ALTR Altair Engineering Inc

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

General

The following is a summary of the rights of our Class A and Class B common stock and preferred stock and certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws. This summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, copies of which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

Our authorized capital stock consists of 600,000,000 shares, with a par value of $0.0001 per share, of which:

Our board of directors is authorized, without stockholder approval, except as required by the listing standards of the Nasdaq Global Select Market, to issue additional shares of our capital stock.

As of April 29, 2019, we had 39,107,990 shares of our Class A common stock and 32,105,738 shares of our Class B common outstanding and no shares of preferred stock outstanding. As of April 29, 2019, we had approximately 84 registered stockholders of record of our Class A common stock and four registered stockholders of record of our Class B common stock, and we believe a substantially greater number of beneficial owners who hold shares of Class A common stock through brokers, banks or other nominees.

Class A and Class B Common Stock

Voting rights

Holders of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock have identical rights, provided however that, except as otherwise expressly provided in our certificate of incorporation or required by applicable law, on any matter that is submitted to a vote of our stockholders, holders of Class A common stock are entitled to one vote per share of Class A common stock and holders of Class B common stock are entitled to 10 votes per share of Class B common stock. Holders of shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock vote together as a single class on all matters (including the election of directors) submitted to a vote of stockholders, unless otherwise required by Delaware law or our certificate of incorporation. Delaware law could require either holders of our Class A common stock or Class B common stock to vote separately as a single class in the following circumstances:

Under our certificate of incorporation, we may not issue any shares of Class B common stock, other than those shares issuable upon exercise of options, warrants, or similar rights to acquire Class B common stock outstanding immediately prior to the filing of the certificate of incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and in connection with stock dividends, unless that issuance is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, each voting separately as a class.

We have not provided for cumulative voting for the election of directors in our certificate of incorporation. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide for a classified board of directors consisting of three classes of

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approximately equal size, each class serving staggered three-year terms. Only one class will be elected at each annual meeting of our stockholders, with the other classes continuing for the remainder of their respective three-year terms.

No preemptive or similar rights

Our classes of common stock are not entitled to preemptive rights and are not subject to conversion, redemption or sinking fund provisions.

Economic rights

Except as otherwise expressly provided in our certificate of incorporation or required by applicable law, shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock have the same rights and privileges and rank equally, share ratably and are identical in all respects as to all matters, including, without limitation those described below.

Dividends and distributions

Subject to preferences that may apply to any shares of preferred stock outstanding at the time, the holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock are entitled to share equally, identically and ratably, on a per share basis, with respect to any dividend or distribution of cash, property or shares of our capital stock paid or distributed by us, unless different treatment of the shares of each such class is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, each voting separately as a class. In the event a dividend or distribution is paid in the form of shares of Class A common stock or Class B common stock or rights to acquire shares of such stock, the holders of Class A common stock shall receive Class A common stock, or rights to acquire Class A common stock, as the case may be, and the holders of Class B common stock shall receive Class B common stock, or rights to acquire Class B common stock, as the case may be.

Liquidation rights

Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock are entitled to share equally, identically and ratably in all assets remaining after the payment of any liabilities and the liquidation preferences and any accrued or declared but unpaid dividends, if any, with respect to any outstanding preferred stock, unless different treatment of the shares of each class is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, each voting separately as a class.

Change of control transactions

Upon (A) the closing of the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets, (B) the consummation of a merger, consolidation, business combination or share transfer which results in our voting securities outstanding immediately prior to the transaction (or the voting securities issued with respect to our voting securities outstanding immediately prior to the transaction) representing less than a majority of the combined voting power of our voting securities or the voting securities of the surviving or acquiring entity, (C) the closing of the transfer (whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, to a person or group of affiliated persons of securities of the Company if, after closing, the transferee person or group would hold 50% or more of our outstanding voting stock (or the outstanding voting stock of the surviving or acquiring entity), (D) any voluntary or involuntary recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, or (E) the issuance by us of voting securities representing more than 2% of our total voting power to a person who held 50% or less of our total voting power immediately prior to such transaction and who following such transaction holds more than 50% of our total voting power, the holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock will be treated equally and identically with respect to shares of

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Class A common stock or Class B common stock owned by them, unless different treatment of the shares of each class is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, each voting separately as a class.

Subdivisions and combinations

If we subdivide or combine in any manner outstanding shares of Class A common stock or Class B common stock, the outstanding shares of the other class will be subdivided or combined in the same manner, unless different treatment of the shares of each class is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, each voting as a separate class.

Conversion

Each share of our Class B common stock is automatically convertible into one share of our Class A common stock pursuant to the terms of our certificate of incorporation upon the occurrence of certain events. With respect to all beneficial owners, as defined in our certificate of incorporation, of Class B common stock, each share of Class B common stock will convert automatically into one share of Class A common stock (i) upon the date specified by affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of the outstanding shares of Class B common stock, (ii) if the executive holder, as defined in our certificate of incorporation, is neither (x) an executive officer of the company nor (y) a director of the company, (iii) upon the date on which the executive holder has beneficial ownership of less than 10% of the capital stock of the company, or (iv) upon the 12 year anniversary of the date of filing of our certificate of incorporation in connection with our initial public offering.

With respect to each individual beneficial owner of Class B common stock, each share of Class B common stock held by a beneficial owner will convert automatically into one share of Class A common stock (i) at any time at the option of such owner, (ii) upon any transfer, whether or not for value, except for certain transfers described in our certificate of incorporation, including, without limitation, transfers from a founder, as defined in our certificate, to another founder, or certain permitted transferees, or (iii) in the event any beneficial owner owns shares of Class B common stock constituting less than 3% of the outstanding shares of Class B common stock.

Each share of Class B common stock held by all beneficial owners of Class B common stock, except the executive holder, will convert automatically into one share of Class A common stock in the event the key holders, as defined in our certificate of incorporation, beneficially own, in the aggregate, more shares of Class B common stock than the executive holder, in which event the only holder of Class B common stock will be the executive holder.

In addition, upon the death or incapacity of a beneficial owner of Class B common stock, other than the executive holder, each share of Class B common stock held by such beneficial owner will convert automatically into one share of Class A common stock, immediately upon such death or incapacity, except, with respect to the key holders, such automatic conversion will occur on the date which is nine (9) months after the date of such death or incapacity. Upon the death or incapacity of the executive holder, each share of Class B common stock held by all beneficial owners of Class B common stock will convert automatically into one share of Class A common stock on the date which is nine (9) months after the date of such death or incapacity.

Preferred stock

Pursuant to our certificate of incorporation, our board of directors has the authority, without further action by the stockholders, to issue from time to time up to 45,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series. Our board of directors may designate the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of the preferred stock, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, redemption rights, liquidation preference, sinking fund terms and the number of shares constituting any series or the designation of any series. The issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of restricting dividends on the Class A and Class B common stock, diluting the voting

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power of the Class A and Class B common stock, impairing the liquidation rights of the Class A and Class B common stock or delaying, deterring or preventing a change in control. Such issuance could have the effect of decreasing the market price of the Class A and Class B common stock. We currently have no plans to issue any shares of preferred stock.

Anti-takeover effects of Delaware law and our certificate of incorporation and bylaws

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions that could have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another party from acquiring control of us. These provisions and certain provisions of Delaware law, which are summarized below, could discourage takeovers, coercive or otherwise. These provisions are also designed, in part, to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to negotiate first with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our potential ability to negotiate with an unfriendly or unsolicited acquirer outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging a proposal to acquire us.

Dual class stock . As described above under the heading “Description of capital stock—Class A and Class B common stock—Voting rights,” our certificate of incorporation provides for a dual class common stock structure, which provides our founders and certain others with significant influence over all matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors and significant corporate transactions, such as a merger or other sale of our company or its assets.

Issuance of undesignated preferred stock . As discussed above under the heading “Description of capital stock—Preferred stock,” our board of directors has the ability to designate and issue preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences that could deter hostile takeovers or delay changes in our control or management.

Limits on ability of stockholders to act by written consent or call a special meeting . Our certificate of incorporation provides that our stockholders may not act by written consent. This limit on the ability of stockholders to act by written consent may lengthen the amount of time required to take stockholder actions. As a result, the holders of a majority of our capital stock would not be able to amend the bylaws or remove directors without holding a meeting of stockholders called in accordance with the bylaws.

In addition, our bylaws provide that special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by the chairman of our board of directors, the chief executive officer, the president (in the absence of a chief executive officer) or a majority of our board of directors. A stockholder may not call a special meeting, which may delay the ability of our stockholders to force consideration of a proposal or for holders controlling a majority of our capital stock to take any action, including the removal of directors.

Requirements for advance notification of stockholder nominations and proposals . Our bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of our board of directors or a committee of the board of directors. These advance notice procedures may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the proper procedures are not followed and may also discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or otherwise attempt to obtain control of our company.

Board classification . Our certificate of incorporation provides that our board of directors is divided into three classes, one class of which is elected each year by our stockholders. The directors in each class serve for a three-year term. Our classified board of directors may tend to discourage a third party from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us because it generally makes it more difficult for stockholders to replace a majority of the directors.

Election and removal of directors . Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions that establish specific procedures for appointing and removing members of our board of directors. Under our certificate of

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incorporation and bylaws, vacancies and newly created directorships on our board of directors may be filled only by a majority of the directors then serving on our board of directors. Under our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, directors may be removed only for cause.

No cumulative voting . The Delaware General Corporation Law provides that stockholders are not entitled to the right to cumulate votes in the election of directors unless our certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws do not expressly provide for cumulative voting. Without cumulative voting, a minority stockholder may not be able to gain as many seats on our board of directors as the stockholder would be able to gain if cumulative voting were permitted. The absence of cumulative voting makes it more difficult for a minority stockholder to gain a seat on our board of directors to influence our board of directors’ decision regarding a takeover.

Amendment of charter provision . Any amendment of the above provisions in our certificate of incorporation would require approval by holders of at least two-thirds of our then outstanding Class A and Class B common stock, voting together as a single class.

Delaware anti-takeover statute . We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law regulating corporate takeovers. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging, under certain circumstances, in a business combination with an interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date the person became an interested stockholder unless:

Generally, a business combination includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. An interested stockholder is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns or, within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status, did own 15% or more of a corporation’s outstanding voting stock. We expect the existence of this provision to have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions our board of directors does not approve in advance. We also anticipate that Section 203 may discourage attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares of Class A common stock held by stockholders.

The provisions of Delaware law and the provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws could have the effect of discouraging others from attempting hostile takeovers and as a consequence, they might also inhibit temporary fluctuations in the market price of our Class A common stock that often result from actual or rumored hostile takeover attempts. These provisions might also have the effect of preventing changes in our management. It is also possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish transactions that stockholders might otherwise deem to be in their best interests.

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Choice of forum

Our bylaws provide that, subject to limited exceptions, a state or federal court located within the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forums for any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers, or other employees to us or our stockholders, any action asserting a claim against us or any of our directors, officers, or employees arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, our certificate of incorporation or our bylaws, or certain other actions asserting a claim against us or our directors, officers, or employees relating to our internal affairs.

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DESCRIPTION OF SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES

We may issue senior debt securities, including senior convertible debt, in one or more series. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any future senior debt securities we may offer under this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus will describe the specific terms of any senior debt securities offered through that prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. The terms of any senior debt securities we offer under a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may differ from the terms we describe below.

We will evidence each series of senior debt securities we will issue by a senior indenture that we enter into with a trustee. We will indicate the name and address of the trustee in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of senior debt securities being offered. We have filed a form of senior indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, and supplemental indentures and forms of senior debt securities containing the terms of the senior debt securities being offered will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or will be incorporated by reference from reports that we file with the SEC. Unless the context requires otherwise, whenever we refer to the “indenture,” we also are referring to any supplemental indentures that specify the terms of a particular series of senior debt securities.

The senior indenture will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act. We use the term “trustee” to refer to the trustee under the senior indenture.

The following summaries of material provisions of the senior debt securities and the senior indenture are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indenture applicable to a particular series of senior debt securities. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus and any related free writing prospectuses related to the senior debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as the complete applicable indenture that contains the terms of the senior debt securities.

General

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus the terms of the series of senior debt securities being offered, including:

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Conversion or exchange rights

We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus the terms on which a series of senior debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our Class A common stock, our preferred stock or other securities (including securities of a third-party). We will include provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option. We may include provisions pursuant to which the number of shares of our Class A common stock, our preferred stock or other securities (including securities of a third-party) that the holders of the series of senior debt securities receive would be subject to adjustment.

Consolidation, merger or sale

Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus applicable to a particular series of senior debt securities, the senior indenture will not contain any covenant that restricts our ability to merge or consolidate, or sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets. However, any successor to or acquirer of such assets must assume all of our obligations under the senior indenture or the senior debt securities, as appropriate. If the senior debt securities are convertible into or exchangeable for other securities of ours or securities of other entities, the person with whom we consolidate or merge or to whom we sell all of our property must make provisions for the conversion of the senior debt securities into securities that the holders of the senior debt securities would have received if they had converted the senior debt securities before the consolidation, merger or sale.

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Events of default under the senior indenture

Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus applicable to a particular series of senior debt securities, the following are events of default under the senior indenture with respect to any series of senior debt securities that we may issue:

We will describe in each applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus any additional events of default relating to the relevant series of senior debt securities.

If an event of default with respect to senior debt securities of any series occurs and is continuing, other than an event of default specified in the last bullet point above, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding senior debt securities of that series, by notice to us in writing, and to the trustee if notice is given by such holders, may declare the unpaid principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, due and payable immediately. If an event of default specified in the last bullet point above occurs with respect to us, the unpaid principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, of each issue of senior debt securities then outstanding shall be due and payable without any notice or other action on the part of the trustee or any holder.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding senior debt securities of an affected series may waive any default or event of default with respect to the series and its consequences, except defaults or events of default regarding payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, unless we have cured the default or event of default in accordance with the indenture. Any waiver shall cure the default or event of default.

If an event of default under the senior indenture shall occur and be continuing, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the senior indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the applicable series of senior debt securities, unless such holders have offered the trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding senior debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee, with respect to the senior debt securities of that series, provided that:

A holder of the senior debt securities of any series will have the right to institute a proceeding under the senior indenture or to appoint a receiver or trustee, or to seek other remedies if:

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These limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder of senior debt securities if we default in the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on, the senior debt securities, or other defaults that may be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus.

We will periodically file statements with the trustee regarding our compliance with specified covenants in the senior indenture.

Modification of indenture; waiver

Subject to the terms of the indenture for any series of senior debt securities that we may issue, we and the trustee may change an indenture without the consent of any holders with respect to the following specific matters:

In addition, under the senior indenture, the rights of holders of a series of senior debt securities may be changed by us and the trustee with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding senior debt securities of each series that is affected. However, subject to the terms of the indenture for any series of senior debt securities that we may issue or as otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus applicable to a particular series of senior debt securities, we and the trustee

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may make the following changes only with the consent of each holder of any outstanding senior debt securities affected:

Discharge

The senior indenture provides that, subject to the terms of the indenture and any limitation otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus applicable to a particular series of senior debt securities, we can elect to be discharged from our obligations with respect to one or more series of senior debt securities, except for specified obligations, including obligations to:

In order to exercise our rights to be discharged, we must deposit with the trustee money or government obligations sufficient to pay all the principal of, any premium and interest on, the senior debt securities of the series on the dates payments are due.

Form, exchange and transfer

We will issue the senior debt securities of each series only in fully registered form without coupons and, unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, in minimum denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. The senior indenture provide that we may issue senior debt securities of a series in temporary or permanent global form and as book-entry securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company or another depository named by us and identified in a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus with respect to that series.

At the option of the holder, subject to the terms of the senior indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, the holder of the senior debt securities of any series can exchange the senior debt securities for other senior debt securities of the same series, in any authorized denomination and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.

Subject to the terms of the senior indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, holders of the senior debt securities may present the senior debt securities for exchange or for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed if so required by us or the security registrar, at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us for this purpose. Unless otherwise provided in the senior debt securities that the holder presents for transfer or exchange, we will make no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange, but we may require payment of any taxes or other governmental charges.

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We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus the security registrar, and any transfer agent in addition to the security registrar, that we initially designate for any senior debt securities. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the senior debt securities of each series.

If we elect to redeem the senior debt securities of any series, we will not be required to:

Information concerning the trustee

The trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of an event of default under an indenture, undertakes to perform only those duties as are specifically set forth in the senior indenture. Upon an event of default under the indenture, the trustee must use the same degree of care as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs.

Subject to this provision, the trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers given it by the senior indenture at the request of any holder of senior debt securities unless it is offered security and indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities that it might incur.

Payment and paying agents

Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, we will make payment of the interest on any senior debt securities on any interest payment date to the person in whose name the senior debt securities, or one or more predecessor securities, are registered at the close of business on the regular record date for the interest.

We will pay principal of and any premium and interest on the senior debt securities of a particular series at the office of the paying agents designated by us, except that unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, we will make interest payments by check that we will mail to the holder or by wire transfer to certain holders. Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, we will designate the corporate trust office of the trustee as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to senior debt securities of each series. We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus any other paying agents that we initially designate for the senior debt securities of a particular series. We will maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the senior debt securities of a particular series.

Subject to applicable abandoned property laws, all money we pay to a paying agent or the trustee for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any senior debt securities that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holder of the debt security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof.

Governing law

The senior indenture and the senior debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act is applicable.

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Ranking of senior debt securities

The senior debt securities will rank equally in right of payment to all our other senior debt. The senior indenture does not limit the amount of senior debt securities that we may issue. It also does not limit us from issuing any other secured or unsecured debt.

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DESCRIPTION OF OTHER SECURITIES

We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement a description of any warrants or units issued by us that may be offered and sold pursuant to this prospectus.

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GLOBAL SECURITIES

Book-entry, delivery and form

Unless we indicate differently in a prospectus supplement, the securities initially will be issued in book-entry form and represented by one or more global securities. The global securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, as depositary, or DTC, and registered in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of DTC. Unless and until it is exchanged for individual certificates evidencing securities under the limited circumstances described below, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary to its nominee or by the nominee to the depositary, or by the depositary or its nominee to a successor depositary or to a nominee of the successor depositary.

DTC has advised us that it is:

DTC holds securities that its participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among its participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. “Direct participants” in DTC include securities brokers and dealers, including underwriters, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other organizations. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, or DTCC. DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others, which we sometimes refer to as indirect participants, that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

Purchases of securities under the DTC system must be made by or through direct participants, which will receive a credit for the securities on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of the actual purchaser of a security, which we sometimes refer to as a beneficial owner, is in turn recorded on the direct and indirect participants’ records. Beneficial owners of securities will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchases. However, beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of their transactions, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect participants through which they purchased securities. Transfers of ownership interests in global securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the global securities, except under the limited circumstances described below.

To facilitate subsequent transfers, all global securities deposited by direct participants with DTC will be registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other nominee will not change the beneficial ownership of the securities. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the securities. DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts the securities are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The participants are responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

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So long as the securities are in book-entry form, you will receive payments and may transfer securities only through the facilities of the depositary and its direct and indirect participants. We will maintain an office or agency in the location specified in the prospectus supplement for the applicable securities, where notices and demands in respect of the securities and the indenture may be delivered to us and where certificated securities may be surrendered for payment, registration of transfer or exchange.

Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants and by direct participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any legal requirements in effect from time to time.

Redemption notices will be sent to DTC. If less than all of the securities of a particular series are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each direct participant in the securities of such series to be redeemed.

Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (or such other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the securities. Under its usual procedures, DTC will mail an omnibus proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns the consenting or voting rights of Cede & Co. to those direct participants to whose accounts the securities of such series are credited on the record date, identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy.

So long as securities are in book-entry form, we will make payments on those securities to the depositary or its nominee, as the registered owner of such securities, by wire transfer of immediately available funds. If securities are issued in definitive certificated form under the limited circumstances described below, we will have the option of making payments by check mailed to the addresses of the persons entitled to payment or by wire transfer to bank accounts in the United States designated in writing to the applicable trustee or other designated party at least 15 days before the applicable payment date by the persons entitled to payment, unless a shorter period is satisfactory to the applicable trustee or other designated party.

Redemption proceeds, distributions and dividend payments on the securities will be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us on the payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC records. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the account of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name.” Those payments will be the responsibility of participants and not of DTC or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements in effect from time to time. Payment of redemption proceeds, distributions and dividend payments to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC, is our responsibility, disbursement of payments to direct participants is the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of payments to the beneficial owners is the responsibility of direct and indirect participants.

Except under the limited circumstances described below, purchasers of securities will not be entitled to have securities registered in their names and will not receive physical delivery of securities. Accordingly, each beneficial owner must rely on the procedures of DTC and its participants to exercise any rights under the securities and the indenture.

The laws of some jurisdictions may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. Those laws may impair the ability to transfer or pledge beneficial interests in securities.

DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depositary with respect to the securities at any time by giving reasonable notice to us. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor depositary is not obtained, securities certificates are required to be printed and delivered.

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As noted above, beneficial owners of a particular series of securities generally will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in those securities. However, if:

we will prepare and deliver certificates for such securities in exchange for beneficial interests in the global securities. Any beneficial interest in a global security that is exchangeable under the circumstances described in the preceding sentence will be exchangeable for securities in definitive certificated form registered in the names that the depositary directs. It is expected that these directions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from its participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the global securities.

We have obtained the information in this section and elsewhere in this prospectus concerning DTC and DTC’s book-entry system from sources that are believed to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information.

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