right to receive payments of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the debt securities purchasable upon exercise or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture.

 

Exercise of Warrants

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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Description Of Debt Securities

 

The following is a general description of the debt securities that we may offer from time to time. The particular terms of the debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which the general provisions described below may apply to those securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. We also may sell hybrid securities that combine certain features of debt securities and other securities described in this prospectus. As you read this section, please remember that the specific terms of a debt security as described in the applicable prospectus supplement will supplement and may modify or replace the general terms described in this section. If there are differences between the applicable prospectus supplement and this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement will control. As a result, the statements we make in this section may not apply to the debt security you purchase.

 

Except as otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used but not defined in this section have the respective meanings set forth in the applicable indenture. As used in this section, “Northwest Biotherapeutics” refers to Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc. on an unconsolidated basis and does not include any of its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

General

 

The debt securities that we offer will be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities and may be secured or unsecured. We will issue senior debt securities under an indenture, which we refer to as the senior indenture, to be entered into between Northwest Biotherapeutics and the trustee named in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will issue subordinated debt securities under an indenture, which we refer to as the subordinated indenture, to be entered into between Northwest Biotherapeutics and the trustee named in the applicable prospectus supplement. We refer to the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture as the indentures, and to each of the trustees under the indentures as a trustee. In addition, the indentures may be supplemented or amended as necessary to set forth the terms of any debt securities issued under the indentures. You should read the indentures, including any amendments or supplements, carefully to fully understand the terms of the debt securities. The forms of the indentures have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The indentures are subject to, and are governed by, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

 

The senior debt securities will be Northwest Biotherapeutics’ unsubordinated obligations. They will rank equally with each other and all other unsubordinated debt, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of our senior debt. See “Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities.” The subordinated debt securities will rank equally with each other, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will indicate in each applicable prospectus supplement relating to subordinated debt securities, as of the most recent practicable date, the aggregate amount of our outstanding debt that would rank senior to the subordinated debt securities.

 

The indentures do not limit the amount of debt securities that can be issued thereunder and provide that debt securities of any series may be issued thereunder up to the aggregate principal amount that we may authorize from time to time. Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement, the indentures do not limit the amount of other indebtedness or securities that we may issue. We may issue debt securities of the same series at more than one time and, unless prohibited by the terms of the series, we may reopen a series for issuances of additional debt securities, without the consent of the holders of the outstanding debt securities of that series. All debt securities issued as a series, including those issued pursuant to any reopening of a series, will vote together as a single class unless otherwise described in the prospectus supplement for such series.

 

Reference is made to the prospectus supplement for the following and other possible terms of each series of the debt securities in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered:

 

  · the title of the debt securities;

 

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  · any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series that may be authenticated and delivered under the applicable indenture, except for debt securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, other debt securities of that series;

 

  · the date or dates on which the principal and premium, if any, of the debt securities of the series is payable;

 

  · the rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, at which the debt securities of the series shall bear interest or the manner of calculation of such rate or rates, if any, including any procedures to vary or reset such rate or rates, and the basis upon which interest will be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

 

  · the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the dates on which such interest will be payable or the manner of determination of such dates, and the record date for the determination of holders to whom interest is payable on any such dates;

 

  · any trustees, authenticating agents or paying agents with respect to such series, if different from those set forth in the applicable indenture;

 

  · the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods or defer the payment of interest and the duration of such extension or deferral;

 

  · the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which, debt securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of Northwest Biotherapeutics;

 

  · the obligation, if any, of Northwest Biotherapeutics to redeem, purchase or repay debt securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions, including payments made in cash in anticipation of future sinking fund obligations, or at the option of a holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions upon which, debt securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

  · the form of the debt securities of the series including the form of the trustee's certificate of authentication for such series;

 

  · if other than denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, the denominations in which securities of the series shall be issuable;

 

  · the currency or currencies in which payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, debt securities of the series shall be payable;

 

  · if the principal amount payable at the stated maturity of debt securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to such stated maturity, the amount which will be deemed to be such principal amount as of any such date for any purpose, including the principal amount thereof that will be due and payable upon declaration of the maturity thereof or upon any maturity other than the stated maturity or that will be deemed to be outstanding as of any such date, or, in any such case, the manner in which such deemed principal amount is to be determined;

 

  · the terms of any repurchase or remarketing rights;

 

  · if the securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a global security or securities, the type of global security to be issued; the terms and conditions, if different from those contained in the applicable indenture, upon which such global security or securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual securities in definitive registered form; the depositary for such global security or securities; and the form of any legend or legends to be borne by any such global security or securities in addition to or in lieu of the legends referred to in the indenture;

 

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  · whether the debt securities of the series will be convertible into or exchangeable for other debt securities, registered shares or other securities of any kind of Northwest Biotherapeutics or another obligor, and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such debt securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, including the initial conversion or exchange price or rate or the method of calculation, how and when the conversion price or exchange ratio may be adjusted, whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at Northwest Biotherapeutics’ option, the conversion or exchange period, and any other provision in addition to or in lieu of those described herein;

 

  · any additional restrictive covenants or events of default that will apply to the debt securities of the series, or any changes to the restrictive covenants set forth in the applicable indenture that will apply to the debt securities of the series, which may consist of establishing different terms or provisions from those set forth in the applicable indenture or eliminating any such restrictive covenant or event of default with respect to the debt securities of the series;

 

  · any provisions granting special rights to holders when a specified event occurs;

 

  · if the amount of principal or any premium or interest on debt securities of a series may be determined with reference to an index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts will be determined;

 

  · any special tax implications of the debt securities, including provisions for original issue discount securities, if offered;

 

  · whether and upon what terms debt securities of a series may be defeased if different from the provisions set forth in the applicable indenture;

 

  · with regard to the debt securities of any series that do not bear interest, the dates for certain required reports to the trustee;

 

  · whether the debt securities of the series will be issued as unrestricted securities or restricted securities, and, if issued as restricted securities, the rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act in reliance on which they will be sold;

 

  · whether the series will be issued with guarantees and, if so, the identity of the guarantor and the terms, if any, of any guarantee of the payment of principal and interest, if any, with respect to the series and any corresponding changes to the indenture as then in effect;

 

  · if the debt securities are subordinated debt securities, the subordination terms of the debt securities and any related guarantee; and

 

  · any and all additional, eliminated or changed terms that shall apply to the debt securities of the series, including any terms that may be required by or advisable under United States laws or regulations, including the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or advisable in connection with the marketing of debt securities of that series.

 

“Principal” when used herein includes any premium on any series of the debt securities.

 

Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement relating to any debt securities, principal and interest, if any, will be payable, and transfers of the debt securities may be registered, at the office or offices or agency we maintain for such purposes, provided that payment of interest on the debt securities will be paid at such place by check mailed to the persons entitled thereto at the addresses of such persons appearing on the security register. Interest on the debt securities, if any, will be payable on any interest payment date to the persons in whose names the debt securities are registered at the close of business on the record date for such interest payment.

 

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The debt securities may be issued in fully registered form. Additionally, the debt securities may be represented in whole or in part by one or more global notes registered in the name of a depository or its nominee and, if so represented, interests in such global note will be shown on, and transfers thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by the designated depository and its participants.

 

Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement relating to any debt securities, the debt securities may be exchanged for an equal aggregate principal amount of debt securities of the same series and date of maturity in such authorized denominations as may be requested upon surrender of the debt securities at an agency that we maintain for such purpose and upon fulfillment of all other requirements of such agent. No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of the debt securities, but we may require payment of an amount sufficient to cover any associated tax or other governmental charge.

 

The indentures require the annual filing by Northwest Biotherapeutics with the trustee of a certificate as to compliance with certain covenants contained in the indentures.

 

We will comply with Section 14(e) under the Exchange Act, to the extent applicable, and any other tender offer rules under the Exchange Act that may be applicable, in connection with any obligation to purchase debt securities at the option of the holders thereof. Any such obligation applicable to a series of debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating thereto.

 

Unless otherwise described in a prospectus supplement relating to any debt securities, there are no covenants or provisions contained in the indentures that may afford the holders of debt securities protection in the event that we enter into a highly leveraged transaction.

 

The statements made hereunder relating to the indentures and the debt securities are summaries of certain provisions thereof and are qualified in their entirety by reference to all provisions of the indentures and the debt securities and the descriptions thereof, if different, in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Form of the Debt Securities

 

The indentures provide that we may issue debt securities in the forms, including temporary or definitive global form, established by a board resolution or in a supplemental indenture.

 

Unless indicated otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will issue debt securities in denominations of $2,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000, and interest on the debt securities, if any, will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

Registration, Transfer, Payment and Paying Agent

 

We will maintain an office or agency where the debt securities may be presented for payment, registration of transfer and exchange, and, if applicable, for conversion. The indenture trustee is appointed security registrar for purposes of registering, and registering transfers of, the debt securities. Unless otherwise indicated in a board resolution or supplemental indenture, the indenture trustee also will act as paying agent, and will be authorized to pay principal and interest, if any, on any debt security of any series.

 

There will be no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of debt securities, but we or the indenture trustee may require a holder to pay any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of the debt securities, other than certain exchanges not involving any transfer, and other than certain exchanges or transfers as may be specified in a board resolution or supplemental indenture.

 

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Global Debt Securities

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement for a series of debt securities, each series of the debt securities will be issued in global form, which means that we will deposit with the depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or its custodian) one or more certificates representing the entire series, as described below under “Book-Entry Procedures and Settlement.” Global debt securities may be issued in either temporary or definitive form.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe any limitations and restrictions relating to a series of global debt securities.

 

Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities

 

We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms and conditions, if any, upon which any series of subordinated debt securities is subordinated to debt securities of another series or to our other indebtedness. The terms will include a description of:

 

  (1) the indebtedness ranking senior to the debt securities being offered;

 

  (2) the restrictions, if any, on payments to the holders of the debt securities being offered while a default with respect to the senior indebtedness is continuing; and

 

  (3) the provisions requiring holders of the debt securities being offered to remit some payments to the holders of senior indebtedness.

 

Events of Default

 

Except as otherwise set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to any debt securities, an event of default with respect to the debt securities of any series is defined in the indentures as:

 

  (1) default in the payment of any installment of interest upon any of the debt securities of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;

 

  (2) default in the payment of all or any part of the principal of or premium, if any, on any of the debt securities of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable either at maturity, upon any redemption or repurchase, by declaration or otherwise;

 

  (3) default in the performance, or breach, of any other covenant or warranty of Northwest Biotherapeutics in respect of the debt securities of such series and any related guarantee or set forth in the applicable indenture (other than the failure to comply with any covenant or agreement to file with the trustee information required to be filed with the SEC or a default in the performance or breach of a covenant or warranty included in the applicable indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of debt securities other than such series) and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after due notice by the trustee or by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding securities of such series; or

 

  (4) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of Northwest Biotherapeutics.

 

Any failure to perform, or breach of, any covenant or agreement by Northwest Biotherapeutics in respect of the debt securities with respect to the filing with the trustee of the information required to be filed with the SEC shall not be a default or an event of default. Remedies against Northwest Biotherapeutics for any such failure or breach will be limited to liquidated damages. If there is such a failure or breach and continuance of such failure or breach for a period of 90 days after the date on which there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to Northwest Biotherapeutics by the trustee or to Northwest Biotherapeutics and the trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series, a written notice specifying such failure or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Reporting Noncompliance” under the indenture, Northwest Biotherapeutics will pay liquidated damages to all holders of debt securities, at a rate per year equal to 0.25% of the principal amount of such debt securities from the 90th day following such notice to and including the 150th day following such notice and at a rate per year equal to 0.5% of the principal amount of such Securities from and including the 151st day following such notice, until such failure or breach is cured.

 

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Additional Events of Default may be added for the benefit of holders of certain series of debt securities that, if added, will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such debt securities.

 

If an event of default shall have occurred and be continuing in respect of a series of debt securities, in each and every case, unless the principal of all the debt securities of such series shall have already become due and payable, either the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding, by notice in writing to Northwest Biotherapeutics and, if given by such holders, to the trustee may declare the unpaid principal of all the debt securities to be due and payable immediately.

 

The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of a series of debt securities, by written notice to Northwest Biotherapeutics and the trustee may waive any existing default in the performance of any of the covenants contained in the indenture or established with respect to such series of debt securities and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any of the debt securities of such series as and when the same shall become due by the terms of such series.  Upon any such waiver, the default covered thereby and any event of default arising therefrom shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of the indenture.

 

The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a 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 debt securities of such series; provided, however, that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with the indenture or be unduly prejudicial to the rights of holders of securities of any other outstanding series of debt securities.  Subject to the terms of the indenture, the trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the trustee in good faith shall determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the trustee in personal liability.

 

Merger

 

Each indenture provides that Northwest Biotherapeutics may merge or consolidate with any other person or sell or convey all or substantially all of its assets to any person if:

 

(1)     either (a) Northwest Biotherapeutics is the continuing company or (b) the successor person expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Company under the applicable indenture, is an entity treated as a corporation for U.S. tax purposes and obtains either (x) an opinion, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Trustee or (y) a ruling from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, in either case (x) or (y) to the effect that such merger or consolidation, or such sale or conveyance, will not result in an exchange of the debt securities for new debt instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes; and

 

(2)      no event of default and no event that, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default shall be continuing immediately after such merger or consolidation, or such sale or conveyance.

 

Satisfaction and Discharge of Indentures

 

The indenture with respect to any series of debt securities (except for certain specified surviving obligations, including our obligation to pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the debt securities of such series) will be discharged and cancelled upon the satisfaction of certain conditions, including the payment of all the debt securities of such series or the deposit with the trustee under such indenture of cash or appropriate government obligations or a combination thereof sufficient for such payment or redemption in accordance with the applicable indenture and the terms of the debt securities of such series.

 

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Modification of the Indentures

 

Northwest Biotherapeutics and the trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental to the indenture without the consent of any holders of any series of securities for one or more of the following purposes:

 

  · to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture or debt securities of any series, including making any such changes as are required for the indenture to comply with the Trust Indenture Act;

 

  · to add an additional obligor on the debt securities or to evidence the succession of another person to Northwest Biotherapeutics, or successive successions, and the assumption by the successor person of the covenants, agreements and obligations of Northwest Biotherapeutics pursuant to provisions in the indenture concerning consolidation, merger, the sale of assets or successor entities;

 

  · to provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities;

 

  · to add to the covenants of Northwest Biotherapeutics for the benefit of the holders of any outstanding series of debt securities or to surrender any of Northwest Biotherapeutics’ rights or powers under the indenture;

 

  · to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the holders of any outstanding series of debt securities;

 

  · to change or eliminate any of the provisions of the indenture, provided that any such change or elimination shall not become effective with respect to any outstanding debt security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision;

 

  · to secure the debt securities of any series;

 

  · to make any other change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder of outstanding debt securities in any material respect;

 

  · to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of a series of debt securities, to provide which, if any, of the covenants of Northwest Biotherapeutics shall apply to such series, to provide which of the events of default shall apply to such series, to name one or more guarantors and provide for guarantees of such series of debt securities, to provide for the terms and conditions upon which any guarantees by a guarantor of such series may be released or terminated, or to define the rights of the holders of such series of debt securities;

 

  · to issue additional debt securities of any series; provided that such additional debt securities have the same terms as, and be deemed part of the same series as, the applicable series of debt securities to the extent required under the indenture; or

 

  · to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee with respect to the debt securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trust by more than one trustee.

 

In addition, under the indenture, with the written consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of each series at the time outstanding that is affected, Northwest Biotherapeutics and the trustee, from time to time and at any time may enter into an indenture or indentures to supplement the indenture.  However, the following changes may only be made with the consent of each holder of outstanding debt securities affected:

 

  · extend a fixed maturity of or any installment of principal of any debt securities of any series or reduce the principal amount thereof or reduce the amount of principal of any original issue discount security that would be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof;

 

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  · reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any debt security of any series;

 

  · reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of any debt security;

 

  · make any debt security payable in currency other than that stated in the debt security;

 

  · impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the fixed maturity thereof or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date;

 

  · modify the subordination provisions applicable to any debt security or the related guarantee in a manner materially adverse to the holder thereof; or

 

  · reduce the percentage of debt securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture or indentures.

 

A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any covenant, event of default or other provision of the indenture that has been expressly included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of securities, if any, or which modifies the rights of the holders of securities of such series with respect to such covenant, event of default or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under the indenture of the holders of securities of any other series.

 

It will not be necessary for the consent of the holders to approve the particular form of any proposed supplement, amendment or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance of it.

 

Defeasance and Discharge of Obligations

 

Northwest Biotherapeutics’ obligations with respect to a series of debt securities will be discharged upon compliance with the conditions under the caption “Covenant Defeasance” if, with respect to all debt securities of such series that have not been previously delivered to the trustee for cancellation or that have not become due and payable as described below, such debt securities of such series have been paid by Northwest Biotherapeutics by depositing irrevocably with the trustee, in trust, funds or governmental obligations, or a combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of certified public accountants, to pay at maturity or upon redemption all such outstanding debt securities of such series, such deposit to include: principal; premium, if any; interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be; and all other payments due under the terms of the indenture with respect to the debt securities of such series.

 

Notwithstanding the above, Northwest Biotherapeutics may not be discharged from the following obligations, which will survive until such date of maturity or the redemption date for a series of debt securities: to make any interest or principal payments that may be required; to register the transfer or exchange of a series of debt securities; to execute and authenticate a series of debt securities; to replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities of such series; to maintain an office or agency; to maintain paying agencies; and to appoint new trustees as required.

 

Northwest Biotherapeutics also may not be discharged from the following obligations which will survive the satisfaction and discharge of a series of debt securities: to compensate and reimburse the trustee in accordance with the terms of the indenture; to receive unclaimed payments held by the trustee for at least one year after the date upon which the principal, if any, or interest on a series of debt securities shall have respectively come due and payable and remit those payments to the holders if required; and to withhold or deduct taxes as provided in the indenture.

 

Covenant Defeasance

 

Upon compliance with specified conditions, Northwest Biotherapeutics will not be required to comply with some covenants contained in the indenture, and any omission to comply with the obligations will not constitute a default or event of default relating to a series of debt securities, or, if applicable, Northwest Biotherapeutics’ obligations with respect to a series of debt securities will be discharged. These conditions are:

 

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  · Northwest Biotherapeutics irrevocably deposits in trust with the trustee or, at the option of the trustee, with a trustee satisfactory to the trustee and Northwest Biotherapeutics under the terms of an irrevocable trust agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the trustee, funds or governmental obligations or a combination thereof sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of certified public accountants, to pay principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the outstanding debt securities of such series to maturity or redemption, as the case may be, and to pay all other amounts payable by it hereunder, provided that (A) the trustee of the irrevocable trust shall have been irrevocably instructed to pay such funds or the proceeds of such governmental obligations to the trustee and (B) the trustee shall have been irrevocably instructed to apply such funds or the proceeds of such governmental obligations to the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest with respect to such series of debt securities;

 

  · Northwest Biotherapeutics delivers to the trustee an officer’s certificate stating that all conditions precedent specified herein relating to defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with, and an opinion of counsel to the same effect;

 

  · no event of default shall have occurred and be continuing, and no event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become such an event of default shall have occurred and be continuing, on the date of such deposit;

 

  · Northwest Biotherapeutics shall have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel or a ruling received from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that the holders of such series of debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of Northwest Biotherapeutics’ exercise of such defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to U.S. Federal income tax in the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such election had not been exercised;

 

  · such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not (i) cause the trustee to have a conflicting interest for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to any securities or (ii) result in the trust arising from such deposit to constitute, unless it is registered as such, a regulated investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940; and

 

  · such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall be effected in compliance with any additional or substitute terms, conditions or limitations which may be imposed on Northwest Biotherapeutics pursuant to the indenture.

 

Description Of Units

 

The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the units that we may offer under this prospectus.  Units may be offered independently or together with common stock, preferred stock, debt securities and/or warrants offered by any prospectus supplement, and may be attached to or separate from those securities.

 

While the terms we have summarized below will generally apply to any future units that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of units that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement.  The terms of any units offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below.

 

We will incorporate by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part the form of unit agreement, including a form of unit certificate, if any, that describes the terms of the series of units we are offering before the issuance of the related series of units.  The following summaries of material provisions of the units and the unit agreements are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the unit agreement applicable to a particular series of units.  We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements related to the units that we sell under this prospectus, as well as the complete unit agreements that contain the terms of the units.

 

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General

 

We may issue units consisting of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants or any combination thereof.  Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit.  Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security.  The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time, or at any time before a specified date.

 

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

 

  · the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;

 

  · any provisions of the governing unit agreement that differ from those described below; and

 

  · any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer, or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units.

 

The provisions described in this section, as well as those described under “Description of Common Stock,” “Description of Preferred Stock,” “Description of Warrants,” “Description of Debt Securities,” and “Description of Units” will apply to each unit and to any common stock, preferred stock, debt security or warrant included in each unit, respectively.

 

Issuance in Series

 

We may issue units in such amounts and in such numerous distinct series as we determine.

 

Certain Anti-Takeover And Indemnification Provisions Of Our Certificate Of
Incorporation And By-Laws And Delaware Law

 

The following is a summary of certain anti-takeover and indemnification provisions of the DGCL and our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws which affect us and our stockholders.  Such provisions of the DGCL and our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws may make more difficult the acquisition of the Company by tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise or the removal of our officers and directors.  The description below is intended as only a summary.  You can access more information by referring to the DGCL and our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, and the following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference such documents and the applicable provisions of the DGCL.

 

Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

 

Our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and our Bylaws, each as currently in effect, also contain certain provisions that may delay, discourage or make more difficult a third-party acquisition of control of us:

 

  · a classified board of directors, with three classes of directors, each serving for a staggered three-year term, such that not all members of the board of directors may be elected at one time;

 

  · any vacancies on the board of directors may be filled by a majority of the directors then serving, although not a quorum;

 

  · a director may be removed from office only for cause at a special meeting of stockholders called for that purpose, by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds of the shares entitled to elect the director or directors whose removal is being sought;

 

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  · the ability of the board of directors to issue preferred stock that could dilute the stock ownership of a potential unsolicited acquirer and so possibly hinder an acquisition of control of us that is not approved by our board of directors, including through the use of preferred stock in connection with a shareholder rights plan which we could adopt by action of the board of directors;

 

  · the requirement that certain provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, including some of the provisions discussed herein, can only be amended with an affirmative vote of the holders at least two-thirds of the then-outstanding voting stock;

 

  · the requirement that the Bylaws may be amended by the board of directors or by the stockholders; provided that in the case of amendments by the stockholders the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the then outstanding voting stock is required; and

 

  · the inability of our stockholders to call a special meeting of stockholders, the limitation of matters to be acted upon at an annual meeting of stockholders to those matters proposed by the company or properly brought before the meeting and the limitation of matters to be acted upon at a special meeting of stockholders to matters which we place on the agenda for the meeting.

 

Delaware Takeover Statute

 

We are governed by Section 203 of the DGCL, which prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any business combination with any interested stockholder for a period of three years after the date that the stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

 

  · before that date, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;

 

  · upon completion of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction began, excluding for purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding those shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers or which can be issued under employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

 

  · on or after that date, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

 

In general, Section 203 defines an interested stockholder as any entity or person who, with affiliates and associates owns, or within the three year period immediately prior to the business combination, beneficially owned 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation.  Section 203 defines business combination to include:

 

  · any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder;

 

  · any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation involving the interested stockholder;

 

  · subject to specified exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder;

 

  · any transaction involving the corporation that increases the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; or

 

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  · the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation.

 

Copies of our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, as amended, have been filed with and are publicly available at or from the SEC as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

Limitation of Liability; Indemnification

 

Our Certificate of Incorporation contains certain provisions permitted under the DGCL relating to the liability of directors. These provisions eliminate a director’s personal liability for monetary damages resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL.  Our Bylaws also provide that we must indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL and also provide that we must pay expenses, as incurred, to our directors and officers in connection with a legal proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, subject to very limited exceptions.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of Northwest Biotherapeutics pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the SEC, indemnification under the Securities Act is against public policy and is unenforceable.

 

Plan Of Distribution

 

We may offer and sell the securities described in this prospectus:

 

  · through agents;

 

  · through one or more underwriters or dealers;

 

  · through a block trade in which the broker or dealer engaged to handle the block trade will attempt to sell the securities as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

  · directly to one or more purchasers (through a specific bidding or auction process or otherwise);

 

  · in “at the market offerings,” within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act; or

 

  · through a combination of any of these methods of sale.

 

The distribution of the securities described in this prospectus may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions either:

 

  · at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;
     

  

· at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

 

  · at prices relating to the prevailing market prices; or

 

  · at negotiated prices.

 

Offers to purchase the securities may be solicited by agents designated by us from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities will be named, and any commissions payable by us to the agent will be described, in the applicable prospectus supplement.  Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.  Any agent may be deemed to be an underwriter, as that term is defined in the Securities Act, of the securities so offered and sold.

 

If we offer and sell securities through an underwriter or underwriters, we will execute an underwriting agreement with the underwriter or underwriters.  The names of the specific managing underwriter or underwriters, as well as any other underwriters, and the terms of the transactions, including compensation of the underwriters and dealers, which may be in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions, if any, will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, which will be used by the underwriters to make resales of the securities.

 

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If we offer and sell securities through a dealer, we or an underwriter 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.  The name of the dealer and the terms of the transactions will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.  Any dealer may be deemed to be an underwriter, as that term is defined in the Securities Act, of the securities so offered and sold.

 

We may solicit offers to purchase the securities directly and we may sell the securities directly to institutional or other investors.  The terms of these sales, including the terms of any bidding or auction process, if utilized, will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.  We may enter into agreements with agents, underwriters and dealers under which we may agree to indemnify the agents, underwriters and dealers against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments they may be required to make with respect to these liabilities.  The terms and conditions of this indemnification or contribution will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.  Some of the agents, underwriters or dealers, or their affiliates, may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.

 

If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, we may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers from certain types of institutions to purchase securities at the public offering price under delayed delivery contracts.  These contracts would provide for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future.  The contracts would be subject only to those conditions described in the prospectus supplement.  The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the commissions payable for solicitation of those contracts.

 

We may from time to time engage a firm to act as our agent for one or more offerings of our securities. We sometimes refer to this agent as our “offering agent.” If we reach an agreement with an offering agent with respect to a specific offering, including the number of securities and any minimum price below which sales may not be made, then the offering agent will try to sell such securities on the agreed terms.  The offering agent could make sales in privately negotiated transactions or any other method permitted by law, including sales deemed to be an “at the market” offering as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, including sales made directly on the Nasdaq Capital Market, or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange.  The offering agent will be deemed to be an underwriter, as that term is defined in the Securities Act with respect to any sales effected through an “at the market” offering.

 

Unless indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, all debt securities, depositary shares, warrants and preferred stock will be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Unless indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we do not expect to list the securities on a securities exchange, except for the common stock, which is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market.  Underwriters involved in the public offering and sale of these securities may make a market in the securities. They are not obligated to make a market, however, and may discontinue market making activity at any time. We cannot give any assurance as to the liquidity of the trading market for any of these securities.

 

In connection with any particular offering pursuant to this shelf registration statement, an underwriter may engage in stabilizing transactions, over-allotment transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids.

 

  · Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum price.

 

  · Over-allotment involves sales by an underwriter of securities in excess of the number of securities an underwriter is obligated to purchase, which creates a syndicate short position. The short position may be either a covered short position or a naked short position. In a covered short position, the number of securities over-allotted by an underwriter is not greater than the number of securities that it may purchase pursuant to an over-allotment option. In a naked short position the number of securities involved is greater than the number of securities in an over-allotment option. An underwriter may close out any short position by either exercising its over-allotment option and/or purchasing securities in the open market.

 

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  · Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions where there is an over-allotment option. In determining the source of securities to close out the short position, an underwriter will consider, among other things, the price of securities available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase securities through the over-allotment option. If an underwriter sells more securities than could be covered by the over-allotment option, a naked short position, the position can only be closed out by buying securities in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if an underwriter is concerned that there could be downward pressure on the price of the securities in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering.

 

  · Penalty bids permit representatives to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the securities originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a stabilizing or syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions.

 

These stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our securities or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the securities. As a result, the price of our securities may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. These transactions may be effected on the Nasdaq Capital Market or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

 

We, the underwriters or other agents may engage in derivative transactions involving the securities. These derivatives may consist of short sale transactions and other hedging activities. The underwriters or agents may acquire a long or short position in the securities, hold or resell securities acquired and purchase options or futures on the securities and other derivative instruments with returns linked to or related to changes in the price of the securities. In order to facilitate these derivative transactions, we may enter into security lending or repurchase agreements with the underwriters or agents. The underwriters or agents may effect the derivative transactions through sales of the securities to the public, including short sales, or by lending the securities in order to facilitate short sale transactions by others.  The underwriters or agents may also use the securities purchased or borrowed from us or others (or, in the case of derivatives, securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives) to directly or indirectly settle sales of the securities or close out any related open borrowings of the securities.

 

We may also make sales through the Internet or through other electronic means.  Since we may from time to time elect to offer securities directly to the public, with or without the involvement of agents, underwriters or dealers, utilizing the Internet (sometimes referred to as the “world wide web”) or other forms of electronic bidding or ordering systems for the pricing and allocation of such securities, you will want to pay particular attention to the description of that system we will provide in a prospectus supplement.

 

Such electronic system may allow bidders to directly participate, through electronic access to an auction site, by submitting conditional offers to buy that are subject to acceptance by us, and which may directly affect the price or other terms and conditions at which such securities are sold.  These bidding or ordering systems may present to each bidder, on a so-called “real-time” basis, relevant information to assist in making a bid, such as the clearing spread at which the offering would be sold, based on the bids submitted, and whether a bidder’s individual bids would be accepted, prorated or rejected.  For example, in the case of a debt security, the clearing spread could be indicated as a number of “basis points” above an index treasury note.  Of course, many pricing methods can and may also be used.

 

Upon completion of such an electronic auction process, securities will be allocated based on prices bid, terms of bid or other factors.  The final offering price at which securities would be sold and the allocation of securities among bidders would be based in whole or in part on the results of the Internet or other electronic bidding process or auction.

 

Experts

 

The consolidated financial statements of Northwest Biotherapeutics appearing in Northwest Biotherapeutics’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 have been audited by Marcum LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference.  Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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Validity Of The Securities

 

Certain legal matters, including the legality of the securities offered, will be passed upon for us by Kane Kessler, P.C. New York, New York or others named in the applicable prospectus supplement.  If the securities are distributed in an underwritten offering, certain legal matters will be passed upon for the underwriters by counsel identified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Where You Can Find More Information

 

We file reports, proxy statements and other documents with the SEC.  You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, DC 20549.  You should call 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information on the operation of the public reference room.  You can review our electronically filed reports, proxy and information statements on SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov or on our web site at www.nwbio.com.  Information included on our web site is not a part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC.  The registration statement contains more information than this prospectus regarding us and our common stock, including certain exhibits and schedules.  You can obtain a copy of the registration statement from the SEC at the address listed above or from the SEC’s Internet site.

 

Incorporation Of Certain Documents By Reference

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate” into this prospectus information that we file with the SEC in other documents.  This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring to other documents that contain that information.  Any information that we incorporate by reference is considered part of this prospectus.  The documents and reports that we list below are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.  In addition, all documents and reports which we file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus are incorporated by reference in this prospectus as of the respective filing dates of these documents and reports, provided, however, that we are not incorporating by reference any information furnished (but not filed) under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K.  Statements contained in documents that we file with the SEC and that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus will automatically update and supersede information contained in this prospectus, including information in previously filed documents or reports that have been incorporated by reference in this prospectus, to the extent the new information differs from or is inconsistent with the old information.  

 

We have filed the following documents with the SEC.  These documents are incorporated herein by reference as of their respective dates of filing:

 

(1)   Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, filed on March 17, 2015 as amended on Form 10-K/A filed on April 30, 2015;

 

(2)Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the Fiscal quarters ended September 30, 2015 June 30, 2015, and March 31, 2015, filed on November 9, 2015, August 10, 2015 and May 11, 2015, respectively.

 

(3)   Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 10, 2015, February 23, 2015, March 30, 2015, April 8, 2015, April 14, 2015, July 6, 2015, August 25, 2015, October 8, 2015, October 23, 2015, and December 14, 2015.

 

(4)   All of our filings pursuant to the Exchange Act after the date of filing this initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of this registration statement; and

 

(5)   The description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on November 14, 2012, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating that description.

 

You may request a copy of these documents, which will be provided to you at no cost, by contacting:

 

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Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc.

4800 Montgomery, Lane, Suite 800

Bethesda, MD 20814

Attention: Corporate Secretary

(240) 497-9024

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus, including information incorporated by reference as described above, or any prospectus supplement that we have specifically referred you to.  We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information.  You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those documents or that any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than its filing date.  You should not consider this prospectus to be an offer or solicitation relating to the securities in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation relating to the securities is not authorized.  Furthermore, you should not consider this prospectus to be an offer or solicitation relating to the securities if the person making the offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so, or if it is unlawful for you to receive such an offer or solicitation.

 

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PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14.  Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

 

The expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered are set forth in the following table (all amounts except the registration fee are estimated):

 

SEC registration fee   $ 15,105  
Legal fees and expenses   $ 30,000  
Accounting fees and expenses   $ 20,000  
Printing fees and expenses   $ 5,000  
Miscellaneous expenses   $ 2,000  
      2,000  
Total Expenses   $ 74,105  

 

Item 15.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc. is a Delaware corporation.  Section 145(a) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”) provides that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, other than an action by or in the right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

 

Section 145(b) of the DGCL provides that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person acted in any of the capacities set forth above, against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the court shall deem proper.

 

Further subsections of DGCL Section 145 provide that:

 

(1) to the extent a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145 or in the defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith;

 

(2) the indemnification and advancement of expenses provided for pursuant to Section 145 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise; and

 

(3) the corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under Section 145.

 

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Section 145 of the DGCL makes provision for the indemnification of officers and directors in terms sufficiently broad to indemnify officers and directors of Northwest Biotherapeutics under certain circumstances from liabilities (including reimbursement for expenses incurred) arising under the Securities Act of 1933.  Northwest Biotherapeutics ’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws provide, in effect, that, to the fullest extent and under the circumstances permitted by Section 145 of the DGCL, Northwest Biotherapeutics will indemnify any person (and the estate of any person) who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of Northwest Biotherapeutics or is or was serving at the request of Northwest Biotherapeutics as a director or officer of another corporation or enterprise. Northwest Biotherapeutics may, in its discretion, similarly indemnify its employees and agents.

 

Northwest Biotherapeutics’ Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, relieves its directors from monetary damages to Northwest Biotherapeutics or its stockholders for breach of such director’s fiduciary duty as a director to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. Under Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, a corporation may relieve its directors from personal liability to such corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of their fiduciary duty as directors except (i) for a breach of the duty of loyalty, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith, or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) for willful or negligent violations of certain provisions in the DGCL imposing certain requirements with respect to stock repurchases, redemptions and dividends, or (iv) for any transactions from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

 

Northwest Biotherapeutics has entered into indemnification agreements with its non-employee directors that require Northwest Biotherapeutics to indemnify such persons against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement which are actually incurred in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or other proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative to which such person is, was or is threatened to be made a party or witness or other participant in, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director of the Registrant, or is or was serving at the request of the Registrant as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of Northwest Biotherapeutics (and its stockholders in the case of an action by or in the right of the Company), and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful and provided, further, that Northwest Biotherapeutics has determined that such indemnification is otherwise permitted by applicable law. The indemnification agreements also set forth certain procedures that will apply in the event of a claim for indemnification thereunder.

 

Northwest Biotherapeutics currently maintains an insurance policy which, within the limits and subject to the terms and conditions thereof, covers certain expenses and liabilities that may be incurred by directors and officers in connection with proceedings that may be brought against them as a result of an act or omission committed or suffered while acting as a director or officer of Northwest Biotherapeutics.

 

Item 16.  Exhibits.

 

The exhibits listed in the Exhibit Index immediately preceding the exhibits are filed as part of this Registration Statement on Form S-3.

 

Item 17.  Undertakings.

 

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

 

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

 

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(i)          To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”);

 

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

 

(iii)        To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement;

 

provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the Registration Statement.

 

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

 

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

 

(4)           That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:

 

  (i)          If the Registrant is relying on Rule 430B:

 

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

 

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

 

 II-3 

 

(ii)         If the Registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness.  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 first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.

 

(5)           That, for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, that undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of such 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, such 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.

 

(6)           The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in this 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.

 

(7)           Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the indemnification provisions described herein, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

(8)           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 (“Act”) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Act.

 

 II-4 

 

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/A and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Bethesda, State of Maryland, on this 14th day of December, 2015.

 

  NORTHWEST BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
     
  By: /s/ Linda F. Powers
    Name: Linda F. Powers
    Title: President, Chief Executive Officer
 (Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial
Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) and
Chairman of the Board of Directors

  

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Linda F. Powers as the true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to this Registration Statement on Form S-3, and any additional registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b), and to file the same, with 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, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents or their substitute or substitutes may lawfully so 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/ Linda F. Powers   President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer), Chairman of the Board of Directors  

December 14, 2015

 
Linda F. Powers        
         
/s/ Alton Boynton   Chief Scientific Officer and Secretary, Director  

December 14, 2015

 
Alton Boynton          
           
/s/ Robert A Farmer   Director  

December 14, 2015

 
Robert A Farmer          
           
/s/ Navid Malik   Director  

December 14, 2015

 
Navid Malik          
           
/s/ Jerry Jasinowski   Director  

December 14, 2015

 
Jerry Jasinowski          

 

 II-5 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

EXHIBIT 
NUMBER
  DESCRIPTION
     
**1.1   Form of Underwriting Agreement.
     
4.1   Specimen common stock certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 filed with the Registrant’s Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-67350) on November 14, 2001).
     
**4.2   Form of Common Stock Warrant Agreement.
     
**4.3   Form of Preferred Stock Warrant Agreement.
     
**4.4   Form of Certificate of Designation for Preferred Stock.
     
*4.5   Form of Indenture relating to the issuance from time to time in one or more series of debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness.
     
**4.6   Form of Senior Note.
     
**4.7   Form of Subordinated Note
     
**4.8   Form of Unit Agreement and Unit Certificate.
     
*5.1   Opinion of Kane Kessler, P.C.
     
23.1   Consent of Kane Kessler, P.C. (included in Exhibit 5.1).
     
*23.2   Consent of Marcum LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
     
24.1   Power of Attorney (included on Page II-5 as part of the signature pages hereto).
     
+25.1   Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended

 

* Filed herewith.

 

**To be subsequently filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a document to be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference to this registration statement, including a Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

+ To be filed separately under electronic Form type 305B2, if necessary.

 

 II-6 

 



 

Exhibit 4.5

 

NORTHWEST BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

AND

_______________________,

TRUSTEE

 

 

 

INDENTURE

 

DATED AS OF

 

_______, 2015

 

DEBT SECURITIES

 

 

 

 

NORTHWEST BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
RECONCILIATION AND TIE BETWEEN TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
AND INDENTURE, DATED AS OF _______ ___, 2015

 

Section of Trust Indenture Act of 1939 Section(s) of Indenture
   
§ 310(a)(1) 609
(a)(2) 609
(a)(3) Not Applicable
(a)(4) Not Applicable
(a)(5) 609
(b) 608, 610
§ 311(a) 613
(b) 613
(c) Not Applicable
§ 312(a) 701, 702 (a)
(b) 702 (b)
(c) 702 (b)
§ 313(a) 703 (a)
(b) 703 (a)
(c) 703 (a)
(d) 703 (b)
§ 314(a) 704, 1005
(b) Not Applicable
(c)(1) 103
(c)(2) 103
(c)(3) Not Applicable
(d) Not Applicable
(e) 103
§ 315(a) 601 (a)
(b) 602
(c) 601 (b)
(d) 601 (c)
(d)(1) 601 (c) (1)
(d)(2) 601 (c) (2)
(d)(3) 601 (c) (3)
(e) 511
§ 316(a)(1)(A) 505
(a)(1)(B) 504
(a)(2) Not Applicable
(a)(last sentence) 101
(b) 507
§ 317(a)(1) 503
(a)(2) 509
(b) 1003
§ 318(a) 108
(b) Not Applicable
(c) 108

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page
     
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION 1
     
SECTION 101. DEFINITIONS 1
SECTION 102. INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF TRUST INDENTURE ACT 8
SECTION 103. COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES AND OPINIONS 9
SECTION 104. FORM OF DOCUMENTS DELIVERED TO TRUSTEE 9
SECTION 105. ACTS OF HOLDERS; RECORD DATES 10
SECTION 106. NOTICES, ETC., TO TRUSTEE AND COMPANY 11
SECTION 107. NOTICE TO HOLDERS; WAIVER 11
SECTION 108. CONFLICT WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT 12
SECTION 109. EFFECT OF HEADINGS AND TABLE OF CONTENTS 12
SECTION 110. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS 12
SECTION 111. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE 12
SECTION 112. BENEFITS OF INDENTURE 12
SECTION 113. GOVERNING LAW 13
SECTION 114. LEGAL HOLIDAYS 13
SECTION 115. CORPORATE OBLIGATION 13
SECTION 116. WAIVER OF TRIAL JURY 13
SECTION 117. FORCE MAJEURE 13
     
ARTICLE II SECURITY FORMS 14
     
SECTION 201. FORMS GENERALLY 14
SECTION 202. FORM OF TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION 14
SECTION 203. SECURITIES IN GLOBAL FORM 14
SECTION 204. BOOK-ENTRY SECURITIES 15
     
ARTICLE III THE SECURITIES 17
     
SECTION 301. AMOUNT UNLIMITED; ISSUABLE IN SERIES 17
SECTION 302. DENOMINATIONS 19
SECTION 303. EXECUTION, AUTHENTICATION, DELIVERY AND DATING 19
SECTION 304. TEMPORARY SECURITIES 20
SECTION 305. REGISTRATION, REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE 21
SECTION 306. MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST AND STOLEN SECURITIES 22
SECTION 307. PAYMENT OF INTEREST; INTEREST RIGHTS PRESERVED 23
SECTION 308. PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS 24
SECTION 309. CANCELLATION 24
SECTION 310. COMPUTATION OF INTEREST 25
SECTION 311. CUSIP NUMBERS 25
     
ARTICLE IV SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE 25
     
SECTION 401. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE 25
SECTION 402. OPTION TO EFFECT LEGAL DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE 26

 

 

 

 

SECTION 403. LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND DISCHARGE 26
SECTION 404. COVENANT DEFEASANCE 27
SECTION 405. CONDITIONS TO LEGAL OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE 27
SECTION 406. DEPOSITED MONEY AND U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS TO BE HELD IN TRUST; OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 28
SECTION 407. REPAYMENT TO COMPANY 29
SECTION 408. REINSTATEMENT 29
     
ARTICLE V REMEDIES 29
     
SECTION 501. EVENTS OF DEFAULT 29
SECTION 502. ACCELERATION 31
SECTION 503. OTHER REMEDIES 31
SECTION 504. WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS 31
SECTION 505. CONTROL BY MAJORITY 32
SECTION 506. LIMITATION ON SUITS 32
SECTION 507. RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES TO RECEIVE PAYMENT 32
SECTION 508. COLLECTION SUIT BY TRUSTEE 32
SECTION 509. TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM 33
SECTION 510. PRIORITIES 33
SECTION 511. UNDERTAKING FOR COSTS 34
     
ARTICLE VI THE TRUSTEE 34
     
SECTION 601. CERTAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 34
SECTION 602. NOTICE OF DEFAULTS 35
SECTION 603. CERTAIN RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE 35
SECTION 604. NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS OR ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES 37
SECTION 605. MAY HOLD SECURITIES 37
SECTION 606. MONEY HELD IN TRUST 37
SECTION 607. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT 37
SECTION 608. DISQUALIFICATION; CONFLICTING INTERESTS 38
SECTION 609. CORPORATE TRUSTEE REQUIRED; ELIGIBILITY 38
SECTION 610. RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR 38
SECTION 611. ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT BY SUCCESSOR 40
SECTION 612. MERGER, CONVERSION, CONSOLIDATION OR SUCCESSION TO BUSINESS 41
SECTION 613. PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST COMPANY 41
SECTION 614. APPOINTMENT OF AUTHENTICATING AGENT 41
     
ARTICLE VII HOLDER’S LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY 43
     
SECTION 701. COMPANY TO FURNISH TRUSTEE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF HOLDERS 43
SECTION 702. PRESERVATION OF INFORMATION; COMMUNICATIONS TO HOLDERS 43
SECTION 703. REPORTS BY TRUSTEE 43
SECTION 704. REPORTS BY COMPANY 44

 

 -2- 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE,  TRANSFER OR LEASE 44
     
SECTION 801. COMPANY MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC., ONLY ON CERTAIN TERMS 44
SECTION 802. SUCCESSOR PERSON SUBSTITUTED 45
     
ARTICLE IX SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES 45
     
SECTION 901. WITHOUT CONSENT OF HOLDERS 45
SECTION 902. WITH CONSENT OF HOLDERS 46
SECTION 903. COMPLIANCE WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT 47
SECTION 904. REVOCATION AND EFFECT OF CONSENTS 47
SECTION 905. NOTATION ON OR EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES 48
SECTION 906. TRUSTEE TO SIGN AMENDMENTS, ETC. 48
     
ARTICLE X COVENANTS 48
     
SECTION 1001. PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL, PREMIUM AND INTEREST 48
SECTION 1002. MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY 48
SECTION 1003. MONEY FOR SECURITIES PAYMENTS TO BE HELD IN TRUST 49
SECTION 1004. EXISTENCE 50
SECTION 1005. STATEMENT BY OFFICERS AS TO DEFAULT 50
SECTION 1006. WAIVER OF CERTAIN COVENANTS 50
SECTION 1007. ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS 50
     
ARTICLE XI REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES 51
     
SECTION 1101. APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE 51
SECTION 1102. ELECTION TO REDEEM; NOTICE TO TRUSTEE 51
SECTION 1103. SELECTION BY TRUSTEE OF SECURITIES TO BE REDEEMED 51
SECTION 1104. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION 52
SECTION 1105. DEPOSIT OF REDEMPTION PRICE 52
SECTION 1106. SECURITIES PAYABLE ON REDEMPTION DATE 53
SECTION 1107. SECURITIES REDEEMED IN PART 53
SECTION 1108. PURCHASE OF SECURITIES 53
     
ARTICLE XII SINKING FUNDS 53
     
SECTION 1201. APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE 53
SECTION 1202. SATISFACTION OF SINKING FUND PAYMENTS WITH SECURITIES 54
SECTION 1203. REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES FOR SINKING FUND 54
     
ARTICLE XIII MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES 54
     
SECTION 1301. PURPOSES FOR WHICH MEETINGS MAY BE CALLED 54
SECTION 1302. CALL, NOTICE AND PLACE OF MEETINGS 54
SECTION 1303. PERSONS ENTITLED TO VOTE AT MEETINGS 55
SECTION 1304. QUORUM; ACTION 55
SECTION 1305. DETERMINATION OF VOTING RIGHTS; CONDUCT AND ADJOURNMENT OF MEETINGS 56
SECTION 1306. COUNTING VOTES AND RECORDING ACTION OF MEETINGS 56

 

 -3- 

 

 

INDENTURE

 

THIS Indenture, dated as of ________ ___, 2015, between Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “Company”), having its principal office at 4800 Montgomery Lane, Suite 800, Bethesda, MD 20814 and ________________, a ________ banking corporation, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”) the office of the Trustee at which at the date hereof its corporate trust business is principally administered being ______________________.

 

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

 

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

 

The Securities of each series will be in such form as may be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution 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 the rules of any securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities.

 

This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder that are required to be part of this Indenture and, to the extent applicable, shall be governed by such provisions.

 

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 covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of 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 have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;

 

 

 

 

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

 

(3)         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.

 

Certain terms, used principally in Article V, are defined in Section 102.

 

“Act” when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 105.

 

“Additional Amounts” means any additional amounts that are required by the express terms of a Security or by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, under circumstances specified therein or pursuant thereto, to be paid by the Company with respect to certain taxes, assessments or other governmental charges imposed on certain Holders and that are owing to such Holders.

 

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

 

“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee to act on behalf of the Trustee pursuant to Section 614 to authenticate Securities of one or more series.

 

“Authorized Newspaper” means a newspaper, in the English language or in an official language of the country of publication, customarily published on each Business Day, whether or not published on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, and of general circulation in the place in connection with which the term is used or in the financial community of such place. Where successive publications are required to be made in Authorized Newspapers, the successive publications may be made in the same or in different newspapers in the same city meeting the foregoing requirements and in each case on any Business Day.

 

“Board of Directors” means

 

(1)         with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation;

 

(2)         with respect to a partnership, the board of directors of the general partner of the partnership; and

 

(3)         with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.

 

“Board Resolution” means, with respect to any Person, a resolution of such Person duly adopted by the Board of Directors of such Person and in full force and effect.

 

“Book-Entry Security” has the meaning specified in Section 204.

 

 -2- 

 

 

“Business Day,” when used with respect to any Place of Payment, means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment or the city in which the Corporate Trust Office is located are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

“Capital Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Capital Stock” means:

 

(i)          in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;

 

(ii)         in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

 

(iii)        in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and

 

(iv)         any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.

 

“Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument 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” and “Company Order” mean, respectively, a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its President or a Vice President, and by its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Controller, an Assistant Controller, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is that indicated in the introductory paragraph of this Indenture or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company.

 

“Currency Agreement” means, with respect to any specified Person, any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect such specified Person against fluctuations in currency values.

 

“Default” means an event or condition the occurrence of which is, or with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.

 

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

 

“Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable or issued in the form of a global Security, the Person designated as Depositary by the Company pursuant to Section 301 until a successor Depositary shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Depositary” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Depositary hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such person, “Depositary” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Securities of that series.

 

 -3- 

 

 

“Dollar” or “$” means a dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin or currency of the United States as at the time shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

 

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

 

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession of the United States of America, as in effect as of the date of issuance of Securities.

 

“Guarantee” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements), of all or any part of Indebtedness.

 

“Guarantor” means any Subsidiary that incurs a Guarantee.

 

“Hedging Agreement” means, with respect to any Person, any agreement with respect to the hedging of price risk associated with the purchase of commodities used in the business of such Person, so long as any such agreement has been entered into in the ordinary course of business and not for purposes of speculation.

 

“Holder” when used with respect to any Security, means the Person in whose name the Security is registered in the Security Register.

 

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, in respect of:

 

(1)         borrowed money;

 

(2)         evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof) (other than obligations with respect to letters of credit securing obligations (other than obligations described in clause (1), (2) and (4) of this definition) entered into in the ordinary course of business of such Person to the extent that such letters of credit are not drawn upon);

 

(3)         banker’s acceptances;

 

(4)         any Capital Lease Obligations;

 

(5)         the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable incurred in the ordinary course of business; or

 

(6)         any Hedging Agreements,

 

if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit and Hedging Agreements) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the term “Indebtedness” includes all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by the specified Person) and, to the extent not otherwise included, the guarantee by the specified Person of any indebtedness of any other Person.

 

 -4- 

 

 

The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date shall be:

 

(1)         the accreted value thereof, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount; and

 

(2)         the principal amount thereof, together with any interest thereon that is more than 30 days past due, in the case of any other Indebtedness.

 

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301 and the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument.

 

“Interest Payment Date,” means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.

 

“Interest Swap Obligations,” means the obligations of any Person pursuant to any arrangement with any other Person, whereby directly or indirectly, such Person is entitled to receive from time to time periodic payments calculated by applying either a floating or a fixed rate of interest on a stated notional amount in exchange for periodic payments made by such other Person calculated by applying a fixed or a floating rate of interest on the same notional amount and shall include, without limitation, interest rate swaps, options, caps, floors, collars and similar agreements.

 

“Lien” means any lien, mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, security interest, charge or encumbrance of any kind (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof and any agreement to give any security interest).

 

“Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security, means 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.

 

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President, and by the Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary or an Assistant Treasurer, Assistant Controller or Assistant Secretary, of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee, which certificate shall be in compliance with Section 103 hereof.

 

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for or an employee of the Company, rendered, if applicable, in accordance with Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, which opinion shall be in compliance with Section 103 hereof.

 

“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security that 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” when used with respect to Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

 

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

 

(ii)         Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore irrevocably 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; and

 

(iii)        Securities that 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 bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

 

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, or whether a quorum is present at a meeting of Holders of Securities, (a) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be the principal amount thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, (b) the principal amount of a Security denominated in a foreign currency shall be the U.S. Dollar equivalent, determined by the Company on the date of original issuance of such Security, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the U.S. Dollar equivalent, determined on the date of original issuance of such Security, of the amount determined as provided in (a) above), of such Security and (c) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver or upon any such determination as to the presence of a quorum, only Securities which the Trustee 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 of such other obligor.

 

“Paying Agent” means any Person, which may include the Company, authorized by the Company to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any one or more series of Securities on behalf of the Company.

 

“Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, unincorporated organization, trust or joint venture, or a governmental agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

“Place of Payment” when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified in accordance with Section 301 subject to the provisions of Section 1002.

 

“Post-Petition Interest” means any interest that accrues after the commencement of any case, proceeding or other action relating to the bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company (or would accrue but for the operation of applicable bankruptcy or insolvency laws), whether or not such interest is allowed or allowable as a claim in any such proceeding.

 

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“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 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” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

 

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

 

“Registered Security” means any Security in the form established pursuant to Section 201 which is registered in the Security Register.

 

“Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Registered Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 301, or, if not so specified, the last day of the calendar month preceding such Interest Payment Date if such Interest Payment Date is the fifteenth day of the calendar month or the fifteenth day of the calendar month preceding such Interest Payment Date if such Interest Payment Date is the first day of a calendar month, whether or not such day shall be a Business Day.

 

“Responsible Officer” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee including any vice-president, assistant vice-president, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers who have direct responsibility for the administration of the Indenture and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“Stated Maturity” when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.

 

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any specified Person:

 

(i)          any corporation of which the outstanding Capital Stock having at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast in the election of directors under ordinary circumstances shall at the time be owned, directly or indirectly by such Person; or

 

(ii)         any other Person of which at least a majority of the voting interest under ordinary circumstances is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person.

 

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“Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

 

“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed, except as provided in Section 903.

 

“United States” means the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia) and its “possessions,” which include Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Wake Island and the Northern Mariana Islands.

 

“United States Alien” means any Person who, for United States federal income tax purposes, is a foreign corporation, a nonresident alien individual, a nonresident alien or foreign fiduciary of an estate or trust, or a foreign partnership.

 

“U.S. Government Obligations” means direct noncallable obligations of, or noncallable obligations the payment of principal of and interest on which is guaranteed by, the United States of America, or to the payment of which obligations or guarantees the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged, or beneficial interests in a trust the corpus of which consists exclusively of money or such obligations or a combination thereof.

 

“Vice President” when used with respect to the Company or the Trustee, means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “vice president”.

 

“Wholly Owned Subsidiary” of any Person means any Subsidiary of such Person of which all the outstanding voting securities (other than in the case of a Restricted Subsidiary that is incorporated in a jurisdiction other than a State in the United States of America or the District of Columbia, directors’ qualifying shares or an immaterial amount of shares required to be owned by other Persons pursuant to applicable law) are owned by such Person or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary of such Person.

 

“Yield to Maturity” when used with respect to any Original Issue Discount Security, means the yield to maturity, if any, set forth on the face thereof.

 

SECTION 102.        INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF TRUST INDENTURE ACT.

 

Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the Trust Indenture Act, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following Trust Indenture Act terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

 

“Bankruptcy Act” means the Bankruptcy Act or Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended.

 

“indenture securities” means the Securities.

 

“indenture securityholder” means a Holder.

 

“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.

 

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“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.

 

“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company or any other obligor on the Securities.

 

All terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the Trust Indenture Act, defined by Trust Indenture Act reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the Trust Indenture Act and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them therein.

 

SECTION 103.        COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES AND OPINIONS.

 

Except as otherwise expressly provided by this Indenture, 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 an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any (including any covenants the compliance with which constitutes a condition precedent), 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 (including any covenants the compliance with which constitutes a condition precedent), have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents 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 shall include

 

(1)         a statement that each Person 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 Person, such Person has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable such Person 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 or not, in the opinion of each such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

SECTION 104.        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 his 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.

 

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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 105.        ACTS OF HOLDERS; RECORD DATES.

 

(1)         Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given 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. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or both are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments and any such record (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments and so voting at any such meeting. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or the holding of any Person of a Security, 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. The record of any meeting of Holders of Securities shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 1306.

 

The Company may set in advance a record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders of Registered Securities entitled to vote or consent to any action by vote or consent authorized or permitted under this Indenture. If not set by the Company prior to the first solicitation of a Holder of Registered Securities of such series made by any Person in respect of any such action, or in the case of any such vote, prior to such vote, the record date for any such action or vote shall be the later of 30 days prior to such first solicitation of such consent or the date of the most recent list of Holders furnished to the Trustee prior to such solicitation. If a record date is fixed, those Persons who were Holders of Outstanding Registered Securities at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled with respect to such Securities to take such action by vote or consent or to revoke any vote or consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company, at its own expense, shall cause notice thereof to be given to the Trustee in writing in the manner provided in Section 106 and to the relevant Holders as set forth in Section 107.

 

(2)         The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his 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.

 

(3)         The principal amount and serial numbers of Registered Securities held by any Person, and the date of holding the same, shall be proved by the Security Register.

 

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(4)         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. Any Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or other Act as to his Security or portion of his Security; provided, however, that such revocation shall be effective only if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date the Act becomes effective.

 

SECTION 106.        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 to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration, 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 it at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this Indenture or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company, Attention: Corporate Secretary.

 

The Company or the Trustee, by notice to the other, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

 

All notices and communications (other than those sent to the Trustee) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next-day delivery. All notices and communications to the Trustee shall be deemed duly given and effective only upon receipt.

 

Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next-day delivery to its address shown on the Security Register. Any notice or communication shall also be so mailed to any Person described in TIA Section 313(c), to the extent required by the TIA. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

 

If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

 

If the Company mails a notice or communication to Holders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

 

SECTION 107.        NOTICE TO HOLDERS; WAIVER.

 

Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of Securities 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 the address of such Holder as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice.

 

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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 to Holders of Registered Securities by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder. In any case in which notice to Holders of Registered Securities is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder of a Registered Security, shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Registered Securities.

 

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.

 

SECTION 108.        CONFLICT WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.

 

If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with any provision of the Trust Indenture Act or another provision hereof required to be included in this Indenture by any of the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, such provision of the Trust Indenture Act shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the former provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded.

 

SECTION 109.        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 110.        SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.

 

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

 

SECTION 111.        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 112.        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, any Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent and Security Registrar, and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

 

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SECTION 113.        GOVERNING LAW.

 

This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, but without giving effect to applicable principles of conflicts of law to the extent the application of the laws of another jurisdiction would be required thereby.

 

SECTION 114.        LEGAL HOLIDAYS.

 

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

 

SECTION 115.        CORPORATE OBLIGATION.

 

No recourse may be taken, directly or indirectly, against any incorporator, subscriber to the capital stock, stockholder, officer, director or employee of the Company or the Trustee or of any predecessor or successor of the Company or the Trustee with respect to the Company’s obligations on the Securities or the obligations of the Company or the Trustee under this Indenture or any certificate or other writing delivered in connection herewith.

 

SECTION 116.        WAIVER OF TRIAL JURY.

 

EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

SECTION 117.        FORCE MAJEURE.

 

In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

 

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ARTICLE II

SECURITY FORMS

 

SECTION 201.        FORMS GENERALLY.

 

The Securities of each series shall be Registered Securities and shall be in substantially such form or forms (including temporary or permanent global form) as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution 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 the rules of any securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities. If temporary Securities of any series are issued in global form as permitted by Section 304, the form thereof shall be established as provided in the preceding sentence. A copy of the Board Resolution establishing the form or forms of Securities of any series (or any such temporary global Security) shall be 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 (or any such temporary global Security).

 

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 thereof.

 

SECTION 202.        FORM OF TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION.

 

The Trustee’s certificate 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.

 

  By  
    AUTHORIZED OFFICER”

 

SECTION 203.        SECURITIES IN GLOBAL FORM.

 

If Securities of a series are issuable in global form, as contemplated by Section 301, then, notwithstanding clause (10) of Section 301 and the provisions of Section 302, any such Security shall represent such of the Outstanding Securities of such series as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be reduced to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of a Security in global form to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee in such manner and upon instructions given by such Person or Persons as shall be specified in such Security or in a Company Order to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 303 or Section 304. Subject to the provisions of Section 303 and, if applicable, Section 304, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any Security in permanent global form in the manner and upon instructions given by the Person or Persons specified in such Security or in the applicable Company Order. If a Company Order pursuant to Section 303 or 304 has been, or simultaneously is, delivered, any instructions by the Company with respect to endorsement or delivery or redelivery of a Security in global form shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 103 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel.

 

The provisions of the last sentence of Section 303 shall apply to any Security in global form if such Security was never issued and sold by the Company and the Company delivers to the Trustee the Security in global form together with written instructions (which need not comply with Section 103 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) with regard to the reduction in the principal amount of Securities represented thereby, together with the written statement contemplated by the last sentence of Section 303.

 

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Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 201 and 307, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on any Security in permanent global form shall be made to the Person or Persons specified therein.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 308 and except as provided in the preceding paragraph, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or of the Trustee shall treat a Person as the Holder of such principal amount of Outstanding Securities represented by a global Security as shall be specified in a written statement, if any, of the Holder of such global Security, which is produced to the Security Registrar by such Holder.

 

Global Securities may be issued in either temporary or permanent form. Permanent global Securities will be issued in definitive form.

 

SECTION 204.        BOOK-ENTRY SECURITIES.

 

Notwithstanding any provision of this Indenture to the contrary:

 

(a)          At the discretion of the Company, any Registered Security may be issued from time to time, in whole or in part, in permanent global form registered in the name of a Depositary, or its nominee. Each such Registered Security in permanent global form is hereafter referred to as a “Book-Entry Security.” Subject to Section 303, upon such election, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver, one or more Book-Entry Securities that (i) are denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series if elected in whole or such lesser amount if elected in part, (ii) are registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, (iii) are delivered by the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instructions and (iv) bear a legend in substantially the following form (or such other form as the Depositary and the Company may agree upon):

 

UNLESS THIS SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF [THE DEPOSITARY], TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF [NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY] OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF [THE DEPOSITARY] (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO [NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY] OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF [THE DEPOSITARY]), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, [NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY], HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

 

(b)          Any Book-Entry Security shall be initially executed and delivered as provided in Section 303. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Registered Securities not issued in global form, a Book-Entry Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of such Depositary, by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary, or by such Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary.

 

 -15- 

 

 

(c)          If at any time the Depositary notifies the Company or the Trustee that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for any Book-Entry Securities, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary, whereupon the retiring Depositary shall surrender or cause the surrender of its Book-Entry Security or Securities to the Trustee. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company upon receipt of such notice. If a successor Depositary has not been so appointed by the effective date of the resignation of the Depositary, the Book-Entry Securities will be issued as Registered Securities not issued in global form, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Book-Entry Security or Securities theretofore held by the Depositary.

 

The Company may at any time and in its sole discretion determine that the Securities shall no longer be Book-Entry Securities represented by a global certificate or certificates, and will so notify the Depositary. Upon receipt of such notice, the Depositary shall promptly surrender or cause the surrender of its Book-Entry Security or Securities to the Trustee. Concurrently therewith, Registered Securities not issued in global form will be issued in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Book-Entry Security or Securities theretofore held by the Depositary.

 

Upon any exchange of Book-Entry Securities for Registered Securities not issued in global form as set forth in this Section 204(c), such Book-Entry Securities shall be cancelled by the Trustee, and Securities issued in exchange for such Book-Entry Securities pursuant to this Section shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Book-Entry Securities, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent shall deliver such Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.

 

(d)          The Company and the Trustee shall be entitled to treat the Person in whose name any Book-Entry Security is registered as the Holder thereof for all purposes of the Indenture and any applicable laws, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary received by the Trustee or the Company; and the Trustee and the Company shall have no responsibility for transmitting payments to, communication with, notifying, or otherwise dealing with any beneficial owners of any Book-Entry Security. Neither the Company nor the Trustee shall have any responsibility or obligations, legal or otherwise, to the beneficial owners or to any other party including the Depositary, except for the Holder of any Book-Entry Security; provided however, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) for the purposes of determining whether the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities have given, made or taken any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, instruction or other action hereunder as of any date, the Trustee shall treat any Person specified in a written statement of the Depositary with respect to any Book-Entry Securities as the Holder of the principal amount of such Securities set forth therein and (ii) nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee, or any agent of the Company or Trustee, from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by a Depositary with respect to any Book-Entry Securities, or impair, as between a Depositary and holders of beneficial interests in such Securities, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of the Depositary as Holder of such Securities.

 

(e)          So long as any Book-Entry Security is registered in the name of a Depositary or its nominee, all payments of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Book-Entry Security and redemption thereof and all notices with respect to such Book-Entry Security shall be made and given, respectively, in the manner provided in the arrangements of the Company with such Depositary.

 

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ARTICLE III

THE SECURITIES

 

SECTION 301.        AMOUNT UNLIMITED; ISSUABLE IN SERIES.

 

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

 

The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in 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 all other Securities);

 

(2)         any limit, if any, upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration or transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 905 or 1107);

 

(3)         whether Securities of the series are to be issuable as Registered Securities, whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable initially in temporary global form and whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable in permanent global form, as Book-Entry Securities or otherwise, and, if so, whether beneficial owners of interests in any such permanent global Security may exchange such interests for Securities of such series and of like tenor of any authorized form and denomination and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner provided in Section 305, and the Depositary for any global Security or Securities;

 

(4)         the manner in which any interest payable on a temporary global Security on any Interest Payment Date will be paid if other than in the manner provided in Section 304;

 

(5)         the date or dates on which the principal of (and premium, if any, on) the Securities of the series is payable or the method of determination thereof;

 

(6)         the rate or rates, or the method of determination thereof, at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, whether and under what circumstances Additional Amounts with respect to such Securities shall be payable, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and, if other than as set forth in Section 101, the Regular Record Date for the interest payable on any Registered Securities on any Interest Payment Date;

 

(7)         if other than the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, the place or places where, subject to the provisions of Section 1002, the principal of (and premium, if any), any interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of the series shall be payable;

 

(8)         the period or periods within which, the price or prices (whether denominated in cash, securities or otherwise) at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, if the Company is to have that option, and the manner in which the Company must exercise any such option;

 

 -17- 

 

 

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

 

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

 

(11)        the currency or currencies (including composite currencies) in which payment of the principal of (and premium, if any), any interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of the series shall be payable if other than the currency of the United States of America;

 

(12)        if the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of the series are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in a currency or currencies (including composite currencies) other than that in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the currency or currencies (including composite currencies) in which payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities of such series as to which such election is made shall be payable, and the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made;

 

(13)        if the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any), any interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to any commodities, currencies or indices, or values, rates or prices, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

 

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

 

(15)        any additional means of satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to Securities of the series pursuant to Section 401, any additional conditions to discharge pursuant to Section 401, 402, 403, 404, or 405, and the application, if any, of Section 403 and 404;

 

(16)        any deletions or modifications of or additions to the Events of Default set forth in Section 501, 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, or the covenants of the Company set forth in Article X pertaining to the Securities of the series;

 

(17)        the terms, if any, on which the Securities of any series may be converted into or exchanged for stock or other securities of the Company or other entities, any specific terms relating to the adjustment thereof and the period during which such Securities may be so converted or exchanged;

 

(18)        whether the Securities of a series will be issued as part of units consisting of Securities and other securities of the Company or another issuer; and

 

(19)        any other terms of the series permitted under the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

 -18- 

 

 

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except, in the case of Registered Securities, as to denomination and except as may otherwise be 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 Officers’ Certificate referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

 

All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided in such Board Resolution or supplemental indenture, a series may be reopened for issuances of additional Securities of such series pursuant to a Board Resolution or in any indenture supplemental hereto.

 

At the option of the Company, interest on the Registered Securities of any series that bears interest may be paid by mailing a check or otherwise transmitting payment to the address of any Holder as such address shall appear in the Security Register.

 

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 together with such Board Resolution 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 Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.

 

SECTION 302.        DENOMINATIONS.

 

The Securities of each series shall be issuable in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 301. In the absence of any such provisions with respect to the Securities of any series, the Registered Securities of such series denominated in Dollars shall be issuable in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, any Securities of a series denominated in a currency other than Dollars shall be issuable in denominations that are the equivalent, as determined by the Company by reference to the noon buying rate in the City of New York for cable transfers for such currency, as such rate is reported or otherwise made available by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, on the applicable issue date for such Securities, of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

SECTION 303.         EXECUTION, AUTHENTICATION, DELIVERY AND DATING.

 

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, its Chief Financial Officer, its Treasurer or one of its Vice Presidents, under its corporate seal reproduced thereon or affixed thereto attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile. Coupons shall bear the facsimile signature of the Chairman of the Board, President, Treasurer or any Vice President of the Company.

 

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

 

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities 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 as in this Indenture provided and not otherwise.

 

 -19- 

 

 

If the form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions or Officer’s Certificate 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 given (in addition to the other documents required by Section 103 hereof), and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating,

 

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

 

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

 

(c)          that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as such enforcement is subject to the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization or other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights, and general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); provided that such Opinion of Counsel need express no opinion as to whether a court in the United States would render a money judgment in currency other than that of the United States.

 

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 affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

 

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 together with a written statement (which need not comply with Section 103 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) stating that such Security has never been issued and sold by the Company, 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 that are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers of the Company executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

 -20- 

 

 

Except in the case of temporary Securities in global form (which shall be exchanged in accordance with the provisions of the following paragraphs), if temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of that 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 that series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations. 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.

 

All Outstanding temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of the same series and of like tenor authenticated and delivered hereunder.

 

SECTION 305.        REGISTRATION, REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE.

 

The Company shall cause to be kept for each series of Securities at one of the offices or agencies maintained pursuant to Section 1002 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 Registered Securities and of transfers of Registered Securities of such series. The Trustee is hereby initially appointed “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided.

 

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Registered Security of any series at the office or agency in a Place of Payment for that 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 Registered Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount.

 

At the option of the Holder, Registered Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Registered Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate 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 that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

 

 -21- 

 

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, any permanent global Security shall be exchangeable only as provided in this paragraph. If the beneficial owners of interests in a permanent global Security are entitled to exchange such interest for Securities of such series and of like tenor and principal amount of another authorized form and denomination, as specified as contemplated by Section 301, then without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee definitive Securities of that series in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such permanent global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, such permanent global Security shall be surrendered from time to time in accordance with instructions given to the Trustee and the Depositary (which instructions shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 103 or be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) or such other depositary as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, to be exchanged, in whole or in part, for definitive Securities of the same series without charge and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for each portion of such permanent global Security, a like aggregate principal amount of other definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such permanent global Security to be exchanged; provided, however, that no such exchanges may occur during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection of Securities of that series is to be redeemed and ending on the relevant Redemption Date. Promptly following any such exchange in part, such permanent global Security marked to evidence the partial exchange shall be returned by the Trustee to the Depositary or such other depositary referred to above in accordance with the instructions of the Company referred to above. If a Registered Security is issued in exchange for any portion of a permanent global Security after the close of business at the office or agency where such exchange occurs on (i) any Regular Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the relevant Interest Payment Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related proposed date for payment of Defaulted Interest, interest or Defaulted Interest, as the case may be, will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of such Registered Security, but will be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, only to the Person to whom interest in respect of such portion of such permanent global Security is payable in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

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 Registered 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 his 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 exchange pursuant to Section 304, 905 or 1107 not involving any transfer.

 

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

 

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 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.

 

 -22- 

 

 

If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and 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, 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 fee and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

 

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

 

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

 

SECTION 307.        PAYMENT OF INTEREST; INTEREST RIGHTS PRESERVED.

 

Interest on any Registered 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. Unless otherwise provided with respect to the Securities of any series, payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed or delivered to the address of any Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register.

 

Any interest on any Registered 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:

 

 -23- 

 

 

(1)         The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Registered 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 Registered 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 Trustee 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 Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of Registered Securities of such series at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. The Trustee may, in its discretion, in the name and at the expense of the Company, cause a similar notice to be published at least once in an Authorized Newspaper, but such publication shall not be a condition precedent to the establishment of 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 Registered 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 Registered 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, each Security delivered under this Indenture, upon registration of transfer of, in exchange for or in lieu of, any other Security, shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

 

SECTION 308.        PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS.

 

Prior to due presentment of a Registered 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 Registered Security is registered as the owner of such Registered Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest on such Registered 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 for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee. All Registered Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of in its customary manner.

  

 -24- 

 

 

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 year comprising twelve 30-day months.

 

SECTION 311.        CUSIP NUMBERS.

 

The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.

 

ARTICLE IV

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND
COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

SECTION 401.        SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE.

 

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

 

(1)         either

 

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

 

 -25- 

 

 

and the Company, in the case of (B)(i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee, as funds in trust for such purpose, an amount in the currency or currencies or currency unit or units in which such Securities of such series are payable or U.S. Government Obligations maturing as to principal and interest in such amounts and at such times as will, together with any interest thereon, be sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and any premium 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 Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to such series of Securities have been complied with.

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series pursuant to this Section 401, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607 and to any Authenticating Agent under Section 614 and, if money or U.S. Government Obligations shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of Clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 406, Article VI and the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

 

SECTION 402.        OPTION TO EFFECT LEGAL DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE.

 

In addition to the Company’s rights under Section 401 (which shall not be affected by this Section 402), the Company may, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by a resolution set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, at any time, elect to have either Section 403 or 404 hereof applied to all Outstanding Securities of any series upon compliance with the conditions set forth in Sections 403 through 406 hereof.

 

SECTION 403.        LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND DISCHARGE.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 402 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 403, the Company and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 405 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all Outstanding Securities of a series on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the Outstanding Securities of a series, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 406 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on such Securities when such payments are due from the trust referred to in Section 405, (b) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 304, 305, 306 and 1002 of this Indenture, (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith and (d) this Article IV. Subject to compliance with Sections 402 through 406 hereof, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 403 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 404 hereof.

 

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SECTION 404.        COVENANT DEFEASANCE.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 402 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 404, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 405 hereof, be released from the operation of Section 801 hereof with respect to the Outstanding Securities of a series and any other covenant contained in the Board Resolution or supplemental indenture relating to such series on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 405 are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Securities of such series shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Securities shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 501 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such series of Securities shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company’s exercise under Section 402 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 404 hereof, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 405 hereof, Sections 501(3) through 501(6) and Section 501(9) hereof shall not constitute Events of Default.

 

SECTION 405.        CONDITIONS TO LEGAL OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE.

 

The following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section 403 or 404 hereof to the Outstanding Securities of any series:

 

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:

 

(a)          the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities, cash in United States dollars, U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, to pay the principal of, or interest and premium, if any, on the Outstanding Securities of such series on the Stated Maturity or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether the Securities are being defeased to maturity or to a particular redemption date;

 

(b)          in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (ii) since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(c)          in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

 

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(d)          no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing either: (i) on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit); or (ii) insofar as Events of Default from bankruptcy or insolvency events are concerned, at any time in the period ending on the 91st day after the date of deposit;

 

(e)          such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound;

 

(f)          the Company must have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that, assuming no intervening bankruptcy of the Company or any Guarantor between the date of deposit and the 91st day following the deposit and assuming that no Holder is an “insider” of the Company under applicable bankruptcy law, after the 91st day following the deposit, the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally;

 

(g)          the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of Securities over the other creditors of the Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of the Company or others; and

 

(h)          the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

 

SECTION 406.        DEPOSITED MONEY AND U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS TO BE HELD IN TRUST; OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

 

Subject to Section 407 hereof, all money and non callable U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 406, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 401 or 404 hereof in respect of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any paying agent (including the Company acting as paying agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium on , if any, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 401 or 404 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the Outstanding Securities.

 

Anything in this Article IV to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the written request of the Company any money or non-callable U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 401 or 404 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance or satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

 

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SECTION 407.        REPAYMENT TO COMPANY.

 

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any paying agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium on, if any, or interest on any Securities and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its written request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Securities shall thereafter, as an unsecured 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; provided, however, that the Trustee or such paying agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

 

SECTION 408.        REINSTATEMENT.

 

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with respect to Securities of any series in accordance with Section 401, 403 or 404 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series and the Securities of such series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 401, 403 or 404 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 401, 403 or 404 hereof, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of, premium on, if any, or interest on any Securities following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

ARTICLE V

REMEDIES

 

SECTION 501.        EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

 

An “Event of Default” on a series occurs if:

 

(1)         the Company defaults in the payment of interest on any Security of such series when the same becomes due and payable and the Default continues for a period of 30 days;

 

(2)         the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of any Security of such series when the same becomes due and payable at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise;

 

(3)         the Company fails to comply with any of its other agreements in the Securities of such series or this Indenture (as they relate thereto) and the Default continues for the period and after the notice specified below (except in the case of a default with respect to any Change of Control Provisions or Article VIII (or any replacement provisions contemplated by Article VIII), which will constitute Events of Default with notice but without passage of time);

 

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(4)         the acceleration of any Indebtedness of the Company in an amount of $50.0 million or more, individually or in the aggregate, and such acceleration does not cease to exist, or such Indebtedness is not satisfied, in either case within five days after such acceleration;

 

(5)         the failure by the Company to make any principal or interest payment in an amount of $50.0 million or more, individually or in the aggregate, in respect of Indebtedness of the Company within five days of such principal or interest becoming due and payable (after giving effect to any applicable grace period set forth in the documents governing such Indebtedness);

 

(6)         a final judgment or judgments in an amount of $50.0 million or more, individually or in the aggregate, for the payment of money having been entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction against the Company and such judgment or judgments is not satisfied, stayed, annulled or rescinded within 90 days after being entered;

 

(7)         the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

 

(a)          commences a voluntary case,

 

(b)          consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,

 

(c)          consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property, or

 

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

 

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

 

(a)          is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case,

 

(b)          appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of its property,

 

or

 

(c)          orders the liquidation of the Company,

 

and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days; or

 

(9)         any other Event of Default occurs with respect to Securities of that series as provided in the supplemental indenture or Board Resolutions establishing such series of Securities.

 

The term “Bankruptcy Law” means the Bankruptcy Act or any similar Federal or State law for the relief of debtors. The term “Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

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A Default under clause (3) above is not an Event of Default until the Trustee notifies the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities of the applicable series notify the Company and the Trustee of the Default and (except in the case of a default with respect to any provisions of any supplemental indenture or Board Resolution establishing such series of Securities giving the Holders of Securities of such series the right to require the Company to repurchase or redeem such Securities of such series upon the occurrence of a change of control prior to the final maturity date of such Securities of such series (“Change of Control Provisions”) or Article VIII (or any replacement provisions contemplated by Article VIII)) the Company does not cure the Default within 90 days after receipt of the notice. The notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that the notice is a “Notice of Default.”

 

SECTION 502.        ACCELERATION.

 

If any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (7) or (8) of Section 501 hereof) with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, either the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then Outstanding Securities of that series may declare all the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. Upon any such declaration, the Securities of that series shall become due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in clause (7) or (8) of Section 501 hereof occurs with respect to any series of Securities, all outstanding Securities of that series shall become due and payable without further action or notice. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Securities of any series then Outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Securities of that series waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under this Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of interest or premium, if any, on, or the principal of, the Securities of that series.

 

SECTION 503.        OTHER REMEDIES.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of that series or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Securities of that series or this Indenture.

 

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Securities in a series or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Security in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

 

SECTION 504.        WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS.

 

Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities in any series by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Securities of that series waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences hereunder, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, the Securities of that series (including in connection with an offer to purchase) (provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of any series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration, with respect to that series). Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

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SECTION 505.        CONTROL BY MAJORITY.

 

With respect to any series of Securities, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of that series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Securities of any series or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability.

 

SECTION 506.        LIMITATION ON SUITS.

 

A Holder of a Security of any series may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Securities of that series only if:

 

(a)       the Holder of a Security of that series gives to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default;

 

(b)       the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of that series make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

 

(c)       such Holder of a Security or Holders of Securities offer and, if requested, provide to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;

 

(d)       the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the provision of indemnity; and

 

(e)       during such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of that series do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.

 

A Holder of a Security may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of a Security or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of a Security.

 

SECTION 507.        RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES TO RECEIVE PAYMENT.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Security of any series to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Security, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Security (including in connection with an offer to purchase), or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

 

SECTION 508.        COLLECTION SUIT BY TRUSTEE.

 

With respect to the Securities of any series, if an Event of Default specified in clause (1) or (2) of Section 501 hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of principal of, premium on, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on the Securities of that series and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

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SECTION 509.        TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM.

 

The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders of the Securities of any series allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder of that series to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607 of this Indenture. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607 of this Indenture out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder of any series of Securities any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities of that series or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

SECTION 510.        PRIORITIES.

 

If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

 

(a)          First: to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 607 of this Indenture, including payment of all compensation, expense and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of collection;

 

(b)          Second: to Holders of Securities for amounts due and unpaid on the Securities for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Securities for principal, premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and

 

(c)          Third: to the Company or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.

 

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders of Securities pursuant to this Section 510.

 

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SECTION 511.        UNDERTAKING FOR COSTS.

 

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Security pursuant to Section 507 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of any series.

 

ARTICLE VI

THE TRUSTEE

 

SECTION 601.        CERTAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

 

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

 

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

 

(2)         in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon 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 that 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 they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculation or other facts stated therein).

 

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

 

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

 

(1)         this Subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of Subsection (a) of this Section;

 

(2)         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;

 

(3)         the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series or of all series, determined as provided in Section 505, 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

 

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

 

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

 

SECTION 602.        NOTICE OF DEFAULTS.

 

Within 90 days after the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall give notice of such Default or Event of Default known to the Trustee to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 107 and in compliance with the Trust Indenture Act, unless such Default or Event of Default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security of such series or in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of Securities of such series; and provided, further, that in the case of any Default or Event of Default of the character specified in Section 501(3) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof.

 

SECTION 603.        CERTAIN RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE.

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 601:

 

(a)          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, bond, debenture, note, coupon, 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;

 

(b)          any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

 

(c)          whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officers’ Certificate;

 

(d)          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;

 

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

 

(f)          the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, coupon, 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;

 

(g)          the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and, except for any Affiliates of the Trustee, 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;

 

(h)          the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any series for which it is acting as Trustee unless either (1) a Responsible Officer shall have actual knowledge of such Default or Event of Default or (2) written notice of such Default or Event of Default 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 by the Company or any other obligor on such Securities or by any Holder of such Securities;

 

(i)          the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted 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.

 

(j)           in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, 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;

 

(k)          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 each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder; and

 

(l)          the Trustee may request that the Company deliver a certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture.

 

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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 Authenticating Agent, 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 the Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

 

SECTION 606.        MONEY HELD IN TRUST.

 

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

 

SECTION 607.        COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT.

 

The Company agrees:

 

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

 

(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 compensation and the reasonable expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as shall be determined to have been caused by its own negligence or willful misconduct; and

 

(3)         to indemnify the Trustee and each of its directors, officers, employees, agents and/or representatives for, and to hold each of them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on each of their part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of the Trustee’s powers or duties hereunder.

 

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section 607, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities on all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on or any Additional Amounts with respect to particular Securities.

 

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Any expenses and compensation for any services rendered by the Trustee after the occurrence of an Event of Default (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) specified in clause (7) or (8) of Section 501 shall constitute expenses and compensation for services of administration under all applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws.

 

The provisions of this Section 607 and any lien arising hereunder shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee or the discharge of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the termination of this Indenture.

 

SECTION 608.        DISQUALIFICATION; CONFLICTING INTERESTS.

 

(a)          If the Trustee has or shall acquire any conflicting interest, as defined in this Section 608, with respect to the Securities of any series, it shall, within 90 days after ascertaining that it has such conflicting interest, either eliminate such conflicting interest or resign with respect to the Securities of that series in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

 

(b)          In the event that the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Subsection (a) of this Section 608 with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall, within 10 days after the expiration of such 90-day period, transmit by mail to all Holders of Securities of that series, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, notice of such failure in compliance with the Trust Indenture Act.

 

(c)          For the purposes of this Section, the term “conflicting interest” shall have the meaning specified in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act and the Trustee shall comply with Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act; provided, that there shall be excluded from the operation of Section 310(b)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to the Securities of any series any indenture or indentures under which other securities, or certificates of interest or participation in other securities, of the Company are outstanding, if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in Section 310(b)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act are met. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the optional provision permitted by the second sentence of Section 310(b)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act shall be applicable.

 

SECTION 609.        CORPORATE TRUSTEE REQUIRED; ELIGIBILITY.

 

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State (or the District of Columbia) authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 609, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

 

The Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of Sections 310(a)(1), 310(a)(2) and 310(a)(5) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

SECTION 610.        RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR.

 

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

 

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(b)          The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving 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 resigning 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.

 

(c)          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 principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, 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 resigning 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.

 

(d)          If at any time:

 

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

 

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

 

(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

 

then, in any such case, (i) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (ii) subject to Section 505, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

 

(e)          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, by a Board Resolution, 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 such successor Trustee or Trustees shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 611. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 611, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself 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.

 

(f)          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 by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Securities of such series as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. 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.

 

(a)          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 to the retiring Trustee an 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 an 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.

 

(b)          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.

 

(c)          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 paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, as the case may be.

 

(d)          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.

 

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

 

SECTION 613.        PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST COMPANY.

 

The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, excluding any creditor relationship described in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent indicated therein.

 

SECTION 614.        APPOINTMENT OF AUTHENTICATING AGENT.

 

The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents that shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities issued upon original issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50 million or equivalent amount expressed in a foreign currency and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State (or the District of Columbia) authority or authority of such country. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 614, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 614, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section 614.

 

Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section 614, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

 

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An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 614, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall mail written notice of such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section 614.

 

The Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section 614, and the Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, subject to the provisions of Section 607.

 

If an appointment is made pursuant to this Section 614, the Securities may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in the following form:

 

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

 

     
    AS TRUSTEE
     
  By  
    AS AUTHENTICATING AGENT
     
  By  
    AS AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY”

 

Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 614 to the contrary, if at any time any Authenticating Agent appointed hereunder with respect to any series of Securities shall not also be acting as the Security Registrar hereunder with respect to any series of Securities, then, in addition to all other duties of an Authenticating Agent hereunder, such Authenticating Agent shall also be obligated (i) to furnish to the Security Registrar promptly all information necessary to enable the Security Registrar to maintain at all times an accurate and current Security Register and (ii) prior to authenticating any Security denominated in a foreign currency, to ascertain from the Company the units of such foreign currency that are required to be determined by the Company pursuant to Section 302.

 

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ARTICLE VII

HOLDER’S LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

 

SECTION 701.        COMPANY TO FURNISH TRUSTEE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF HOLDERS.

 

With respect to each series of Securities, the Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

 

(a)          semi-annually, not more than 15 days after each Regular Record Date relating to that series (or, if there is no Regular Record Date relating to that series, on January 1 and July 1), a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of that series as of such dates, and

 

(b)          at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content, such list to be dated as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished;

 

provided, that so long as the Trustee is the Security Registrar, the Company shall not be required to furnish or cause to be furnished such a list to the Trustee. The Company shall otherwise comply with Section 312(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

SECTION 702.        PRESERVATION OF INFORMATION; COMMUNICATIONS TO HOLDERS.

 

(a)          The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders of each series contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701 and the names and addresses of Holders of each series 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 Trustee shall otherwise comply with Section 312(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

(b)          Holders of Securities may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the Security Registrar and any other Person shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

SECTION 703.        REPORTS BY TRUSTEE.

 

(a)          Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with the year 2015, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to Holders a brief report dated as of such May 15 that complies with Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. The Trustee shall comply with Section 313(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. The Trustee shall transmit by mail all reports as required by Sections 313(c) and 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

(b)          A copy of each report pursuant to Subsection (a) of this Section 703 shall, at the time of its transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed, with the SEC and with the Company. The Company will notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed or delisted on any stock exchange.

 

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SECTION 704.        REPORTS BY COMPANY.

 

The Company shall file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company is required to file the same with the SEC, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company may be required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and shall otherwise comply with Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee's receipt of such shall not 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 Officers' Certificates).

 

ARTICLE VIII

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE,
TRANSFER OR LEASE

 

SECTION 801.        COMPANY MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC., ONLY ON CERTAIN TERMS.

 

(a)          The Company shall not, directly or indirectly, in any transaction or series of related transactions: (1) consolidate or merge with or into another Person (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation); (2) sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or (3) assign any of its obligations under the Securities and this Indenture, in one or more related transactions, to another Person; unless:

 

(i)          either: (A) the Company is the surviving corporation; or (B) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made is a corporation organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

(ii)         the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Securities and this Indenture pursuant to agreements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

 

(iii)        immediately after such transaction no Default or Event of Default exists;

 

(iv)        the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such merger, consolidation or sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of such properties or assets or assignment of its obligations under the Securities and this Indenture and such supplemental indenture, if any, comply with this Indenture.

 

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(b)          The Company shall not, directly or indirectly, lease all or substantially all of its properties or assets, in one or more related transactions, to any other Person.

 

(c)          Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 801 shall not apply to a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of assets between or among the Company and any of its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries.

 

SECTION 802.        SUCCESSOR PERSON SUBSTITUTED.

 

Upon any consolidation or merger, any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or any assignment of the obligations under the Securities and this Indenture in accordance with Section 801 hereof, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the successor corporation and not to the Company), and may exercise every right and power of the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein; provided, however, that the predecessor Company shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Securities except in the case of a sale of all of the Company’s assets that meets the requirements of Section 801 hereof.

 

ARTICLE IX

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

SECTION 901.        WITHOUT CONSENT OF HOLDERS.

 

Notwithstanding Section 902 of this Indenture, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities of any series without the consent of any Holder of a Security of any series:

 

(a)          to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

 

(b)          to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities or to alter the provisions of Article II of this Indenture (including the related definitions) in a manner that does not materially adversely affect any Holder;

 

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

 

(d)          to provide for the assumption of the Company’s or any Guarantor’s obligations to the Holders of the Securities by a successor to the Company pursuant to Article VIII of this Indenture;

 

(e)          to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Securities or that does not adversely affect the legal rights hereunder of any such Holder;

 

(f)          to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

 

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(g)          to evidence and provide the acceptance of the appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to Sections 610 and 611 of this Indenture; and

 

(h)          to add a Guarantor of the Securities.

 

Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 603 of this Indenture, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

SECTION 902.        WITH CONSENT OF HOLDERS.

 

Except as provided below in this Section 902, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture and the Securities of any series may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount at maturity of Securities of that series then Outstanding voting as a single class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, that series of Securities), and, subject to Sections 504 and 507 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on such Securities, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture or such Securities may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount at maturity of the then Outstanding Securities of that series voting as a single class (including without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, that series of Securities).

 

Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a Board Resolution authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of that series of Securities as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 603 of this Indenture, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture unless such amended or supplemental indenture directly affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture.

 

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Securities under this Section 902 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

 

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of Securities of any series affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental indenture or waiver.

 

Subject to Sections 504 and 507 hereof, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount at maturity of a series of Securities then Outstanding voting as a single class may waive compliance in a particular instance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities. However, without the consent of each Holder of a series of Securities affected, an amendment or waiver under this Section 902 may not (with respect to the series of Securities held by a non-consenting Holder):

 

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(a)        reduce the principal amount of the then Outstanding Securities whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

 

(b)        reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Security or alter any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of the Securities unless otherwise specifically provided for in the supplemental indenture;

 

(c)        reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Security;

 

(d)        waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on the Securities (except a rescission of acceleration of the Securities by the Holders of any series of Securities of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Securities of that series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

 

(e)        make any Security payable in money other than that stated in the Security;

 

(f)        make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of Securities to receive payments of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on the Securities;

 

(g)        waive a redemption payment with respect to any Security (other than as may be specifically permitted by the supplemental indenture);

 

(h)        cause the Securities to become subordinated in right of payment to any other Indebtedness;

 

(i)        release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Guarantee or this Indenture, except in accordance with the terms thereof; or

 

(j)        make any change in Sections 504 or 507 or the foregoing amendment and waiver provisions.

 

SECTION 903.        COMPLIANCE WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.

 

Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Securities shall be set forth in a amended or supplemental indenture that complies with the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

 

SECTION 904.        REVOCATION AND EFFECT OF CONSENTS.

 

Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Security and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. However, any such Holder of a Security or subsequent Holder of a Security may revoke the consent as to its Security if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the waiver, supplement or amendment becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.

 

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SECTION 905.        NOTATION ON OR EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES.

 

The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Security thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for all Securities of a series may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a written order from the Company to authenticate such Securities, authenticate new Securities that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

SECTION 906.        TRUSTEE TO SIGN AMENDMENTS, ETC.

 

The Trustee shall sign any amended or supplemental indenture authorized pursuant to this Article IX if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. The Company may not sign an amendment or supplemental indenture until the Board of Directors approves it. In executing any amended or supplemental indenture, the Trustee shall be given and (subject to Section 601 of this Indenture) shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 603 this Indenture, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.

 

ARTICLE X

COVENANTS

 

SECTION 1001.        PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL, PREMIUM 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), interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture.

 

SECTION 1002.        MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY.

 

If Securities of a series are issuable only as Registered Securities, the Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that 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 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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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 of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons 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, the Company will, on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, 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, that such Paying Agent will:

 

(1)         hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any), interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities of that series in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;

 

(2)         give the Trustee notice of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series) in the making of any payment of principal (and premium, if any), interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of that series; and

 

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

 

The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture 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 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.

 

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for three years after such principal (and premium, if any) or interest has become due and payable shall, unless otherwise required by mandatory provisions of applicable escheat, or abandoned or unclaimed property law, 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; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in an Authorized Newspaper in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York and in such other Authorized Newspapers as the Trustee shall deem appropriate, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified herein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will, unless otherwise required by mandatory provisions of applicable escheat, or abandoned or unclaimed property law, be repaid to the Company.

 

 -49- 

 

 

SECTION 1004.        EXISTENCE.

 

Subject to Article VIII, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence.

 

SECTION 1005.        STATEMENT BY OFFICERS AS TO DEFAULT.

 

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or such Officer’s knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto) and that to the best of his or her knowledge no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which payments on account of the principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities is prohibited or if such event has occurred, a description of the event and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

The Company shall, so long as any of the Securities are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, forthwith and in any event within five days upon any officer becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default or an event which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

SECTION 1006.        WAIVER OF CERTAIN COVENANTS.

 

The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any covenant or condition set forth in Section 1005, or any covenant added for the benefit of any series of Securities as contemplated by Section 301 (unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301) if before or after the time for such compliance the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series affected by such omission (acting as one class) shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such covenant or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such covenant or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such covenant or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

 

SECTION 1007.        ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS.

 

If the Securities of a series expressly provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, the Company will pay to the Holder of any Security of such series Additional Amounts as expressly provided therein. Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on, or in respect of, any Security of any series or the net proceeds received from the sale or exchange of any Security of any series, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts provided for in this Section 1007 to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this Section 1007 and express mention of the payment of Additional Amounts (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Amounts in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.

 

 -50- 

 

 

If the Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, at least 10 days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect to that series of Securities (or if the Securities of that series will not bear interest prior to Maturity, the first day on which a payment of principal and any premium is made), and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of principal and any premium or interest if there has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officers’ Certificate, the Company shall furnish the Trustee and the Company’s principal Paying Agent or Paying Agents, if other than the Trustee, with an Officers’ Certificate instructing the Trustee and such Paying Agent or Paying Agents whether such payment of principal of and any premium or interest on the Securities of that series shall be made to Holders of Securities of that series who are United States Aliens without withholding for or on account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the Securities of that series. If any such withholding shall be required, then such Officers’ Certificate shall specify by country the amount, if any, required to be withheld on such payments to such Holders of Securities and the Company will pay to such Paying Agent the Additional Amounts required by this Section. The Company covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent for, and to hold them harmless against any loss, liability or expense reasonably incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Officers’ Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section 1007.

 

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 Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.

 

SECTION 1102.        ELECTION TO REDEEM; NOTICE TO TRUSTEE.

 

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all the Securities of any series, the Company shall, a reasonable period 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 and of the principal amount of Securities of such series 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 Officers’ 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, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and that may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or of the principal amount of global Securities of such series.

 

 -51- 

 

 

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

 

For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any 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 in the manner provided in Section 107 to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date.

 

All notices of redemption shall state:

 

(1)         the Redemption Date,

 

(2)         the Redemption Price,

 

(3)         if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities 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 such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price,

 

(6)         that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case, and

 

(7)         the “CUSIP” number, if applicable.

 

A notice of redemption as contemplated by Section 107 need not identify particular Registered Securities to be redeemed. Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request and provision to the Trustee of the notice information 10 days prior to delivery of the notice, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.

 

SECTION 1105.        DEPOSIT OF REDEMPTION PRICE.

 

On or before 10:00 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) accrued interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to all the Securities to be redeemed on that date.

 

 -52- 

 

 

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 with accrued interest (and any Additional Amounts) to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall 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.

 

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 or, in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities, the Securities’ Yield to Maturity.

 

SECTION 1107.        SECURITIES REDEEMED IN PART.

 

Any Registered 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 his attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Registered Security or Securities of the same series and Stated Maturity, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

 

SECTION 1108.        PURCHASE OF SECURITIES.

 

Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, the Company and any Affiliate of the Company may at any time purchase or otherwise acquire Securities in the open market or by private agreement. Such acquisition shall not operate as or be deemed for any purpose to be a redemption of the indebtedness represented by such Securities. Any Securities purchased or acquired by the Company may be delivered to the Trustee and, upon such delivery, the indebtedness represented thereby shall be deemed to be satisfied. Section 309 shall apply to all Securities so delivered.

 

ARTICLE XII

SINKING FUNDS

 

SECTION 1201.        APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE.

 

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of such series.

 

 -53- 

 

 

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” Unless otherwise provided by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 1202. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.

 

SECTION 1202.        SATISFACTION OF SINKING FUND PAYMENTS WITH SECURITIES.

 

The Company (1) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any previously called for redemption), and (2) may apply as a credit Securities of a series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such series; provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking payment shall be reduced accordingly.

 

SECTION 1203.        REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES FOR SINKING FUND.

 

Not less than 45 days prior (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivery of or by crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 1202 and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1106 and 1107.

 

ARTICLE XIII

MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

SECTION 1301.        PURPOSES FOR WHICH MEETINGS MAY BE CALLED.

 

A meeting of Holders of Securities of any or all series may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to this Article to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series.

 

SECTION 1302.        CALL, NOTICE AND PLACE OF MEETINGS.

 

(a)          The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series for any purpose specified in Section 1301, to be held at such time and at such place in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, or in any other location, as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given, in the manner provided in Section 107, not less than 20 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

 

 -54- 

 

 

(b)          In case at any time the Company, pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, shall have requested the Trustee for any such series to call a meeting of the Holders of Securities of such series for any purpose specified in Section 1301, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have made the first publication of the notice of such meeting within 30 days after receipt of such request or shall not thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided herein, then the Company or the Holders of Securities of such series in the amount above specified, as the case may be, may determine the time and the place in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York for such meeting and may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided in Subsection (a) of this Section.

 

SECTION 1303.        PERSONS ENTITLED TO VOTE AT MEETINGS.

 

To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, a Person shall be (1) a Holder of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series, or (2) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy for a Holder or Holders of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series by such Holder or Holders. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel, any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

 

SECTION 1304.        QUORUM; ACTION.

 

The Persons entitled to vote a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Holders of Securities of such series. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes of the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Holders of Securities of such series, be dissolved. In any other case, the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Subject to Section 1305(d), notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 1302(a), except that such notice need be given only once not less than five days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state expressly that Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall constitute a quorum.

 

Except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; provided, however, that, except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver which this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage that is less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid by the affirmative vote of the Holders of such specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series.

 

 -55- 

 

 

Except as limited by the fourth paragraph of Section 902, any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly held in accordance with this Section shall be binding on all the Holders of Securities of such series, whether or not present or represented at the meeting.

 

SECTION 1305.        DETERMINATION OF VOTING RIGHTS; CONDUCT AND ADJOURNMENT OF MEETINGS.

 

(a)          The holding of Securities shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 105 and the appointment of any proxy shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 105. Such regulations may provide that written instruments appointing proxies, regular on their face, may be presumed valid and genuine without the proof specified in Section 105 or other proof.

 

(b)          The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Holders of Securities as provided in Section 1302(b), in which case the Company or the Holders of Securities of the series calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the Persons entitled to vote a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting.

 

(c)          At any meeting each Holder of a Security of such series and each proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount (or such other amount of the minimum denomination of any series of Securities as may be provided in the establishment of such series as contemplated by Section 301 hereof) of the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by him; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a Security of such series or as a proxy.

 

(d)          Any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly called pursuant to Section 1302 at which a quorum is present may be adjourned from time to time by Persons entitled to vote a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting; and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

 

SECTION 1306.        COUNTING VOTES AND RECORDING ACTION OF MEETINGS.

 

The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Securities of such series or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts and serial numbers of the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in duplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record, at least in duplicate, of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to such record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more Persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that such notice was given as provided in Section 1302 and, if applicable, Section 1304. Each copy shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one such copy shall be delivered to the Company, and another to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting. Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.

 

 -56- 

 

 

* * *

This instrument 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.

 

[Signatures on following page]

 

 -57- 

 

 

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

 

  NORTHWEST BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
     
  By:  
  Name:
  Title:
   
  ___________________, as Trustee
     
  By:  
  Name:
  Title:

 

 S-1 



 

Exhibit 5.1

 

Letterhead of Kane Kessler, P.C.

1350 Avenue of the Americas, 26th Floor

New York, New York 10019

 

December 14, 2015

 

Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc.

4800 Montgomery Lane

Suite 800

Bethesda, MD 20814

 

Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as special counsel to Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) in connection with the preparation and filing of a registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to up to $150,000,000 principal amount of securities consisting of (i) shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”); (ii) shares of preferred stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”); (iii) debt securities of the Company (the “Debt Securities”); (iv) warrants to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock and/or Debt Securities of the Company (the “Warrants”); and (v) units comprised of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, and Warrants (the “Units”, and collectively with the Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities and Warrants, the “Securities”). The Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants, and Units may be issued and sold or delivered from time to time as set forth in the Registration Statement, and any amendment thereto, the prospectus contained therein (the “Prospectus”) and supplements to the Prospectus (the “Prospectus Supplements”) and pursuant to Rule 415 of the General Rules and Regulations promulgated under the Securities Act (the “Securities Act Rules”).

 

The Debt Securities will be issued in one or more series pursuant to an indenture (as amended or supplemented from time to time) (the “Indenture”) to be entered into between the Company and a trustee to be named (the “Trustee”). The Warrants will be issued pursuant to one or more warrant agreements (each, a “Warrant Agreement”), by and between the Company and the other parties to the Warrant Agreements.

 

In our capacity as special counsel to the Company in connection with the matters referred to above, we have examined copies of the following: (i) the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended to date and currently in effect (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), (ii) the Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company currently in effect (the “By-laws”), and records of certain of the Company’s corporate proceedings as reflected in its minute books; and (iii) the Registration Statement, in the form it is to be filed with the Commission on the date hereof. We have also examined such other documents, papers, authorities and statutes as we have deemed necessary to form the basis of the opinions hereinafter set forth.

 

 

Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc.

December 14, 2015

Page 2

 

In our examination, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such documents. As to certain facts material to this opinion, we have relied upon oral or written statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and certificates of public officials, and such other documents and information as we have deemed necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinions expressed below. We have not undertaken any independent investigation to determine the accuracy of any such facts.

 

We have assumed for purposes of this opinion that (i) each of the parties to the Warrant Agreements and the Indenture, other than the Company, are or will be duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization; (ii) each of the Indenture and any supplemental indentures thereto will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee and will constitute a legally valid and binding obligation of the Trustee, enforceable against the Trustee in accordance with its terms; (iii) the Warrant Agreements will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the parties to the Warrant Agreements (other than the Company) and will constitute a legally valid and binding obligation of such parties, enforceable against such parties in accordance with its terms; (iv) the Trustee and the parties to the Warrant Agreements are or will be duly qualified to engage in the activities contemplated by the Indenture and the Warrant Agreements; (v) the Trustee and the parties to the Warrant Agreements (other than the Company) have or will have the requisite organizational and legal power and authority to perform its obligations under the Indenture and Warrant Agreements, respectively; (vi) the Trustee is or will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and a Form T-1 will be properly filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement; and (vii) any Debt Securities that may be issued will be manually signed or countersigned, as the case may be, by duly authorized officers of the Trustee. In addition, we have also assumed that the terms of the Offered Debt Securities (as defined below) will have been established so as not to violate, conflict with or constitute a default under (a) any agreement or instrument to which the Company or their properties are subject, (b) any law, rule or regulation to which the Company is subject, (c) any judicial or regulatory order or decree of any governmental authority or (d) any consent, approval, license, authorization or validation of, or filing, recording or registration with any governmental authority.

 

Based upon and subject to the foregoing and the other qualifications, assumptions and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

 

 

Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc.

December 14, 2015

Page 3

 

1. With respect to any Common Stock, when (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including all necessary post-effective amendments), has become effective under the Securities Act; (ii) an appropriate Prospectus Supplement with respect to the Common Stock has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Securities Act and the applicable Securities Act Rules; (iii) if the Common Stock is to be sold pursuant to a firm commitment underwritten offering, the underwriting agreement with respect to the Common Stock has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (iv) the Board of Directors of the Company, including any appropriate committee appointed thereby, and appropriate officers of the Company have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance of the Common Stock and related matters; (v) the issuance and sale of the Common Stock does not violate any applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation or the By-laws or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; and (vi) the Common Stock is duly issued and delivered against payment of adequate consideration therefore (not less than the par value of the Common Stock) in accordance with the Registration Statement and Prospectus Supplement and, if applicable, a definitive underwriting agreement approved by the Board of Directors of the Company, the Common Stock when so issued will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

2. With respect to any series of Preferred Stock (the “Offered Preferred Stock”), assuming (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including all necessary post-effective amendments), has become effective under the Securities Act; (ii) an appropriate Prospectus Supplement with respect to the Offered Preferred Stock has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Securities Act and the applicable Securities Act Rules; (iii) if the Offered Preferred Stock are to be sold pursuant to a firm commitment underwritten offering, the underwriting agreement with respect to the Offered Preferred Stock has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (iv) the Board of Directors of the Company, including any appropriate committee appointed thereby, and appropriate officers of the Company have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance of the Offered Preferred Stock and related matters; (v) the issuance and sale of the Offered Preferred Stock does not violate any applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation or the By-laws or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; and (vi) the due issuance and delivery of the Offered Preferred Stock against payment of adequate consideration therefore (not less than the par value of the Offered Preferred Stock) in accordance with the Registration Statement and Prospectus Supplement and, if applicable, a definitive underwriting agreement approved by the Board of Directors of the Company, the Offered Preferred Stock when issued will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

 

Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc.

December 14, 2015

Page 4

 

3. With respect to any series of Debt Securities (the “Offered Debt Securities”), when (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including all necessary post-effective amendments), has become effective under the Securities Act and the applicable Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended; (ii) an appropriate Prospectus Supplement or term sheet with respect to the Offered Debt Securities has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Securities Act and the applicable Securities Act Rules; (iii) if the Offered Debt Securities are to be sold pursuant to a firm commitment underwritten offering, the underwriting agreement with respect to the Offered Debt Securities has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (iv) the Board of Directors, including any appropriate committee appointed thereby, and appropriate officers of the Company have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of the Offered Debt Securities and related matters; (v) each Indenture and any supplemental indenture in respect of such Offered Debt Securities provides that it shall be governed by New York law, that courts other than New York courts will give effect to such choice of law, and shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each party thereto; (vi) the terms of the Offered Debt Securities and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the applicable Indenture and any supplemental indenture to be entered into in connection with the issuance of such Offered Debt Securities so as not to violate any applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; and (vii) the Offered Debt Securities have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Indenture and any supplemental indenture to be entered into in connection with the issuance of such Offered Debt Securities and duly delivered to the purchasers thereof upon payment of the agreed-upon consideration therefor, the Offered Debt Securities, when issued and sold in accordance with the applicable Indenture, any supplemental indenture to be entered into in connection with the issuance of such Offered Debt Securities and the applicable underwriting agreement, if any, or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding purchase or agency agreement, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally, (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity), (c) public policy considerations which may limit the rights of parties to obtain remedies, (d) the waivers of any usury defense contained in the Indentures which may be unenforceable, (e) requirements that a claim with respect to any Offered Debt Securities denominated in a currency, currency unit or composite currency other than United States dollars (or a judgment denominated other than in United States dollars in respect of such claim) be converted into United States dollars at a rate of exchange prevailing on a date determined pursuant to applicable law, and (f) governmental authority to limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments outside the United States or in foreign currencies, currency units or composite currencies.

 

 

Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc.

December 14, 2015

Page 5

 

4. With respect to any Warrants, when (i) the Warrant Agreements have been duly authorized, executed, and delivered by the Company, (ii) the specific terms of a particular issuance of Warrants have been duly established by Warrant Agreements in accordance with applicable law (including, without limitation, the adoption by the Board of Directors of the Company of a resolution duly authorizing the issuance and delivery of the Warrants), duly authenticated by the Warrant Agent and duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Company against payment therefor in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Warrant Agreements and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the related Prospectus Supplement(s), and (iii) the Registration Statement and any required post-effective amendments thereto and any and all Prospectus Supplement(s) required by applicable laws have all become effective under the Securities Act, and assuming (a) that the terms of the Warrants as executed and delivered are as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the related Prospectus Supplement(s), (b) that the Warrants as executed and delivered do not violate any law applicable to the Company or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company, and (c) that the Warrants as executed and delivered comply with all requirements and restrictions, if any, applicable to the Company, whether imposed by any court or governmental or regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company, the Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company.

 

5. With respect to any Units (the “ Offered Units ”), assuming (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including all necessary post-effective amendments), has become effective under the Securities Act; (ii) an appropriate Prospectus Supplement with respect to the Offered Units has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Securities Act and the applicable Securities Act Rules; (iii) if the Offered Units are to be sold pursuant to a firm commitment underwritten offering, the underwriting agreement with respect to the Offered Units has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (iv) the Board of Directors of the Company, including any appropriate committee appointed thereby, and appropriate officers of the Company have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance of the Offered Units and related matters; (v) the issuance and sale of the Offered Units does not violate any applicable law or the Certificate of Incorporation or the By-laws or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; and (vi) the due issuance and delivery of the Offered Units against payment of adequate consideration therefore (not less than the par value of the Offered Units) in accordance with the Registration Statement and Prospectus Supplement and, if applicable, a definitive underwriting agreement approved by the Board of Directors of the Company, the Offered Units when issued will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

We express no opinion as to the validity, legally binding effect or enforceability of any provision of the Indenture, any supplemental indenture, or the Offered Debt Securities that requires or relates to payment of any interest at a rate or in an amount that a court would determine in the circumstances under applicable law to be commercially unreasonable or a penalty or a forfeiture. In addition, we express no opinion as to the validity, legally binding effect or enforceability of (i) the waiver of rights and defenses contained in the Indenture or Offered Debt Securities or (ii) provisions of the Indenture or Offered Debt Securities relating to severability.

 

The opinions set forth herein are subject to the following additional qualifications, assumptions and exceptions:

 

  1. the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors' generally; and

 

  2. the effect of general principles of equity, whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law, and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus, which forms a part thereof. In giving this consent, we do not 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 promulgated thereunder.

 

 

Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc.

December 14, 2015

Page 6

 

We are qualified to practice law in the State of New York and do not purport to be experts on any law other than the laws of the State of New York, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the federal laws of the United States of America. We are not admitted or qualified to practice in the State of Delaware; however, we are generally familiar with the Delaware General Corporation Law as currently in effect and have made such inquiries as we deem necessary to render the opinions contemplated herein. We express no opinion regarding the Securities Act, or any other federal or state securities laws or regulations. The opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act. This opinion letter is limited to the specific legal matters expressly set forth herein and is limited to present statutes, regulations and administrative and judicial interpretations. We assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion in the event of future changes in such laws or regulations.

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ KANE KESSLER, P.C. 

 

KANE KESSLER, P.C.

 

 

 



 

Exhibit 23.2

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Consent

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement of Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc. on Form S-3/A [File No. 333-207976] of our report, which includes an explanatory paragraph as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, dated March 17, 2015, with respect to our audits of the consolidated financial statements of Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc. as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 and for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 and our report dated March 17, 2015 with respect to our audit of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc. as of December 31, 2014. Our report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting expressed an adverse opinion because of the existence of material weaknesses, which report appears in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Northwest Biotherapeutics, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2014. We also consent to the reference to our Firm under the heading “Experts” in such Prospectus.

 

/s/ Marcum LLP

 

New York, NY

December 14, 2015

 

 

 

 

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