TK Teekay Corporation

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

General

We may issue common stock or preferred stock, in one or more distinct series, from time to time. This section summarizes the material terms of our common stock and material terms that would be common to all series of our preferred stock. The following description of our common stock, preferred stock and provisions of our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended (or Articles ) and our Amended and Restated Bylaws (or Bylaws ), are summaries and are qualified by reference to our Articles and our Bylaws, copies of which have been filed as exhibits to our Annual Report on Form 20-F, as amended, for the year ended December 31, 2016, which is incorporated by reference herein.

Our authorized capital stock consists of 725 million shares of common stock, with a par value of $0.001 per share, and 25 million shares of preferred stock, with a par value of $1 per share. As of December 21, 2017, there were 88,433,041 shares of our common stock outstanding and no shares of preferred stock outstanding.

Exchange Listing .

Shares of our common stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, where they trade under the symbol “TK.”

Transfer Agent and Registrar .

Computershare Inc. serves as registrar and transfer agent for our common stock.

Common Stock

Each outstanding share of our common stock entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding shares of our preferred stock, holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably any dividends declared from time to time by our Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor. Holders of our common stock generally do not have conversion, redemption or preemptive rights to subscribe for any of our securities. All outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and nonassessable. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of our common stock are subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of preferred stock that we may issue.

Preferred Stock

Our Board of Directors may from time to time, and without further action by our shareholders, direct the issuance of shares of preferred stock in one or more series and may, at the time of issuance, determine the rights, preference and limitations of each such series. Satisfaction of any dividend preferences of outstanding shares of preferred stock would reduce the amount of funds available for the payment of dividends on shares of common stock. Holders of shares of our preferred stock may be entitled to receive a preference payment in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of Teekay Corporation before any payment is made to the holders of shares of our common stock. The voting, dividend, liquidation, redemption, conversion or other rights of any preferred stock we may issue could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of our common stock and may have the effect of decreasing the market price of our common stock. Under certain circumstances, the issuance of shares of our preferred stock may render more difficult or tend to discourage a merger, tender offer, proxy contest, the assumption of control by a holder of a large block of our securities or the removal of incumbent management.

Anti-Takeover Provisions

Preferred Stock Authorization.

As noted above, our Board of Directors, without shareholder approval, has the authority under our Articles to issue preferred stock with rights superior to the rights of the holders of common stock. As a result, preferred

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stock could be issued quickly and easily, could adversely affect the rights of holders of common stock and could be issued with terms calculated or which have a tendency to delay or prevent a change of control of Teekay Corporation or make removal of management more difficult.

Shareholder Rights Plan.

We have an amended and restated shareholders rights agreement pursuant to which holders of our common stock have been granted one purchase right on each outstanding share of common stock. Each purchase right, when exercisable, initially entitles its registered holder to purchase from us one share of our common stock at a price of $200 per share, subject to certain anti-dilution adjustments. The purchase rights are not currently exercisable and will become exercisable only upon the earlier of:

Unless otherwise approved by our Board of Directors, if a person becomes an acquiring person, the purchase rights held at any time by the acquiring person and its affiliates will become null and void and nontransferable, and the remaining purchase rights will entitle each other right holder to purchase, for the purchase price, the number of shares of our common stock which at the time of the transaction would have a market value equal to twice the purchase price. Additionally, at any time prior to an acquiring person’s becoming the holder of 50% or more of our outstanding shares of common stock, our Board of Directors may exchange the purchase rights (other than the purchase rights owned by the acquiring person and its affiliates), at an exchange ratio of one share of our common stock per purchase right.

After a person becomes an acquiring person, each of the following events would entitle each holder of a purchase right (other than the acquiring person and its affiliates) to purchase, for the purchase price, that number of shares of common stock of another corporation which at the time of the event would have a market value equal to twice the purchase price:

At any time prior to the earlier of a triggering offer or any person becoming an acquiring person, our Board of Directors may redeem the purchase rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.0001 per purchase right. In addition, the Board of Directors may also waive, within a specified period, the effect of such triggering event or a person being an acquiring person.

The purchase rights have certain anti-takeover effects and will cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire us on terms not approved by our Board of Directors. The purchase rights will not interfere with any merger or other business combination approved by our Board of Directors, since the Board of Directors may, at its option, authorize Teekay Corporation to redeem all of the then-outstanding purchase rights

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or waive the application of the shareholder rights plan in connection with a specific transaction. The shareholder rights plan and the rights expire in July 2020. The description and terms of the purchase rights are set forth in our Amended and Restated Rights Agreement that is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A filed on July 2, 2010, which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

Shareholder Meetings, Quorum, Voting and Consents.

Our Bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to business brought before an annual meeting by a shareholder and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of our Board of Directors. Under our Bylaws, special meetings of the shareholders may be called only by our Board of Directors. No business other than that stated in the notice of meeting may be transacted at any special meeting. Our Articles provide that a majority of the shares entitled to vote on any matter shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of shareholders, unless the matter has been submitted to the shareholders at any meeting and recommended by a majority of our Continuing Directors (as defined in our Articles), in which case one-third of the shares entitled to vote on the matter shall constitute a quorum. In addition, under Republic of the Marshall Islands law, shareholder actions taken without a shareholder meeting or a vote must be taken by unanimous written consent of the shareholders entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof. These provisions may have the effect of delaying or preventing consideration of certain shareholder proposals until the next annual meeting, if at all, unless a special meeting is called by our Board of Directors.

Election of Directors.

Our Bylaws provide for a “staggered board,” with our Board of Directors divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible, and the directors in each class serving three-year terms and one class being elected each year by our shareholders. Vacancies on the Board of Directors are filled by our Board of Directors. Because this system of electing directors and filling vacancies generally makes it more difficult for shareholders to replace a majority of the Board of Directors, it may tend to discourage a third party from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to gain control of us.

Other Matters

Sales of Assets, Mergers and Dissolution.

Under the Marshall Islands Business Corporations Act, the sale of all or substantially all of Teekay Corporation’s assets not made in the usual or regular course of Teekay Corporation’s business or the non-judicial dissolution and liquidation of Teekay Corporation are required to be approved by the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote on such matter or by a unanimous written consent of all holders of capital stock entitled to vote on the matter. In addition, the holders of one-half of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote may institute judicial dissolution proceedings in specified circumstances in accordance with the Marshall Islands Business Corporations Act. In the event of the dissolution of Teekay Corporation, the holders of our common stock will be entitled to share pro rata in our net assets available for distribution to them, after payment to all creditors and the liquidation preferences of any of our outstanding preferred stock.

Under the Marshall Islands Business Corporations Act, a merger or consolidation involving Teekay Corporation (other than with subsidiaries at least 90% of whose shares are owned by Teekay Corporation) is required to be approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote on the matter.

A class of shares may be entitled to vote separately as a class on various corporate activities. The vote for such class will be determined by the Marshall Islands Business Corporations Act and, if applicable, our articles of incorporation and bylaws.

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Dissenters’ Rights of Appraisal and Payment.

Under the Marshall Islands Business Corporations Act, our shareholders have the right to dissent from various corporate actions, including certain mergers or sales of all or substantially all of our assets not made in the usual course of our business, and receive payment of the fair value of their shares. The right of a dissenting shareholder to receive payment of the fair value of such shareholder’s shares shall not be available for the shares of any class or series of stock, which shares, at the record date fixed to determine the shareholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the meeting of shareholders to act upon the agreement of merger or consolidation, were either (i) listed on a securities exchange or admitted for trading on an interdealer quotation system or (ii) held of record by more than 2,000 holders. In the event of any further amendment of our articles of incorporation, a shareholder also has the right to dissent and receive payment for his or her shares if the amendment alters certain rights in respect of those shares. A condition for such payment is that the dissenting shareholders follow the procedures set forth in the Marshall Islands Business Corporations Act. In the event that we fail to agree with any dissenting shareholder on a price for the shares, such procedures involve, among other things, the institution of court proceedings in either the Republic of the Marshall Islands or the country where our shares are primarily traded, which is the United States. The value of the shares of a dissenting shareholder is fixed by the court after reference, if the court so elects, to the recommendations of a court-appointed appraiser.

Amendment of Articles of Incorporation.

Under the Marshall Islands Business Corporations Act, amendments to the articles of incorporation of a Republic of the Marshall Islands corporation generally may be authorized by vote of the holders of a majority of all outstanding shares entitled to vote. The approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of an adversely affected class or series of stock is also required for certain amendments.

Limitations on Ownership and Dividends.

Neither Republic of the Marshall Islands law nor our Articles or Bylaws limit the right to own our securities, including the rights of non-resident or foreign shareholders to hold or exercise voting rights on the securities. Certain of our debt facilities, and Republic of the Marshall Islands law, impose limitations on our ability to pay dividends.

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

We may issue debt securities (any of which may be senior or subordinated and convertible or not convertible) from time to time in one or more series, under an indenture to be dated as of a date on or prior to our initial issuance of the debt securities. The following description of debt securities sets forth the material terms and provisions of the debt securities to which any prospectus supplement may relate. Our senior debt securities would be issued under a senior indenture, and our subordinated debt securities would be issued under a subordinated indenture. The senior or subordinated indenture for debt securities and any convertible debt securities, forms of which are included as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, will be executed at the time we issue applicable debt securities. Any supplemental indentures will be filed with the SEC on a Form 6-K or by a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

All of the indentures are sometimes referred to in this prospectus collectively as the “ Indentures ” and each, individually, as an “ Indenture ”. The particular terms of the debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement, and the extent to which the general provisions described below may apply to the offered debt securities, will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The Indentures will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (or the Trust Indenture Act ). The terms of the debt securities will include those stated in the Indentures and those made part of the Indentures by reference to the Trust Indenture Act.

Our statements below relating to the debt securities and the Indentures are summaries of their anticipated provisions, are not complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the applicable Indenture and any applicable United States federal income tax considerations as well as any applicable modifications of or additions to the general terms described below in the applicable prospectus supplement or supplemental indenture.

General

The provisions of the Indentures do not limit the aggregate principal amount of debt securities which may be issued thereunder. Unless otherwise provided in a prospectus supplement and an applicable supplemental indenture, any senior debt securities will be our direct, unsecured and unsubordinated general obligations and will have the same rank in liquidation as all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt, and the subordinated debt securities will be our unsecured obligations, subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our senior indebtedness with respect to such series, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Any debt securities may be convertible into common stock.

We may issue the debt securities as original issue discount securities, which will be offered and sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount. The prospectus supplement relating to any original issue discount securities will describe United States federal income tax consequences and other special considerations applicable to them. The prospectus supplement relating to specific debt securities will also describe any special considerations and certain additional tax considerations applicable to such debt securities.

In addition, the specific financial, legal and other terms particular to a series of debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement and any pricing supplement relating to the series. The prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities will describe the following terms of the series:

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Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

The terms of the Indentures in the forms initially filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part provide that we may not consolidate with or merge with or into, any other person or sell, assign, convey, transfer, lease our properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any person, unless:

Upon any consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties and assets of the Company in accordance with the foregoing provisions, the successor person formed by such consolidation or into which we are merged or to which such sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under the applicable Indenture; and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the Company shall be released from all obligations and covenants under the applicable Indenture and the debt securities.

Events of Default

The terms of the Indentures in the forms initially filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part provide that the debt securities are subject to the following events of default:

If an event of default, other than an event of default described in clause (5) above, occurs and is continuing, either the trustee under the applicable Indenture or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities may declare the principal amount of the debt securities to be due and payable immediately. If an event of default described in clause (5) above occurs, the principal amount of the debt securities and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will automatically become immediately due and payable.

After any such acceleration, but before a judgment or decree based on acceleration, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration if all events of default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal and any premium, interest or any additional amounts, or “ Additional Amounts ”, which are required under the applicable Indenture or the debt securities to be paid by the Company, in each case which have become due as a result of such acceleration, have been cured or waived.

The trustee will not be obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers at the request of the holders unless the holders have offered to the trustee indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it against any loss, liability

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or expense. Subject to the applicable Indenture, applicable law and the trustee’s indemnification, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities. In the event an event of default has occurred and is continuing, the trustee will be required in the exercise of its powers to use the degree of care that a prudent person would use in the conduct of its own affairs. The trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the applicable Indenture or that the trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other holder.

No holder will have any right to institute any proceeding under the applicable Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or a trustee, or for any other remedy under the applicable Indenture unless:

However, the above limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder for the enforcement of payment of the principal of, interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect any debt security on or after the applicable due date in accordance with the applicable Indenture.

Generally, the holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities may waive any default or event of default unless:

The Indentures provide that within 90 days after the trustee receives written notice of a default, the trustee shall transmit by mail to all holders, notice of such default hereunder, unless such default shall have been cured or waived. Except in the case of a default in the payment of principal of or interest on any note, the trustee may withhold notice if and so long as the trustee in good faith determines that withholding notice is in the best interest of the holders. In addition, we are required to deliver to the trustee (i) within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a certificate indicating whether the signers thereof know of any default that occurred during the previous year and whether we, to the officers’ knowledge, are in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of the applicable Indenture and (ii) within 30 days after the occurrence thereof, written notice of any events that would constitute defaults, their status and what action we are taking or propose to take in respect thereof.

Each holder shall have the right to receive payment or delivery, as the case may be, of:

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its debt securities, on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in the applicable Indenture, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment or delivery, as the case may be, and such right to receive such payment or delivery, as the case may be, on or after such respective dates shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such holder.

Modification and Waiver

We and the trustee may amend or supplement the Indentures with respect to the debt securities with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities. In addition, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities may waive our compliance in any instance with any provision of the applicable Indenture without notice to the other holders of debt securities. However, no amendment, supplement or waiver may be made without the consent of each holder of outstanding debt securities affected thereby if such amendment, supplement or waiver would:

We and the trustee may amend or supplement the Indentures or the debt securities without notice to, or the consent of, the holders of the debt securities to, among other things:

The consent of the holders is not necessary under the Indentures to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment. It is sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment. After

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an amendment under an Indenture becomes effective, we are required to mail to the holders a notice briefly describing such amendment. However, the failure to give such notice to all the holders, or any defect in the notice, will not impair or affect the validity of the amendment.

Satisfaction and Discharge

We may satisfy and discharge our obligations under the Indentures by delivering to the trustee for cancellation all outstanding debt securities or depositing with the trustee or delivering to the holders, as applicable, after all outstanding debt securities have become due and payable, or will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year, cash sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness all of the outstanding debt securities and all other sums payable under the applicable Indenture by us. Such discharge is subject to terms contained in the applicable Indenture.

Defeasance

We may terminate at any time all our obligations with respect to the debt securities and the Indentures, which we refer to as “legal defeasance,” except for certain obligations, including those respecting the defeasance trust and obligations to register the transfer or exchange of the debt securities, to replace mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities and to maintain a registrar and paying agent in respect of the debt securities. We may also terminate at any time certain of our covenants with respect to the debt securities, which we refer to as “covenant defeasance.” We may exercise the legal defeasance option notwithstanding our prior exercise of the covenant defeasance option.

If we exercise our legal defeasance option with respect to the debt securities, payment of the debt securities may not be accelerated because of an event of default with respect thereto. If we exercise the covenant defeasance option with respect to the debt securities, payment of the debt securities may not be accelerated because of an event of default specified in clause (3) in “—Events of Default” above.

The legal defeasance option or the covenant defeasance option with respect to the debt securities may be exercised only if:

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Transfer and Exchange

We will maintain an office in New York City where the debt securities may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange. This office will initially be an office or agency of the trustee. No service charge will be imposed by us, the trustee or the registrar for any registration of transfer or exchange of debt securities, but any tax or similar governmental charge required by law or permitted by the applicable Indenture because a holder requests any shares to be issued in a name other than such holder’s name will be paid by such holder. We are not required to transfer or exchange any note surrendered for purchase except for any portion of that note not being purchased.

We reserve the right to:

Payment and Paying Agents

Payments in respect of the principal and interest on global notes registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company (or DTC ), or its nominee will be payable to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, in its capacity as the registered holder under the applicable Indenture. In the case of certificated debt securities, payments will be made in U.S. dollars at the office of the trustee or, at our option, by check mailed to the holder’s registered address. We will make any required interest payments to the person in whose name each note is registered at the close of business on the record date for the interest payment.

We may at any time designate a paying agent or additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agent or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts.

Subject to the requirements of any applicable abandoned property laws, the trustee and paying agent shall pay to us upon written request any money held by them for payments on the debt securities that remain unclaimed for two years after the date upon which that payment has become due. After payment to us, holders entitled to the money must look to us for payment. In that case, all liability of the trustee or paying agent with respect to that money will cease.

Governing Law

The Indentures and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to conflicts of laws.

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Concerning the Trustee

We will enter into the Indentures with a trustee identified in the relevant prospectus supplement that is also qualified to act under the Trust Indenture Act and with any other trustee chosen by us and appointed in a supplemental indenture for a particular series of debt securities. We may maintain a banking relationship in the ordinary course of business with our trustee and one or more of its affiliates.

The trustee, in its individual and any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for us as if it were not the trustee; however, if it acquires any conflicting interest, it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue or resign.

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MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following is a discussion of certain material U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to prospective shareholders and, unless otherwise noted in the following discussion, is the opinion of Perkins Coie LLP, our U.S. counsel, insofar as it relates to matters of U.S. federal income tax law and legal conclusions with respect to those matters. The opinion of our counsel is dependent on the accuracy of representations made by us to them, including descriptions of our operations contained herein. This discussion is based upon the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or the Code ), legislative history, applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations (or Treasury Regulations ), judicial authority and administrative interpretations, all as in effect on the date of this prospectus, and which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect, or are subject to different interpretations. Changes in these authorities may cause the tax consequences to vary substantially from the consequences described below.

This discussion is limited to shareholders who hold their common stock as a capital asset for tax purposes. This discussion does not address all tax considerations that may be important to a particular shareholder in light of the shareholder’s circumstances, or to certain categories of shareholders that may be subject to special tax rules, such as:

If a partnership (including any entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds our common stock, the tax treatment of a partner generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partners in partnerships holding our common stock should consult their tax advisors to determine the appropriate tax treatment of the partnership’s ownership of our common stock.

No ruling has been or will be requested from the Internal Revenue Service (or IRS ) regarding any matter affecting us or our shareholders. Instead, we will rely on the opinion of Perkins Coie LLP. Unlike a ruling, an opinion of counsel represents only that counsel’s legal judgment and does not bind the IRS or the courts. Accordingly, the opinions and statements made herein may not be sustained by a court if contested by the IRS.

This discussion does not address any U.S. estate tax considerations or tax considerations arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. jurisdiction. Each shareholder is urged to consult its tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and other tax consequences of the ownership or disposition of our common stock.

Any material tax considerations relevant to an investment decision by a U.S. Holder or Non–U.S. Holder, each as defined below, with respect to securities registered under this registration statement other than the common stock, will be described in a prospectus supplement issued in connection with the offering of such securities.

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United States Federal Income Taxation of U.S. Holders

As used herein, the term U.S. Holder means a beneficial owner of our common stock that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes: (a) a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien (or a U.S. Individual Holder ), (b) a corporation or other entity taxable as a corporation that was created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (c) an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source, or (d) a trust that either is subject to the supervision of a court within the United States and has one or more U.S. persons with authority to control all of its substantial decisions or has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.

Distributions

Subject to the discussion of passive foreign investment companies (or PFICs ) below, any distributions made by us with respect to our common stock to a U.S. Holder generally will constitute dividends, which may be taxable as ordinary income or “qualified dividend income” as described in more detail below, to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated first as a nontaxable return of capital to the extent of the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in our common stock and thereafter as capital gain, which will be either long term or short term capital gain depending upon whether the U.S. Holder has held the common stock for more than one year. U.S. Holders that are corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes generally will not be entitled to claim a dividends received deduction with respect to any distributions they receive from us. For purposes of computing allowable foreign tax credits for U.S. federal income tax purposes, dividends received with respect to our common stock will be treated as foreign source income and generally will be treated as “passive category income.”

Subject to holding period requirements and certain other limitations, dividends received with respect to our common stock by a U.S. Holder who is an individual, trust or estate (or a Non- Corporate U.S. Holder ) will be treated as “qualified dividend income” that is taxable to such Non-Corporate U.S. Holder at preferential capital gain tax rates provided that we are not classified as a PFIC for the taxable year during which the dividend is paid or the immediately preceding taxable year (we intend to take the position that we are not now and have never been classified as a PFIC, as discussed below). Any dividends received with respect to our common stock not eligible for these preferential rates will be taxed as ordinary income to a Non-Corporate U.S. Holder.

Special rules may apply to any “extraordinary dividend” paid by us. Generally, an extraordinary dividend is a dividend with respect to a share of common stock if the amount of the dividend is equal to or in excess of 10% of a common shareholder’s adjusted tax basis (or fair market value in certain circumstances) in such common stock. In addition, extraordinary dividends include dividends received within a one year period that, in the aggregate, equal or exceed 20% of a shareholder’s adjusted tax basis (or fair market value in certain circumstances). If we pay an “extraordinary dividend” on our common stock that is treated as “qualified dividend income,” then any loss recognized by a Non-Corporate U.S. Holder from the sale or exchange of such common stock will be treated as long–term capital loss to the extent of the amount of such dividend.

Certain Non-Corporate U.S. Holders currently are subject to a 3.8% tax on certain investment income, including dividends. Non-Corporate U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the effect, if any, of this tax on their ownership of our common stock.

Sale, Exchange or Other Disposition of Common Stock

Subject to the discussion of PFICs below, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss upon a sale, exchange or other disposition of our common stock in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized by the U.S. Holder from such sale, exchange or other disposition and the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in such stock. Subject to the discussion of extraordinary dividends above, such gain or loss generally will be

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treated as (a) long–term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period is greater than one year at the time of the sale, exchange or other disposition, or short term capital gain or loss otherwise and (b) U.S. source gain or loss, as applicable, for foreign tax credit purposes. Non-Corporate U.S. Holders may be eligible for preferential rates of U.S. federal income tax in respect of long-term capital gains. A U.S. Holder’s ability to deduct capital losses is subject to certain limitations.

Certain Non-Corporate U.S. Holders currently are subject to a 3.8% tax on certain investment income, including capital gains from the sale or other disposition of stock. Non-Corporate U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the effect, if any, of this tax on their disposition of our common stock.

Consequences of Possible PFIC Classification

A non–U.S. entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes will be treated as a PFIC in any taxable year in which, after taking into account the income and assets of the corporation and certain subsidiaries pursuant to a “look through” rule, either: (a) at least 75% of its gross income is “passive” income; or (b) at least 50% of the average value of its assets is attributable to assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income. For purposes of these tests, “passive income” includes dividends, interest, gains from the sale or exchange of investment property and rents and royalties (other than rents and royalties that are received from unrelated parties in connection with the active conduct of a trade or business). By contrast, income derived from the performance of services does not constitute “passive income.”

There are legal uncertainties involved in determining whether the income derived from our time-chartering activities constitutes rental income or income derived from the performance of services, including legal uncertainties arising from the decision in Tidewater Inc. v. United States , 565 F.3d 299 (5th Cir. 2009), which held that income derived from certain time-chartering activities should be treated as rental income rather than services income for purposes of a foreign sales corporation provision of the Code. However, the IRS stated in an Action on Decision (AOD 2010-01) that it disagrees with, and will not acquiesce to, the way that the rental versus services framework was applied to the facts in the Tidewater decision, and in its discussion stated that the time charters at issue in Tidewater would be treated as producing services income for PFIC purposes. The IRS’s statement with respect to Tidewater cannot be relied upon or otherwise cited as precedent by taxpayers. Consequently, in the absence of any binding legal authority specifically relating to the statutory provisions governing PFICs, there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court would not follow the Tidewater decision in interpreting the PFIC provisions of the Code. Moreover, the market value of our common stock and our publicly traded subsidiaries may be treated as reflecting the value of our assets, and our publicly traded subsidiaries’ assets, respectively, at any given time. Therefore, a decline in the market value of our common stock, or our publicly traded subsidiaries, which is not within our control, may impact the determination of whether we are a PFIC. Nevertheless, based on our and our subsidiaries’ current assets and operations, we intend to take the position that we are not now and have never been a PFIC, and our counsel, Perkins Coie LLP, is of the opinion that it is more likely than not that we are not a PFIC based on applicable law, including the Code, legislative history, published revenue rulings and court decisions, and representations we have made to them regarding the composition of our assets, the source of our income and the nature of our activities and other operations, including:

An opinion of counsel represents only that counsel’s best legal judgment and does not bind the IRS or the courts. Accordingly, the opinion of Perkins Coie LLP may not be sustained by a court if contested by the IRS. Further, no assurance can be given that we would not constitute a PFIC for any future taxable year if there were to be changes in our or our subsidiaries’ assets, income or operations.

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As discussed more fully below, if we were to be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year, a U.S. Holder generally would be subject to different taxation rules depending on whether the U.S. Holder makes a timely and effective election to treat us as a “Qualified Electing Fund” (or a QEF election ). As an alternative to making a QEF election, a U.S. Holder should be able to make a “mark–to–market” election with respect to our common stock, as discussed below.

Taxation of U.S. Holders Making a Timely QEF Election

A U.S. Holder who makes a timely QEF election (or an Electing Holder ) must report the Electing Holder’s pro rata share of our ordinary earnings and net capital gain, if any, for each taxable year for which we are a PFIC that ends with or within the Electing Holder’s taxable year, regardless of whether or not the Electing Holder received distributions from us in that year. Such income inclusions would not be eligible for the preferential tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income. The Electing Holder’s adjusted tax basis in our common stock will be increased to reflect taxed but undistributed earnings and profits. Distributions of earnings and profits that were previously taxed will result in a corresponding reduction in the Electing Holder’s adjusted tax basis in our common stock and will not be taxed again once distributed. An Electing Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our common stock. A U.S. Holder makes a QEF election with respect to any year that we are a PFIC by filing IRS Form 8621 with the U.S. Holder’s timely filed U.S. federal income tax return (including extensions).

If a U.S. Holder has not made a timely QEF election with respect to the first year in the U.S. Holder’s holding period of our common stock during which we qualified as a PFIC, the U.S. Holder may be treated as having made a timely QEF election by filing a QEF election with the U.S. Holder’s timely filed U.S. federal income tax return (including extensions) and, under the rules of Section 1291 of the Code, a “deemed sale election” to include in income as an “excess distribution” (described below) the amount of any gain that the U.S. Holder would otherwise recognize if the U.S. Holder sold the U.S. Holder’s common stock on the “qualification date.” The qualification date is the first day of our taxable year in which we qualified as a “qualified electing fund” with respect to such U.S. Holder. In addition to the above rules, under very limited circumstances, a U.S. Holder may make a retroactive QEF election if the U.S. Holder failed to file the QEF election documents in a timely manner. If a U.S. Holder makes a timely QEF election for one of our taxable years, but did not make such election with respect to the first year in the U.S. Holder’s holding period of our common stock during which we qualified as a PFIC and the U.S. Holder did not make the deemed sale election described above, the U.S. Holder also will be subject to the more adverse rules described below.

A U.S. Holder’s QEF election will not be effective unless we annually provide the U.S. Holder with certain information concerning our income and gain, calculated in accordance with the Code, to be included with the U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax return. We have not provided our U.S. Holders with such information in prior taxable years and do not intend to provide such information in the current taxable year. Accordingly, U.S. Holders will not be able to make an effective QEF election at this time. If, contrary to our expectations, we determine that we are or will be a PFIC for any taxable year, we will provide U.S. Holders with the information necessary to make an effective QEF election with respect to our common stock.

Taxation of U.S. Holders Making a “Mark-to-Market” Election

If we were to be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year and, as we anticipate, our stock were treated as “marketable stock,” then, as an alternative to making a QEF election, a U.S. Holder would be allowed to make a “mark–to–market” election with respect to our common stock, provided the U.S. Holder completes and files IRS Form 8621 in accordance with the relevant instructions and related Treasury Regulations. If that election is made for the first year a U.S. Holder holds or is deemed to hold our common stock and for which we are a PFIC, the U.S. Holder generally would include as ordinary income in each taxable year that we are a PFIC the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the U.S. Holder’s common stock at the end of the taxable year over the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common stock. The U.S. Holder also would be permitted an ordinary loss in

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respect of the excess, if any, of the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common stock over the fair market value thereof at the end of the taxable year that we are a PFIC, but only to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the mark–to–market election. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in our common stock would be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss recognized. Gain recognized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our common stock in taxable years that we are a PFIC would be treated as ordinary income, and any loss recognized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our common stock in taxable years that we are a PFIC would be treated as ordinary loss to the extent that such loss does not exceed the net mark–to–market gains previously included in income by the U.S. Holder. Because the mark–to–market election only applies to marketable stock, however, it would not apply to a U.S. Holder’s indirect interest in any of our subsidiaries that were also determined to be PFICs.

If a U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election for one of our taxable years and we were a PFIC for a prior taxable year during which such U.S. Holder held our common stock and for which (a) we were not a QEF with respect to such U.S. Holder and (b) such U.S. Holder did not make a timely mark-to-market election, such U.S. Holder would also be subject to the more adverse rules described below in the first taxable year for which the mark-to-market election is in effect and also to the extent the fair market value of the U.S. Holder’s common stock exceeds the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common stock at the end of the first taxable year for which the mark-to-market election is in effect.

Taxation of U.S. Holders Not Making a Timely QEF or Mark-to-Market Election

If we were to be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year, a U.S. Holder who does not make either a QEF election or a “mark–to–market” election for that year (a Non–Electing Holder ) would be subject to special rules resulting in increased tax liability with respect to (a) any “excess distribution” (i.e., the portion of any distributions received by the Non– Electing Holder on our common stock in a taxable year in excess of 125% of the average annual distributions received by the Non–Electing Holder in the three preceding taxable years, or, if shorter, the Non–Electing Holder’s holding period for our common stock), and (b) any gain realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our common stock. Under these special rules:

Additionally, for each year during which a U.S. Holder holds our common stock, we are a PFIC, and the total value of all PFIC stock that such U.S. Holder directly or indirectly holds exceeds certain thresholds, such U.S. Holder will be required to file IRS Form 8621 with its annual U.S. federal income tax return to report its ownership of our common stock. In addition, if a Non–Electing Holder who is an individual dies while owning our common stock, such Non-Electing Holder’s successor generally would not receive a step–up in tax basis with respect to such common stock.

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U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the PFIC rules, including the PFIC annual reporting requirements, as well as the applicability, availability and advisability of, and procedure for, making QEF, mark-to-market and other available elections with respect to us and our subsidiaries, and the U.S. federal income tax consequences of making such elections.

Consequences of Possible Controlled Foreign Corporation Classification

If CFC Shareholders (generally, U.S. Holders who each own, directly, indirectly or constructively, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of our outstanding common stock entitled to vote) own directly, indirectly or constructively more than 50% of either the total combined voting power of our outstanding common stock entitled to vote or the total value of all of our outstanding common stock, we generally would be treated as a controlled foreign corporation (or a CFC ).

CFC Shareholders are treated as receiving current distributions of their respective share of certain income of the CFC without regard to any actual distributions and are subject to other burdensome U.S. federal income tax and administrative requirements but generally are not also subject to the requirements generally applicable to shareholders of a PFIC. In addition, a person who is or has been a CFC Shareholder may recognize ordinary income on the disposition of shares of the CFC. Although we do not believe we are or will become a CFC, U.S. persons owning a substantial interest in us should consider the potential implications of being treated as a CFC Shareholder in the event we become a CFC in the future.

The U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. Holders who are not CFC Shareholders would not change in the event we become a CFC in the future.

U.S. Return Disclosure Requirements for U.S. Individual Holders

U.S. Individual Holders who hold certain specified foreign financial assets, including stock in a foreign corporation that is not held in an account maintained by a financial institution, with an aggregate value in excess of $50,000 on the last day of a taxable year, or $75,000 at any time during that taxable year, may be required to report such assets on IRS Form 8938 with their U.S. federal income tax return for that taxable year. This reporting requirement does not apply to U.S. Individual Holders who report their ownership of our common stock under the PFIC annual reporting rules described above. Penalties apply for failure to properly complete and file IRS Form 8938. Investors are encouraged to consult with their tax advisors regarding the possible application of this disclosure requirement to their investment in our common stock.

United States Federal Income Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders

A beneficial owner of our common stock (other than a partnership, including any entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that is not a U.S. Holder is a Non–U.S. Holder.

Distributions

In general, a Non–U.S. Holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on distributions received from us with respect to our common stock unless the distributions are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a permanent establishment that the Non-U.S. Holder maintains in the United States). If a Non–U.S. Holder is engaged in a trade or business within the United States and the distributions are deemed to be effectively connected to that trade or business, the Non-U.S. Holder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on those distributions in the same manner as if it were a U.S. Holder.

Sale, Exchange or Other Disposition of Common Stock

In general, a Non-U.S. Holder is not subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain resulting from the disposition of our common stock unless (a) such gain is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s

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conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment that the Non-U.S. Holder maintains in the United States) or (b) the Non-U.S. Holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year in which such disposition occurs and meets certain other requirements. If a Non-U.S. Holder is engaged in a trade or business within the United States and the disposition of our common stock is deemed to be effectively connected to that trade or business, the Non-U.S. Holder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the resulting gain in the same manner as if it were a U.S. Holder.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

In general, payments of distributions with respect to, or the proceeds of a disposition of, our common stock to a Non–Corporate U.S. Holder will be subject to information reporting requirements. These payments to a Non–Corporate U.S. Holder also may be subject to backup withholding if the Non–Corporate U.S. Holder:

Non–U.S. Holders may be required to establish their exemption from information reporting and backup withholding on payments made to them within the United States, or through a U.S. payor, by certifying their status on IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E, W-8ECI, W-8EXP or W-8IMY, as applicable.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, a shareholder generally may obtain a credit for any amount withheld against its liability for U.S. federal income tax (and obtain a refund of any amounts withheld in excess of such liability) by accurately completing and timely filing a U.S. federal income tax return with the IRS.

NON-UNITED STATES TAX CONSIDERATIONS

Republic of the Marshall Islands Tax Considerations

The following discussion is based upon the opinion of Watson Farley & Williams LLP, our counsel as to matters of the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the current laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and is applicable only to persons who are not citizens of and do not reside in, maintain offices in or engage in business, transactions or operations in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Because we and our subsidiaries do not, and we do not expect that we or any of our subsidiaries will, reside in or conduct business, transactions or operations in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and because we anticipate that all documentation related to any offerings pursuant to this prospectus will be executed outside of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, under current Republic of the Marshall Islands law holders of our common stock will not be subject to Republic of the Marshall Islands taxation or withholding on dividends. In addition, holders of our common stock will not be subject to Republic of the Marshall Islands stamp, capital gains or other taxes on the purchase, ownership or disposition of shares of common stock, and you will not be required by the Republic of the Marshall Islands to file a tax return relating to the shares of common stock.

It is the responsibility of each shareholder to investigate the legal and tax consequences, under the laws of pertinent jurisdictions, including the Republic of the Marshall Islands, of its investment in us. Accordingly, each shareholder is urged to consult its tax counsel or other advisor with regard to those matters. Further, it is the responsibility of each shareholder to file all state, local and non-U.S., as well as U.S. federal, tax returns which may be required of such shareholder.

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell our common stock, preferred stock, convertible preferred stock, debt securities, convertible debt securities and any combination of the foregoing from time to time on a continuous or delayed basis (a) to or through underwriters or dealers, (b) through agents, (c) directly to one or more purchasers or other persons or entities, (d) through a combination of these methods or (e) through other means.

We may enter into hedging transactions with respect to our securities. For example, we may:

If underwriters are used to sell securities, we will enter into an underwriting agreement or similar agreement with them at the time of the sale to them. In that connection, underwriters may receive compensation from us in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions from purchasers of securities for whom they may act as agent. Any such underwriter, dealer or agent may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act.

The applicable prospectus supplement relating to securities will set forth, among other things:

If underwriters or dealers are used in the sale, securities will be acquired by the underwriters or dealers for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions in accordance with the rules of the New York Stock Exchange:

Securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more of such firms. Unless otherwise set forth in an applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of underwriters or dealers to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent and the underwriters or dealers will be obligated to purchase all the securities if any are purchased. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid by underwriters or dealers to other dealers may be changed from time to time.

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Securities may be sold directly by us from time to time, at prevailing market prices or otherwise. Securities may also be sold through agents designated by us from time to time, at prevailing market prices or otherwise. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of securities in respect of which this prospectus and a prospectus supplement is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by us to such agent will be set forth, in the prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

If so indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers from certain specified institutions to purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. Such contracts will be subject to any conditions set forth in the prospectus supplement and the prospectus supplement will set forth the commissions payable for solicitation of such contracts. The underwriters and other persons soliciting such contracts will have no responsibility for the validity or performance of any such contracts.

Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled under agreements entered into with us to be indemnified by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution by us to payments which they may be required to make. The terms and conditions of such indemnification will be described in an applicable prospectus supplement.

Underwriters, dealers and agents may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.

Any underwriters to whom securities are sold by us for public offering and sale may make a market in such securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for any of the securities.

Certain persons participating in any offering of securities may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities offered. In connection with any such offering, the underwriters or agents, as the case may be, may purchase and sell the securities in the open market. These transactions may include over-allotment and stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover syndicate short positions created in connection with the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the securities and syndicate short positions involve the sale by the underwriters or agents, as the case may be, of a greater number of the securities than they are required to purchase from us in the offering. The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid, whereby selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers for the securities sold for their account may be reclaimed by the syndicate if such securities are repurchased by the syndicate in stabilizing or covering transactions. These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the securities, which may be higher than the price that might otherwise prevail in the open market, and if commenced, may be discontinued at any time. These transactions may be effected on the New York Stock Exchange, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. These activities will be described in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement.

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