As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 6, 2024
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
ARBUTUS BIOPHARMA CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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British Columbia, Canada
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98-0597776
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(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
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701 Veterans Circle
Warminster, Pennsylvania 18974
(267) 469-0914
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Michael J. McElhaugh
Interim President and Chief Executive Officer
Arbutus Biopharma Corporation
701 Veterans Circle
Warminster, Pennsylvania 18974
(267) 469-0914
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
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Steven J. Abrams, Esq.
Stephen M. Nicolai, Esq.
Hogan Lovells US LLP
1735 Market Street, 23rd Floor
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
(267) 675-4600
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J. Christopher Naftzger
General Counsel and Chief
Compliance Officer
Arbutus Biopharma Corporation
701 Veterans Circle
Warminster, Pennsylvania 18974
(267) 469-0914
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R. Hector MacKay-Dunn, K.C.
Farris LLP
2500-700 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada V7Y 1B3
(604) 684-9151
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Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:
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Large accelerated filer
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Accelerated filer
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Non-accelerated filer
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Smaller Reporting Company
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Emerging Growth Company
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment that specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act, or until this registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This registration statement is a new registration statement being filed pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), with respect to $200,445,773.18 of securities which remain unsold by the registrant (the “Unsold Securities”) under the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-260782), initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on November 4, 2021 and declared effective on November 18, 2021, which is due to expire on November 18, 2024 (the “Prior Registration Statement”). Filing fees of $18,581.32 were previously paid with respect to the Unsold Securities (calculated at the filing fee rate in effect at the time of the filing of the Prior Registration Statement). Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(5)(ii) under the Securities Act, by filing this registration statement, the registrant may issue and sell securities under the Prior Registration Statement until the earlier of (i) the date on which this registration statement is declared effective by the SEC and (ii) May 17, 2025, which is 180 days after November 18, 2024 (the earlier being the “Expiration Date”). Until the Expiration Date, the registrant may continue to use the Prior Registration Statement and related prospectus supplement for its offerings thereunder. All offers and sales by the registrant under the Prior Registration Statement will be deemed terminated on the Expiration Date, except to the extent covered by this registration statement.
The information contained in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities or accept an offer to buy these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where such offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED NOVEMBER 6, 2024
PROSPECTUS
$300,000,000
Common Shares
Preferred Shares
Warrants
Debt Securities
Units
We may offer and issue from time to time common shares, preferred shares, warrants, debt securities, or any combination of those securities, either individually or in units, up to an aggregate initial offering price of $300,000,000, in one or more transactions under this prospectus. The securities may be offered in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined based on market conditions at the time of sale and set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement.
This prospectus provides a general description of the securities that we may offer. Each time we offer securities under this prospectus, we will provide the specific terms of the securities offered, including the public offering price, in a supplement to this prospectus. Any prospectus supplement may add to, update or change information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, together with the additional information that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement.
The securities may be sold by us to or through underwriters or dealers, directly to purchasers or through agents designated from time to time. For additional information on the methods of sale, you should refer to the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus and the comparable section of any applicable prospectus supplement. If any underwriters are involved in the sale of the securities with respect to which this prospectus is being delivered, the names of such underwriters and any applicable discounts, commissions and options will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Our common shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “ABUS”. On November 4, 2024, the last reported sale price per share of our common shares on the Nasdaq Global Select Market was $3.87. We have not yet determined whether the other securities that may be offered by this prospectus will be listed on any exchange, interdealer quotation system or over-the-counter market. If we decide to seek the listing of any such securities upon issuance, the prospectus supplement relating to those securities will disclose the exchange, quotation system or market on which those securities will be listed.
We are a “smaller reporting company” under the federal securities laws and, as such, are subject to reduced public company reporting requirements. See “The Company — Implications of Being a Smaller Reporting Company” for more information.
INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH AN INVESTMENT IN OUR SECURITIES WILL BE DESCRIBED IN THE APPLICABLE PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND CERTAIN OF OUR FILINGS WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THIS PROSPECTUS, AS DESCRIBED UNDER “RISK FACTORS” ON PAGE 4.
You should read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find Additional Information” before you make your investment decision.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state or other securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is , 2024
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is a part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may offer to sell any of the securities, or any combination of the securities, described in this prospectus, in each case in one or more offerings, up to a total dollar amount of $300,000,000.
This prospectus provides you only with a general description of the securities that we may offer. Each time securities are sold by us under this registration statement, we will provide an accompanying prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of those securities and the terms of that offering. The accompanying prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the accompanying prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, including all documents incorporated by reference herein and therein, together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find Additional Information” below.
The information contained in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. You should rely only on the information provided in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any accompanying prospectus supplement, or documents to which we otherwise refer you. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information.
We have not authorized any dealer, agent or other person to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. You must not rely upon any information or representation not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or an accompanying prospectus supplement. This prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement, if any, do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered securities to which they relate, nor do this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, if any, constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front of such document or that any information we have incorporated by reference is correct on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference, even though this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement is delivered or securities are sold on a later date.
As used in this prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “Arbutus,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Arbutus Biopharma Corporation, and, unless the context requires otherwise, the subsidiaries through which it conducts business. The Arbutus logo and all other Arbutus product names are trademarks of Arbutus in the United States and in other select countries. The Arbutus logo is a trademark of Arbutus in Canada. We may indicate U.S. trademark registrations and U.S. trademarks with the symbols “®” and “™”, respectively. Other third-party logos and product/trade names are registered trademarks or trade names of their respective owners.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, contains “forward-looking statements” or “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable U.S. and Canadian securities laws (we collectively refer to these items as “forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words “believes,” “may,” “plans,” “will,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “budgets,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “projects” and similar expressions that are not based on historical fact or that are predictions of or indicate future events and trends, and the negative of such expressions. Forward-looking statements in this prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference, include statements about, among other things:
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our strategy, future operations, preclinical studies, clinical trials, prospects and the plans of management;
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the potential for our product candidates to achieve their desired or anticipated outcomes;
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the expected cost, timing and results of our clinical development plans and clinical trials, including our clinical collaborations with third parties;
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the development and commercialization of a curative combination regimen for chronic hepatitis B infection, a disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus;
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the potential of our product candidates to improve upon the standard of care and contribute to a functional curative combination treatment regimen;
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obtaining necessary regulatory approvals;
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obtaining adequate financing through a combination of financing activities and operations;
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the expected returns and benefits from strategic alliances, licensing agreements, and research collaborations with third parties, and the timing thereof;
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our expectations regarding our technology licensed to third parties, and the timing thereof;
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our anticipated revenue and expense fluctuation and guidance;
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our expectations regarding the timing of announcing data from our ongoing clinical trials;
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our expectations regarding current patent disputes and litigation;
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our expectation of a net cash burn between $63 million and $67 million in 2024;
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our belief that we have sufficient cash resources to fund our operations into the fourth quarter of 2026; and
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our use of the proceeds from any offering under this prospectus.
We cannot guarantee that the results and other expectations expressed, anticipated or implied in any forward-looking statement will be realized. The risks set forth under Item 1A of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as revised or supplemented by our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other documents we file with the SEC, describe material risks to our business, and you should read and interpret any forward-looking statements together with these risks. A variety of factors, including these risks, could cause our actual results and other expectations to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed, anticipated or implied in our forward-looking statements. Should known or unknown risks materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could differ materially from past results and those anticipated, estimated or projected in the forward-looking statements. You should bear this in mind as you consider any forward-looking statements.
You should read this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents that we incorporate by reference herein and therein completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are made as of the date of this prospectus and we do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
This prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein contain estimates, projections, market research and other information concerning, among other things, our industry, our business and the markets for our product candidates. Unless otherwise expressly stated, we obtain this information from reports, research surveys, studies and similar data prepared by market research firms and other third parties, industry, medical and general publications, government data and similar sources as well as from our own internal estimates and research and from publications, research, surveys and studies conducted by third parties on our behalf. Information that is based on estimates, projections, market research or similar methodologies is inherently subject to uncertainties and actual events or circumstances may differ materially from events and circumstances that are reflected in this information. As a result, you are cautioned not to give undue weight to such information.
In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements and our management is responsible for the accuracy of such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and you are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements.
THE COMPANY
Company Overview
Arbutus Biopharma Corporation (“Arbutus”, the “Company”, “we”, “us”, and “our”) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company leveraging its extensive virology expertise to develop novel therapeutics with distinct mechanisms of action, which can potentially be combined to provide a functional cure for patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (cHBV) infection. We believe the key to success in developing a functional cure involves suppressing hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid, reducing hepatitis B surface antigen and boosting HBV-specific immune responses. Our pipeline of internally developed, proprietary compounds includes an RNAi therapeutic, imdusiran (AB-729), and an oral PD-L1 inhibitor, AB-101. Imdusiran has generated meaningful clinical data demonstrating an impact on both surface antigen reduction and reawakening of the HBV-specific immune response. Imdusiran is currently in two Phase 2a combination clinical trials. AB-101 is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1a/1b clinical trial.
Corporate Information
We, under the name Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation (“Tekmira”), were incorporated pursuant to the British Columbia Business Corporations Act (“BCBCA”), on October 6, 2005, and commenced active business on April 30, 2007, when Tekmira and its parent company, Inex Pharmaceuticals Corporation (“Inex”), were reorganized under a statutory plan of arrangement (the “Plan of Arrangement”), completed under the provisions of the BCBCA. The Plan of Arrangement saw Inex’s entire business transferred to and continued by Tekmira.
On March 4, 2015, we completed a business combination pursuant to which OnCore Biopharma, Inc. became our wholly-owned subsidiary. Effective July 31, 2015, our corporate name changed from Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation to Arbutus Biopharma Corporation. Also effective July 31, 2015, the corporate name of our wholly owned subsidiary, OnCore Biopharma, Inc. changed to Arbutus Biopharma, Inc. (“Arbutus Inc.”). We had two wholly owned subsidiaries: Arbutus Inc. and Protiva Biotherapeutics Inc. (“Protiva”). Effective January 1, 2018, Protiva was amalgamated with Arbutus.
Our head office and principal place of business is located at 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, Pennsylvania 18974 and our telephone number is (267) 469-0914. We maintain a website at www.arbutusbio.com. The information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not a part of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement. We have included our website address in this prospectus solely as an inactive textual reference.
Implications of Being a Smaller Reporting Company
We are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC. As a smaller reporting company, we may rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements that are available to smaller reporting companies, including not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation. We will be able to take advantage of these scaled disclosures for so long as our voting and non-voting common shares held by non-affiliates is less than $250 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter, or our annual revenue is less than $100 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and our voting and non-voting common shares held by non-affiliates is less than $700 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter.
RISK FACTORS
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. The prospectus supplement applicable to each offering of our securities will contain a discussion of the risks applicable to an investment in our securities. Prior to making a decision about investing in our securities, you should carefully consider the specific factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement, together with all of the other information contained or incorporated by reference in the prospectus supplement or appearing or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should also consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other documents that we file with the SEC, which are incorporated herein by reference as described in this prospectus under the heading “Where You Can Find Additional Information”. The risks and uncertainties we have described in such documents are not the only risks that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our operations.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Except as otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a specific offering, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of securities by us under this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement for general corporate purposes, which may include working capital, capital expenditures, research and development expenditures, clinical trial expenditures, acquisitions of new technologies, products or businesses, and investments. Pending the application of the net proceeds, we intend to temporarily invest the net proceeds in interest-bearing instruments. Additional information on the use of net proceeds from the sale of securities by us under this prospectus may be set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement relating to the specific offering.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF OUR SECURITIES
We may offer and sell, at any time and from time to time:
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common shares;
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preferred shares;
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warrants to purchase common shares, preferred shares and/or debt securities;
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debt securities consisting of debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness;
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units consisting of a combination of the foregoing securities; or
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any combination of these securities.
The terms of any securities we offer will be determined at the time of sale. We may issue debt securities that are exchangeable for and/or convertible into common shares or any of the other securities that may be sold under this prospectus. When particular securities are offered by us, a supplement to this prospectus will be filed with the SEC, which will describe the terms of the offering and sale of the offered securities.
The descriptions below of our share capital, warrants, debt securities and related information are summaries and are qualified by reference to documents incorporated by reference to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Please refer to the information described under the heading “Where You Can Find Additional Information” below for directions on obtaining these documents.
DESCRIPTION OF OUR COMMON SHARES
The following description of our common shares summarizes provisions of our Notice of Articles and Articles, as amended (our “Articles”), the Investment Canada Act (Canada), the Competition Act (Canada) and the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia). The following description does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, our Articles, a copy of which is included as an exhibit to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference herein and to the applicable provisions of the Investment Canada Act, the Competition Act and the Business Corporations Act.
Authorized and Outstanding Shares
Our authorized share capital consists of an unlimited number of common shares, without par value. As of November 4, 2024 there were 189,491,685 common shares outstanding.
Voting Rights
The holders of our common shares are entitled to receive notice of any meeting of our shareholders and to attend and vote thereat, except those meetings at which only the holders of shares of another class or of a particular series are entitled to vote. Each common share entitles its holder to one vote. There are no cumulative voting rights.
Dividends
Subject to the rights of the holders of preferred shares, the holders of common shares are entitled to receive on a pro rata basis such dividends as our Board of Directors may declare out of funds legally available for payment of dividends.
Liquidation Rights
In the event of the dissolution, liquidation, winding-up or other distribution of our assets, the holders of common shares are entitled to receive on a pro rata basis all of our assets remaining after payment of all of our liabilities, subject to the rights of holders of preferred shares.
Other Rights and Preferences
The terms of our common shares do not include any preemptive, conversion or subscription rights, nor any redemption or sinking fund provisions. The common shares are not subject to future calls or assessments by us.
Limitations to Control due to Certain Provisions of Canadian and British Columbian Law and our Articles
Unless such offer constitutes an exempt transaction, an offer made by a person, or an offeror, to acquire outstanding shares of a Canadian entity that, when aggregated with the offeror’s holdings (and (i) those of persons or companies acting jointly or in concert with the offeror; (ii) a control person of the offeror, and (iii) a person acting jointly or in concert with a person referred to in (ii)), would constitute 20% or more of the outstanding shares, would be subject to the take-over provisions of Canadian securities laws. The foregoing is a limited and general summary of certain aspects of applicable securities law in the provinces and territories of Canada, all in effect as of the date hereof.
In addition to the take-over bid requirements noted above, the acquisition of shares may trigger the application of additional statutory regimes including amongst others, the Investment Canada Act (Canada) and the Competition Act (Canada).
As well, under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), unless otherwise stated in our Articles, certain corporate actions require the approval of a special majority of shareholders, meaning holders of shares representing 66 2/3% of those votes cast in respect of a shareholder vote addressing such matter. Those items requiring the approval of a special majority generally relate to fundamental changes with respect to our business, and include amongst others, resolutions: (i) removing a director prior to the expiry
of his or her term; (ii) altering our Articles, (iii) approving an amalgamation; (iv) approving a plan of arrangement; and (v) providing for a sale of all or substantially all of our assets.
Outstanding Share Options
As of September 30, 2024, we had outstanding options to purchase 16,581,611 of our common shares at a weighted-average exercise price of $3.40 per share, pursuant to our 2011 Omnibus Share Compensation Plan and our 2016 Omnibus Share and Incentive Plan.
As of September 30, 2024, we had outstanding options to purchase 500,000 of our common shares at a weighted-average exercise price of $2.26 per share, which options were issued outside of our equity compensation plans.
Outstanding Restricted Stock Units
As of September 30, 2024, we had reserved 1,661,969 of our common shares for issuance upon the settlement of outstanding restricted stock units, pursuant to our 2016 Omnibus Share and Incentive Plan.
The Nasdaq Global Select Market
Our common shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “ABUS.”
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common shares is TSX Trust Company.
DESCRIPTION OF OUR PREFERRED SHARES
The following description of our preferred shares summarizes provisions of our Articles, the Investment Canada Act (Canada), the Competition Act (Canada) and the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia). The following description does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, our Articles, a copy of which is included as an exhibit to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference herein and to the applicable provisions of the Investment Canada Act, the Competition Act and the Business Corporations Act.
Our authorized share capital consists of (a) an unlimited number of preferred shares, without par value, and (b) 1,164,000 Series A Participating Convertible Preferred Shares. As of November 4, 2024 there were no Series A Participating Convertible Preferred Shares outstanding and no other preferred shares outstanding.
Our Board of Directors has the authority, subject to limitations prescribed by law, to issue preferred shares in one or more series, to establish the number of shares to be included in each series before the issue of shares in that series, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each series and any of its qualifications, limitations and restrictions.
Our Board of Directors may authorize the issuance of preferred shares with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of common shares. The issuance of preferred shares could delay, defer or prevent a change in control of our Company and may adversely affect the market price of our common shares and the voting and other rights of the holders of common shares. We have no current plan to issue any preferred shares.
If we offer a specific series of preferred shares under this prospectus, we will describe the terms of the preferred shares in the prospectus supplement for such offering and will file a copy of the certificate establishing the terms of the preferred shares with the SEC. To the extent required, this description will include:
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the title and stated value;
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the number of preferred shares offered, the liquidation preference per preferred share, and the purchase price of preferred shares;
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the dividend rate(s), period(s), and/or payment date(s), or method(s) of calculation for such dividends;
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whether dividends will be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends will accumulate;
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the procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any;
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the provisions for a sinking fund, if any;
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the provisions for redemption, if applicable;
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any listing of the preferred shares on any securities exchange or market;
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whether the preferred shares will be convertible into our common shares or our other securities and, if applicable, the conversion price (or how it will be calculated), the conversion period and any other terms of conversion (including any anti-dilution provisions, if any);
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whether the preferred shares will be exchangeable into debt securities, and, if applicable, the exchange price (or how it will be calculated), the exchange period and any other terms of exchange (including any anti-dilution provisions, if any);
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voting rights, if any, of the preferred shares;
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a discussion of any material and/or special U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred shares;
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the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred shares as to dividend rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of our affairs;
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any material limitations on issuance of any series of preferred shares ranking senior to or on a parity with the series of preferred shares as to dividend rights and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution, or winding up; and
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any other affirmative, negative or other covenants or contractual rights which might be attendant with the specific series of preferred shares.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for any series of preferred shares will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
DESCRIPTION OF OUR WARRANTS
We may issue warrants to purchase our common shares, preferred shares and/or debt securities in one or more series together with other securities or separately, as described in each applicable prospectus supplement. Below is a description of certain general terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer. Particular terms of the warrants will be described in the applicable warrant agreements and the applicable prospectus supplement for the warrants.
The applicable prospectus supplement will contain, where applicable, the following terms of and other information relating to the warrants:
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the specific designation and aggregate number of, and the price at which we will issue, the warrants;
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the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;
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the designation, amount and terms of the securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants;
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if applicable, the exercise price for our common shares, preferred shares and/or debt securities and the number of common shares, preferred shares and/or debt securities to be received upon exercise of the warrants and a description of any series of preferred shares or debt securities;
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the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will begin and the date on which that right will expire or, if the warrants may not be continuously exercised throughout that period, the specific date or dates on which the warrants may be exercised;
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whether the warrants will be issued in fully registered form or bearer form, in definitive or global form or in any combination of these forms, although, in any case, the form of a warrant included in a unit will correspond to the form of the unit and of any security included in that unit;
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any applicable material U.S. federal income tax or foreign tax consequences;
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the identity of the warrant agent for the warrants, if any, and of any other depositaries, execution or paying agents, transfer agents, registrars or other agents;
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the proposed listing, if any, of the warrants or any securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants on any securities exchange or market;
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if applicable, the date from and after which the warrants and the common shares, preferred shares and/or debt securities will be separately transferable;
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if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time;
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information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;
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the anti-dilution provisions of the warrants, if any;
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any redemption, put or call provisions;
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whether the warrants are to be sold separately or with other securities as parts of units; and
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any additional terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants.
Before the exercise of their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of common shares, preferred shares and/or debt securities. Therefore, holders of warrants will not be entitled, by virtue of being such holders, to vote, consent, receive dividends, receive notice as shareholders with respect to any meeting of shareholders for the election of our directors or any other matter, or to exercise any rights whatsoever as our shareholders. We reserve the right to include in an applicable prospectus supplement specific terms of the warrants that are not within the options and parameters described in this prospectus. In addition, to the extent that any particular terms of the warrants described in an applicable prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described in this prospectus, the description of those terms
included in this prospectus shall be deemed to have been superseded by the description of the differing terms set forth in such applicable prospectus supplement with respect to such warrants.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for any warrants will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
DESCRIPTION OF OUR DEBT SECURITIES
This section describes the general terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, any of which may be issued as convertible or exchangeable debt securities. We will set forth the particular terms of the debt securities we offer in an applicable prospectus supplement. The extent, if any, to which the following general provisions apply to particular debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following description of general terms relating to the debt securities and the indenture under which the debt securities will be issued are summaries only and therefore are not complete. You should read the indenture and the applicable prospectus supplement regarding any particular issuance of debt securities.
We will issue the debt securities offered by this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement under an indenture to be entered into between us and the trustee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of the debt securities will include those stated in the indenture and those made part of the indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as in effect on the date of the indenture. We have filed or will file a copy of the form of indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement in which this prospectus is included. The indenture will be subject to and governed by the terms of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
We may offer under this prospectus up to an aggregate principal amount of $300,000,000 in debt securities, or if debt securities are issued at a discount, or in a foreign currency, foreign currency units or composite currency, the principal amount as may be sold for an aggregate initial public offering price of up to $300,000,000. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will represent direct, unsecured obligations of our company and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured indebtedness.
The following statements relating to the debt securities and the indenture are summaries, qualified in their entirety by reference to the detailed provisions of the indenture and the final form indenture as may be filed with an applicable prospectus supplement.
General
We may issue the debt securities in one or more series with the same or various maturities, at par, at a premium, or at a discount. We will describe the particular terms of each series of debt securities in a prospectus supplement relating to that series, which we will file with the SEC.
The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth, to the extent required, the following terms of the debt securities in respect of which such prospectus supplement is delivered:
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the title of the series;
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the aggregate principal amount;
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the issue price or prices, expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;
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any limit on the aggregate principal amount;
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the date or dates on which the debt securities will be issued and on which principal of, and premium, if any, is payable;
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the interest rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) or, if applicable, the method used to determine such rate or rates;
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the date or dates from which interest will accrue, the interest payment date or dates on which interest will be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable, and the basis upon which interest will be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;
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the place or places where principal and, if applicable, premium and interest, is payable;
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the terms and conditions upon which we may, or the holders may require us to, redeem or repurchase the debt securities;
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the denominations in which such debt securities may be issuable, if other than a minimum denomination of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof;
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whether the debt securities are to be issuable in the form of certificated debt securities (as described below) or global debt securities (as described below);
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the portion of principal amount that will be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity date if other than the principal amount of the debt securities;
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the currency of denomination;
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the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of principal and, if applicable, premium and interest, will be made;
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if payments of principal and, if applicable, premium or interest, on the debt securities are to be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than the currency of denomination, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to such payments will be determined;
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if amounts of principal and, if applicable, premium and interest may be determined by reference to an index, including an index based on a currency or currencies other than in which the debt securities are payable, then the manner in which such amounts will be determined;
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the provisions, if any, relating to any collateral provided for such debt securities;
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whether the debt securities will be guaranteed by any person or persons and, if so, the identity of such person or persons, the terms and conditions upon which such debt securities shall be guaranteed and, if applicable, the terms and conditions upon which such guarantees may be subordinated to other indebtedness of the respective guarantors;
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any addition to or change in the covenants described in this prospectus or in the indenture;
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any events of default, if not otherwise described below under “Defaults and Notice”;
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the terms and conditions, if any, for conversion into or exchange for our common shares or preferred shares;
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any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents;
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the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the debt securities shall be subordinated in right of payment to other indebtedness of our company; and
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any other terms of the debt securities of such series.
We may issue discount debt securities that provide for an amount less than the stated principal amount to be due and payable upon acceleration of the maturity of such debt securities in accordance with the terms of the indenture. We may also issue debt securities in bearer form, with or without coupons. If we issue discount debt securities or debt securities in bearer form, we will describe material U.S. federal income tax considerations and other material special considerations that apply to these debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We may issue debt securities denominated in or payable in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units. If we do, we will describe the restrictions, elections, and general tax considerations relating to the debt securities and the foreign currency or currencies or foreign currency unit or units in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Exchange and/or Conversion Rights
We may issue debt securities which can be exchanged for or converted into our common shares or preferred shares. If we do, we will describe the terms of exchange or conversion in the prospectus supplement relating to such debt securities.
Transfer and Exchange
We may issue debt securities that will be represented by either:
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“book-entry securities,” which means that there will be one or more global securities registered in the name of a depositary or a nominee of a depositary; or
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“certificated securities,” which means that they will be represented by a certificate issued in definitive registered form.
We will specify in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular offering whether the debt securities offered will be book-entry or certificated securities.
Global Securities
The debt securities of a series may be issued in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with a depositary or its nominees identified in the prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities. In such a case, one or more global securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of the series to be represented by such global security or securities.
Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities in definitive registered form, a global security may not be registered for transfer or exchange except as a whole by the depositary for such global security to a nominee of the depositary and except in the circumstances described in the prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities. The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series of debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such series of debt securities.
Certificated Debt Securities
If you hold certificated debt securities issued under an indenture, you may transfer or exchange such debt securities in accordance with the terms of the indenture. You will not be charged a service charge for any transfer or exchange of certificated debt securities but may be required to pay an amount sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with such transfer or exchange.
Protection in the Event of Change of Control
Any provision in an indenture that governs the debt securities covered by this prospectus that includes any covenant or other provision providing for a put or increased interest or otherwise that would afford holders of the debt securities additional protection in the event of a recapitalization transaction, a change of control of our company, or a highly leveraged transaction will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Covenants
Unless otherwise indicated in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities may not have the benefit of any covenant that limits or restricts our business or operations, the pledging of our assets or the incurrence by us of indebtedness. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement any material covenants in respect of a series of debt securities.
Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance, Transfer or Lease
We may agree in any indenture that governs the debt securities of any series covered by this prospectus that we will not consolidate with or merge into any other person or convey, transfer or lease (as lessor) our properties and assets as, or substantially as, an entirety to any person, unless such person and such proposed transaction meets various criteria, which we will describe in detail in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Defaults and Notice
The debt securities of any series will contain events of default to be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, which may include, without limitation:
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default in the payment of any interest upon any debt security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;
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default in the payment of the principal of or any premium on any debt security of that series at its maturity;
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default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of a debt security of that series;
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default in the performance or breach of any other covenants or agreements in the indenture with respect to the debt securities of such series; and
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certain events relating to our bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization.
If an event of default with respect to debt securities of any series covered by this prospectus shall occur and be continuing, we may agree that the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of such series may declare the principal amount (or, if the debt securities of such series are issued at an original issue discount, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of the debt securities of such series) of all debt securities of such series or such other amount or amounts as the debt securities or supplemental indenture with respect to such series may provide, to be due and payable immediately. Any provisions pertaining to events of default and any remedies associated therewith will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Any indenture that governs the debt securities covered by this prospectus may require that the trustee under such indenture shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of a default, give to holders of debt securities of any series notice of all uncured and unwaived defaults with respect to such series known to it. However, in the case of a default that results from the failure to make any payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities of any series, or in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund installment with respect to debt securities of such series, if any, the trustee may withhold such notice if it in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the holders of debt securities of such series. Any terms and provisions relating to the foregoing types of provisions will be described in further detail in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Any indenture that governs the debt securities covered by this prospectus will contain a provision entitling the trustee to be indemnified by holders of debt securities before proceeding to exercise any trust or power under the indenture at the request of such holders. Any such indenture may provide that the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of any series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the trustee, or of exercising any trust or power conferred upon the trustee with respect to the debt securities of such series. However, the trustee under any such indenture may decline to follow any such direction if, among other reasons, the trustee determines in good faith that the actions or proceedings as directed may not lawfully be taken, would involve the trustee in personal liability or would be unduly prejudicial to the holders of the debt securities of such series not joining in such direction.
Any indenture that governs the debt securities covered by this prospectus may endow the holders of such debt securities to institute a proceeding with respect to such indenture, subject to certain conditions, which will be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement and which may include, that the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding make a written request upon the trustee to exercise its power under the indenture, indemnify the trustee and afford the trustee reasonable opportunity to act. Even so, such holders may have an absolute right to receipt of the principal of or premium, if any, and interest when due, to require conversion or exchange of debt securities if such indenture provides for convertibility or exchangeability at the option of the holder and to institute suit for the enforcement of such rights. Any terms and provisions relating to the foregoing types of provisions will be described in further detail in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Modification of the Indenture
We and the trustee may modify any indenture that governs the debt securities of any series covered by this prospectus with or without the consent of the holders of such debt securities, under certain circumstances to be described in a prospectus supplement.
Defeasance; Satisfaction and Discharge
The prospectus supplement will outline the conditions under which we may elect to have certain of our obligations under the indenture discharged and under which the indenture obligations will be deemed to be satisfied.
Regarding the Trustee
We will identify the trustee and any relationship that we may have with such trustee, with respect to any series of debt securities, in the prospectus supplement relating to the applicable debt securities. You should note that if the trustee becomes a creditor of us, the indenture and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 limit the rights of the trustee to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim, as security or otherwise. The trustee and its affiliates may engage in, and will be permitted to continue to engage in, other transactions with us and our affiliates. If, however, the trustee acquires any “conflicting interest” within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, it must eliminate such conflict or resign.
Governing Law
The law governing the indenture and the debt securities will be identified in the prospectus supplement relating to the applicable indenture and debt securities.
DESCRIPTION OF OUR UNITS
The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the units that we may offer under this prospectus. Units may be offered independently or together with one or more of the securities that may be offered under this prospectus, in any combination, and may be attached to or separate from those securities. While the terms we have summarized below will generally apply to any future units that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of units that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any units offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below.
The form of unit agreement, including a form of unit certificate, if any, will describe the terms of the series of units we may offer under this prospectus. The following summaries of material provisions of the units, and the unit agreements, are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the unit agreement applicable to a particular series of units. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements related to the units that we sell under this prospectus, as well as the complete unit agreements that contain the terms of the units.
General
We may issue units comprised of one or more of the securities that may be offered under this prospectus. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of units, including:
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the designation and the material terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether, and under what circumstances, those securities may be held or transferred separately;
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the rights and obligations of the unit agent, if any;
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the material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the units;
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any material provisions of the governing unit agreement that differ from those described herein; and
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any material provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units.
The provisions described in this section, as well as those described under “Description of Our Common Shares,” “Description of our Preferred Shares,” “Description of Our Debt Securities” and “Description of Our Warrants,” will apply to each unit and to any common share, preferred share, debt securities or warrants included in each unit, respectively.
Issuance in Series
We may issue units in such amounts and in numerous distinct series as we determine.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the securities, from time to time, to or through underwriters or dealers, through agents or remarketing firms, or directly to one or more purchasers pursuant to:
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underwritten public offerings;
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negotiated transactions;
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block trades;
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“At the Market Offerings,” within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), into an existing trading market, at prevailing market prices; or
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through a combination of these methods.
We may sell the securities to or through one or more underwriters or dealers (acting as principal or agent), through agents, or directly to one or more purchasers.
We may distribute securities from time to time in one or more transactions:
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at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;
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at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;
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at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or
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at negotiated prices.
A prospectus supplement or supplements (and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) will describe the terms of the offering of the securities being offered by this prospectus, including, to the extent applicable:
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the name or names of the underwriters, dealers or agents, if any;
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if the securities are to be offered through the selling efforts of brokers or dealers, the plan of distribution and the terms of any agreement, arrangement, or understanding entered into with broker(s) or dealer(s) prior to the effective date of the registration statement, and, if known, the identity of any broker(s) or dealer(s) who will participate in the offering and the amount to be offered through each;
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the purchase price of the securities or other consideration therefor, and the proceeds, if any, we will receive from the sale;
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if any of the securities being registered are to be offered otherwise than for cash, the general purposes of the distribution, the basis upon which the securities are to be offered, the amount of compensation and other expenses of distribution and by whom they are to be borne;
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any delayed delivery arrangements;
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any options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us;
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any agency fees or underwriting discounts and other items constituting agents’ or underwriters’ compensation;
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any public offering price;
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any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers;
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the identity and relationships of any finders, if applicable; and
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any securities exchange or market on which the securities may be listed.
Only underwriters named in the applicable prospectus supplement will be underwriters of the securities offered by the applicable prospectus supplement.
If underwriters are used in the sale, they will acquire the securities for their own account and may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices
determined at the time of sale. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable underwriting agreement. We may offer the securities being offered by this prospectus to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, subject to certain conditions, the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement, other than securities covered by any purchase option. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may change from time to time. We may use underwriters, dealers or agents with whom we have a material relationship. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement, naming the underwriter, dealer or agent, the nature of any such relationship.
We may use a remarketing firm to offer the securities being offered by this prospectus in connection with a remarketing arrangement upon their purchase. Remarketing firms will act as principals for their own account or as agents for us. These remarketing firms will offer or sell the securities pursuant to the terms of the securities. A prospectus supplement will identify any remarketing firm and the terms of its agreement, if any, with us and will describe the remarketing firm’s compensation. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters in connection with the securities they remarket.
If we offer and sell securities through a dealer, we or an underwriter will sell the securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale. The name of the dealer and the terms of the transaction will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We may sell securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. We will name any agent involved in the offering and sale of securities and we will describe any commissions we will pay to the agent in the prospectus supplement. Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, our agent will act on a best-efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
Dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and compensation received by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts. If such dealers or agents were deemed to be underwriters, they may be subject to statutory liabilities under the Securities Act.
We may sell securities directly to one or more purchasers without using underwriters or agents. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities may be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act, and any discounts or commissions they receive from us and any profit on their resale of the securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.
We may authorize agents or underwriters to solicit offers by certain types of institutional investors 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. We will describe the conditions to these contracts and the commissions we must pay for solicitation of these contracts in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We may provide agents, underwriters and dealers with indemnification against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribution with respect to payments that the agents, underwriters or dealers may make with respect to these liabilities. Agents, underwriters and dealers, or their respective affiliates, may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.
All securities we may offer, other than common shares, will be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriter may make a market in these securities, but will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We cannot guarantee the liquidity of the trading markets for any securities.
Any underwriter may engage in purchase options, stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). Purchase options involve sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum price. Syndicate-covering or other short-covering transactions involve purchases of the
securities, either through exercise of the purchase option or in the open market after the distribution is completed, to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a stabilizing or covering transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the activities at any time.
Any underwriters that are qualified market makers on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC may engage in passive market making transactions in our common shares on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act, during the business day prior to the pricing of the offering, before the commencement of offers or sales of our common shares. Passive market makers must comply with applicable volume and price limitations and must be identified as passive market makers. In general, a passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid for such security; if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, however, the passive market maker’s bid must then be lowered when certain purchase limits are exceeded. Passive market making may stabilize the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
Notwithstanding the above, the securities: (i) have not been qualified for distribution by prospectus in Canada; and (ii) may not be offered or sold in Canada during the course of their distribution except pursuant to a Canadian prospectus or in reliance on an available prospectus exemption.
LEGAL MATTERS
Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, certain legal matters relating to the securities will be passed upon for us by Hogan Lovells US LLP with respect to matters of United States law, and Farris LLP, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, with respect to matters of Canadian law. Additional legal matters may be passed upon for us, the selling shareholder or any underwriters, dealers or agents, by counsel that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement. As appropriate, legal counsel representing the underwriters, dealers or agents will be named in the accompanying prospectus supplement and may opine to certain legal matters.
EXPERTS
The financial statements of Arbutus Biopharma Corporation appearing in Arbutus Biopharma Corporation’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2023, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an internet website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. Our reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, and amendments to those reports, are also available for download, free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after these reports are filed with, or furnished to, the SEC, at our website at www.arbutusbio.com. Information contained on or accessible through our website is not a part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, and the inclusion of our website address in this prospectus is an inactive textual reference only.
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information in other documents that we file with it. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and information in documents that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede information contained in documents filed earlier with the SEC or contained in this prospectus. We incorporate by reference in this prospectus (i) the documents listed below, (ii) all documents that we file with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of the initial filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and prior to the effectiveness of such registration statement, and (iii) and any future filings that we may make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of the offerings under this prospectus; provided, however, that we are not incorporating, in each case, any documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed, including any information that we disclose under Items 2.02 or 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K, in accordance with SEC rules:
•
•
our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2024, June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2024, filed with the SEC on May 2, 2024, August 8, 2024 and November 6, 2024, respectively;
•
•
our Current Reports on Form 8-K (other than portions thereof furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits accompanying such reports that are related to such items) filed with the SEC on January 4, 2024, January 8, 2024, February 29, 2024, April 4, 2024, May 2, 2024,
May 2, 2024, May 22, 2024, May 28, 2024, June 5, 2024, June 6, 2024, August 1, 2024, October 11, 2024, October 15, 2024 and November 6, 2024; and
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the description of our common shares contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-34949) filed with the SEC on November 4, 2010, as updated by Exhibit 4.1 to the our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.
You may request, orally or in writing, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated herein by reference. These documents will be provided to you at no cost by contacting: Arbutus Biopharma Corporation, Attn: Corporate Secretary, 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, Pennsylvania 18974. In addition, copies of any or all of the documents incorporated herein by reference may be accessed at our website at www.arbutusbio.com. The information on such website is not incorporated by reference and is not a part of this prospectus.
$300,000,000
Common Shares
Preferred Shares
Warrants
Debt Securities
Units
PROSPECTUS
, 2024
The information contained in this prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus supplement is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state or other jurisdiction where such offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED NOVEMBER 6, 2024
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
Up to $100,000,000
Common Shares
We previously entered into an Open Market Sale AgreementSM with Jefferies LLC (“Jefferies”), dated December 20, 2018, as amended on December 20, 2019, August 7, 2020 and March 4, 2021 (as amended, the “Sale Agreement”), relating to our common shares, without par value per common share. In accordance with the terms of the Sale Agreement, we may offer and sell our common shares from time to time through Jefferies, acting as sales agent. Up to $100.0 million of our common shares are being offered by this prospectus supplement pursuant to the Sale Agreement.
Our common shares trade on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “ABUS.” On November 4, 2024, the last reported sale price for our common shares on the Nasdaq Global Select Market was $3.87 per common share.
Sales of our common shares, if any, under this prospectus supplement will be made by any method permitted that is deemed an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Jefferies is not required to sell any specific amount, but will act as our sales agent using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in any escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
Jefferies will be entitled to compensation at a commission rate of 3.0% of the gross proceeds of the shares sold under the Sale Agreement. See “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page
S-11 for additional information regarding the compensation to be paid to Jefferies. In connection with the sale of common shares on our behalf, Jefferies will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and the compensation of Jefferies will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have also agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to Jefferies with respect to certain liabilities, including civil liabilities under the Securities Act.
We are a “smaller reporting company” under the federal securities laws and, as such, are subject to reduced public company reporting requirements. See “Summary — Implications of Being a Smaller Reporting Company” for more information.
INVESTING IN OUR COMMON SHARES INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. YOU SHOULD REVIEW CAREFULLY THE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES DESCRIBED UNDER THE HEADING “RISK FACTORS” BEGINNING ON PAGE S-6 OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT, AS WELL AS THE OTHER INFORMATION CONTAINED IN OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT BEFORE MAKING A DECISION TO INVEST IN OUR SECURITIES.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities, or determined if this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Jefferies
The date of this prospectus supplement is , 2024
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Table of Contents
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Prospectus Supplement
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S-ii
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S-1 |
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S-3 |
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S-4 |
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S-6 |
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S-9 |
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S-11 |
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S-13 |
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S-18 |
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S-20 |
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S-20 |
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S-20 |
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S-21
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are part of a “shelf” registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on November 6, 2024.
This prospectus supplement relates to the offering of our common shares. Before buying any of the common shares that we are offering, we urge you to carefully read this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, together with the information incorporated herein by reference as described below under the heading “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference,” and any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering. These documents contain important information that you should consider when making your investment decision.
This prospectus supplement describes the terms of this offering of common shares and also adds to and updates information contained in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement. To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus supplement, on the one hand, and the information contained in any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement that was filed with the SEC before the date of this prospectus supplement, on the other hand, or the information contained in any free writing prospectus prepared by us or on our behalf that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement. If any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date — for example, a document incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement — the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.
We further note that the representations, warranties and covenants made by us in any agreement that is filed as an exhibit to any document that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, including, in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to such agreement, and should not be deemed to be a representation, warranty or covenant to you. Moreover, such representations, warranties or covenants were accurate only as of the date when made. Accordingly, such representations, warranties and covenants should not be relied on as accurately representing the current state of our affairs.
You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus prepared by or on our behalf that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering. We have not, and Jefferies has not, authorized any dealer, salesperson or other person to provide any information or to make any representation other than those contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement or into any free writing prospectus prepared by or on our behalf or to which we have referred you. If anyone provides you with additional, different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We and Jefferies take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We are not, and Jefferies is not, making an offer to sell the common shares in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on our behalf that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering is accurate only as of the date of each such respective document. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. You should read this prospectus supplement, including the documents incorporated by reference, and any free writing prospectus prepared by or on our behalf that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering, in their entirety before making an investment decision. You should also read and consider the information in the documents we have referred you to in the section of this prospectus supplement entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”
Other than in the United States, no action has been taken by us or Jefferies that would permit a public offering of the common shares offered by this prospectus supplement in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The common shares offered by this prospectus supplement may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, nor may this prospectus supplement or any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the offer and sale of the common shares be distributed or published in any jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of that jurisdiction. Persons into whose possession this prospectus supplement comes are advised to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to this offering and the distribution of this prospectus
supplement. This prospectus supplement does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the common shares offered by this prospectus supplement in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or a solicitation is unlawful.
Unless stated otherwise or the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus supplement to “Arbutus,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our” refer to Arbutus Biopharma Corporation and our wholly-owned subsidiary. The Arbutus logo and all other Arbutus product names are trademarks of Arbutus in the United States and in other select countries. The Arbutus logo is a trademark of Arbutus in Canada. We may indicate U.S. trademark registrations and U.S. trademarks with the symbols “®” and “™”, respectively. Other third-party logos and product/trade names are registered trademarks or trade names of their respective owners.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus supplement contains “forward-looking statements” or “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable United States and Canadian securities laws (we collectively refer to these items as “forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words “believes,” “may,” “plans,” “will,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “budgets,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “projects” and similar expressions that are not based on historical fact or that are predictions of or indicate future events and trends, and the negative of such expressions. Forward-looking statements in this prospectus supplement, including the documents incorporated by reference, include statements about, among other things:
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our strategy, future operations, preclinical studies, clinical trials, prospects and the plans of management;
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the potential for our product candidates to achieve their desired or anticipated outcomes;
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the expected cost, timing and results of our clinical development plans and clinical trials, including our clinical collaborations with third parties;
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the development and commercialization of a curative combination regimen for chronic hepatitis B infection, a disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus;
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the potential of our product candidates to improve upon the standard of care and contribute to a functional curative combination treatment regimen;
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obtaining necessary regulatory approvals;
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obtaining adequate financing through a combination of financing activities and operations;
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the expected returns and benefits from strategic alliances, licensing agreements, and research collaborations with third parties, and the timing thereof;
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our expectations regarding our technology licensed to third parties, and the timing thereof;
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our anticipated revenue and expense fluctuation and guidance;
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our expectations regarding the timing of announcing data from our ongoing clinical trials;
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our expectations regarding current patent disputes and litigation;
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our expectation of a net cash burn between $63 million and $67 million in 2024; and
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our belief that we have sufficient cash resources to fund our operations into the fourth quarter of 2026; and
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our use of proceeds from this offering.
We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make. We have included important factors in the cautionary statements included in this prospectus supplement under the heading “Risk Factors”, and in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, that we believe could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that we make.
Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment, and new risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for us to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this report may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements.
You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. Moreover, neither we nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this prospectus supplement to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations.
You should read this prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement with the understanding that our actual future results, levels of activity, performance and events and circumstances may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.
SUMMARY
This summary highlights certain information about us, this offering and selected information contained elsewhere in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement. This summary is not complete and does not contain all of the information that you should consider before deciding to invest in our common shares. For a more complete understanding of our company and this offering, you should read carefully this entire prospectus supplement, including the information incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, and any free writing prospectus prepared by or on our behalf that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering, including the “Risk Factors” section beginning on page
S-6 of this prospectus supplement and the other information included in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus supplement.
Company Overview
Arbutus Biopharma Corporation (“Arbutus”, the “Company”, “we”, “us”, and “our”) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company leveraging its extensive virology expertise to develop novel therapeutics with distinct mechanisms of action, which can potentially be combined to provide a functional cure for patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (cHBV) infection. We believe the key to success in developing a functional cure involves suppressing hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid, reducing hepatitis B surface antigen and boosting HBV-specific immune responses. Our pipeline of internally developed, proprietary compounds includes an RNAi therapeutic, imdusiran (AB-729), and an oral PD-L1 inhibitor, AB-101. Imdusiran has generated meaningful clinical data demonstrating an impact on both surface antigen reduction and reawakening of the HBV-specific immune response. Imdusiran is currently in two Phase 2a combination clinical trials. AB-101 is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1a/1b clinical trial.
Corporate Information
We, under the name Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation (“Tekmira”), were incorporated pursuant to the British Columbia Business Corporations Act (“BCBCA”), on October 6, 2005, and commenced active business on April 30, 2007, when Tekmira and its parent company, Inex Pharmaceuticals Corporation (“Inex”), were reorganized under a statutory plan of arrangement (the “Plan of Arrangement”), completed under the provisions of the BCBCA. The Plan of Arrangement saw Inex’s entire business transferred to and continued by Tekmira.
On March 4, 2015, we completed a business combination pursuant to which OnCore Biopharma, Inc. became our wholly-owned subsidiary. Effective July 31, 2015, our corporate name changed from Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation to Arbutus Biopharma Corporation. Also effective July 31, 2015, the corporate name of our wholly owned subsidiary, OnCore Biopharma, Inc. changed to Arbutus Biopharma, Inc. (“Arbutus Inc.”). We had two wholly owned subsidiaries: Arbutus Inc. and Protiva Biotherapeutics Inc. (“Protiva”). Effective January 1, 2018, Protiva was amalgamated with Arbutus.
Our head office and principal place of business is located at 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, Pennsylvania 18974 and our telephone number is (267) 469-0914. We maintain a website at www.arbutusbio.com. The information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not a part of this prospectus supplement. We have included our website address in this prospectus supplement solely as an inactive textual reference.
Implications of Being a Smaller Reporting Company
We are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC. As a smaller reporting company, we may rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements that are available to smaller reporting companies, including not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation. We will be able to take advantage of these scaled disclosures for so long as our voting and non-voting common shares held by non-affiliates is less than $250 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter, or our annual revenue is less than $100 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and our voting and non-voting common shares held by non-affiliates is less than $700 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter.
THE OFFERING
Common shares offered by us:
Common shares having an aggregate offering price of up to $100.0 million.
Common shares to be outstanding following the offering:
Up to 215,277,928 shares (as more fully described in the notes following this table), assuming sales of 25,839,793 of our common shares in this offering at an offering price of $3.87 per share, which was the last reported sale price of our common shares on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on November 4, 2024. The actual number of shares issued will vary depending on the various sales prices under this offering.
“At the market offering” that may be made from time to time on the Nasdaq Global Select Market or other existing trading markets for our common shares through our sales agent, Jefferies. See “Plan of Distribution” on page
S-11 of this prospectus supplement
We currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital and general corporate purposes, which may include capital expenditures, research and development expenditures, preclinical study and clinical trial expenditures, acquisitions of new technologies and investments and business combinations. We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to reallocate the proceeds of this offering in response to developments in our business and other factors. See “Use of Proceeds” on page
S-8 of this prospectus supplement.
Investing in our common shares involves a high degree of risk. Please read the information contained in and incorporated by reference under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page
S-6 of this prospectus supplement and the other information included in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus supplement for a discussion of certain factors you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in our common shares.
Nasdaq Global Select Market
symbol:
“ABUS”
Unless otherwise indicated, the number of common shares to be outstanding after this offering is based on 189,438,135 common shares outstanding as of September 30, 2024. Unless specifically stated otherwise, the information in this prospectus supplement is as of September 30, 2024, and excludes:
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17,081,611 of our common shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of September 30, 2024, at a weighted average exercise price of $3.37 per common share;
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1,661,969 of our common shares underlying restricted stock units outstanding as of September 30, 2024;
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15,460,108 of our common shares reserved for future grants of stock options, restricted stock units or other similar equity instruments under the 2016 Share and Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2016 Plan”), as of September 30, 2024; and
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614,668 of our common shares reserved for future issuance under the 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2020 ESPP”) as of September 30, 2024.
Unless otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus supplement reflects or assumes no exercise or forfeiture of any outstanding stock options or settlement of restricted stock units since September 30, 2024.
RISK FACTORS
Investing in our common shares is speculative and involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks described in this prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, including the “Risk Factors” section of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, as updated by annual, quarterly and other reports and documents we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus supplement and that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected. These risks and uncertainties are not the only ones faced by us. Additional risks and uncertainties, including those of which we are currently unaware or that are currently deemed immaterial, may also materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, cash flows, prospects and the price of our common shares.
Risks Related to This Offering
A substantial number of common shares may be sold in the market following this offering, which may depress the market price for our common shares.
Sales of a substantial number of our common shares in the public market following this offering could cause the market price of our common shares to decline. Although there can be no assurance that any of the $100.0 million of common shares being offered under this prospectus supplement will be sold or the price at which any such shares might be sold, assuming that an aggregate of 25,839,793 of our common shares are sold under this prospectus supplement during the term of the Sale Agreement with Jefferies, in each case, for example, at a price of $3.87 per share, the last reported sale price of our common shares on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on November 4, 2024, upon completion of this offering, based on 189,438,135 common shares outstanding as of September 30, 2024, we will have outstanding an aggregate of 215,277,928 common shares, assuming no exercise of outstanding options and no settlement of outstanding restricted stock units. A substantial majority of our outstanding common shares are, and all of the common shares sold in this offering upon issuance will be, freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, unless these shares are owned or purchased by “affiliates” as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
In addition, as of September 30, 2024, we had (i) outstanding stock options exercisable for 17,081,611 common shares at a weighted average exercise price of $3.37 per share, of which stock options to purchase 11,111,446 common shares were then exercisable and (ii) 1,661,969 common shares underlying outstanding restricted stock units. Upon exercise of the stock options and settlement of the restricted stock units, we would issue additional common shares. As a result, our current shareholders as a group would own a smaller interest in us and may have less influence on our management and policies than they now have. Furthermore, the holders may sell these shares in the public markets from time to time, without limitations on the timing, amount or method of sale. Sales of these common shares in the market could cause the market price of our common shares to decline. Moreover, if we issue options, restricted stock units or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common shares in the future and those options, restricted stock units or other derivative securities are converted or exchanged into common shares, you may experience further dilution.
Additional dilution may result from the issuance of our common shares in connection with collaborations or other financing efforts.
You may experience future dilution as a result of future equity offerings.
In order to raise additional capital, we may in the future offer additional common shares or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common shares at prices that may not be the same as the price per share in this offering. We may sell common shares or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common shares in any other offering at a price per share that is less than the price per share paid by investors in this offering, and investors purchasing common shares or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common shares in the future could have rights superior to existing shareholders. The price per share at which we sell additional common shares or other securities convertible or exchangeable into our common shares, in future transactions may be higher or lower than the price per share paid by investors in this offering.
We have broad discretion in how we use the net proceeds of this offering, and we may not use these proceeds effectively or in ways with which you agree.
We have not designated any portion of the net proceeds from this offering to be used for any particular purpose. Our management will have broad discretion as to the application of the net proceeds of this offering and could use them for purposes other than those contemplated at the time of this offering. Our shareholders may not agree with the manner in which our management chooses to allocate and spend the net proceeds. Moreover, our management may use the net proceeds for corporate purposes that may not increase the market price of our common shares.
Investors in this offering will experience immediate dilution in the as-adjusted net tangible book value per share of the common shares purchased in the offering.
The common shares sold in this offering, if any, will be sold from time to time at various prices. However, the expected offering price of our common shares will be substantially higher than the net tangible book value per share of our outstanding common shares. After giving effect to the sale of our common shares being offered under this prospectus supplement in the aggregate amount of $
100.0 million at an assumed offering price of
$3.87 per share, the last reported sale price of our common shares on November 4, 2024 on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, and after deducting estimated commissions and estimated offering expenses, our as-adjusted net tangible book value as of September 30, 2024, based on 189,438,135 common shares outstanding as of September 30, 2024 would have been approximately $
203.7 million, or approximately
$0.95 per common share. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of approximately
$0.39 per common share to our existing shareholders and an immediate dilution in as-adjusted net tangible book value of approximately
$2.92 per common share to new investors of our common shares in this offering. See “Dilution” on page
S-9 of this prospectus supplement.
It is not possible to predict the aggregate proceeds resulting from sales made under the Sale Agreement.
Subject to certain limitations in the Sale Agreement and compliance with applicable law, we have the discretion to deliver a placement notice to Jefferies at any time throughout the term of the Sale Agreement. The number of shares that are sold through Jefferies after delivering a placement notice will fluctuate based on a number of factors, including the market price of our common shares during the sales period, any limits we may set with Jefferies in any applicable placement notice and the demand for our common shares. Because this offering can be terminated at any time and the price per share of each common share sold pursuant to the Sale Agreement will fluctuate over time, it is not currently possible to predict the aggregate proceeds to be raised in connection with sales under the Sale Agreement.
We do not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable future. As a result, you must rely on stock appreciation for any return on your investment.
We do not anticipate paying cash dividends on our common shares in the foreseeable future. Any payment of cash dividends will also depend on our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements and other factors and will be at the discretion of our board of directors. Accordingly, you will have to rely on capital appreciation, if any, to earn a return on your investment in our common shares. Furthermore, we may in the future become subject to additional contractual restrictions on, or prohibitions against, the payment of dividends.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We may issue and sell our common shares having aggregate sales proceeds of up to $100.0 million from time to time. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to close this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. There can be no assurance that, in the future, we will sell any shares under or fully utilize the Sale Agreement with Jefferies as a source of financing.
We currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital and general corporate purposes, which may include capital expenditures, research and development expenditures, preclinical study and clinical trial expenditures, acquisitions of new technologies and investments and business combinations.
The precise amount and timing of the application of these net proceeds will depend upon a number of factors, such as the timing and progress of our research and development efforts and the timing and progress of any partnering efforts. As of the date of this prospectus supplement, we cannot specify with certainty all of the particular uses for the net proceeds from this offering. Depending on the outcome of our efforts and other unforeseen events, our plans and priorities may change and we may apply the net proceeds of this offering in different manners than we currently anticipate. Accordingly, our management will have broad discretion in the timing and application of these net proceeds. Pending application of the net proceeds as described above, we intend to temporarily invest the net proceeds in interest-bearing instruments.
DILUTION
If you invest in our common shares in this offering, your ownership interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the public offering price per share and our as-adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering. We calculate net tangible book value per share by dividing our net tangible book value, which is tangible assets less total liabilities, by the number of outstanding common shares.
The net tangible book value of our common shares as of September 30, 2024 was approximately $106.9 million, or approximately $0.56 per common share.
After giving effect to the sale of our common shares in the aggregate amount of $100.0 million at an assumed offering price of $3.87 per common share, the last reported sale price of our common shares on November 4, 2024 on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, and after deducting estimated commissions and estimated offering expenses, our as-adjusted net tangible book value as of September 30, 2024 would have been approximately $203.7 million, or approximately $0.95 per common share. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of approximately $0.39 per common share to our existing shareholders and an immediate dilution in as-adjusted net tangible book value of approximately $2.92 per common share to new investors of our common shares in this offering, as illustrated by the following table:
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Assumed public offering price per share
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$ |
3.87 |
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Net tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2024
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$ |
0.56 |
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Increase in net tangible book value per share after this offering
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$ |
0.39 |
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As-adjusted net tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2024, after giving effect to this offering
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$ |
0.95 |
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Dilution per share to new investors in this offering(1)(2)
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$ |
2.92 |
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(1)
Calculated as the difference between the assumed public offering price per common share and the as-adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering.
(2)
The foregoing is based on 189,438,135 common shares outstanding as of September 30, 2024 and excludes:
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17,081,611 of our common shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of September 30, 2024, at a weighted average exercise price of $3.37 per common share;
▪
1,661,969 of our common shares underlying restricted stock units outstanding as of September 30, 2024;
▪
15,460,108 of our common shares reserved for future grants of stock options, restricted stock units or other similar equity instruments under the 2016 Plan as of September 30, 2024; and
▪
614,668 of our common shares reserved for future issuance under the 2020 ESPP as of September 30, 2024.
Unless otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus supplement reflects or assumes no exercise or forfeiture of any outstanding stock options or settlement of restricted stock units since September 30, 2024.
The table above assumes for illustrative purposes that an aggregate of 25,839,793 of our common shares are sold under this prospectus supplement during the term of the Sale Agreement with Jefferies at a price of $3.87 per share, the last reported sale price of our common shares on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on November 4, 2024, for aggregate net proceeds of approximately $96.8 million, after deducting commissions and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us. The as-adjusted information is illustrative only and will adjust based on the actual price to the public, the actual number of common shares sold and other terms of the offering determined at the time our common shares are sold pursuant to this prospectus supplement. Pursuant to the Sale Agreement, the common shares are being sold from time to time at various prices under this prospectus supplement. An increase of $1.00 per share in the price at which the common shares are sold from the assumed offering price of $3.87 per share shown in the table above, assuming all of our common shares in the aggregate amount of $100.0 million during the term of the Sale Agreement with Jefferies are sold at that price under this prospectus supplement, would increase our as-adjusted net tangible book value per share after the offering to $0.97 per share and would increase the dilution in as-adjusted net tangible book value per share to new investors in this offering to $3.90 per share, after deducting commissions and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us. A decrease of $1.00 per share in the price at which the common shares are sold from the assumed offering price of $3.87 per share shown in the
table above, assuming all of our common shares in the aggregate amount of $100.0 million during the term of the Sale Agreement with Jefferies are sold at that price under this prospectus supplement, would decrease our as-adjusted net tangible book value per share after the offering to $0.91 per share and would decrease the dilution in as-adjusted net tangible book value per share to new investors in this offering to $1.96 per share, after deducting commissions and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us. This information is supplied for illustrative purposes only.
To the extent that any options have been or are exercised, restricted stock units have been or are settled, new options or restricted stock units are issued under the 2016 Plan or as inducement awards or we otherwise issue additional common shares in the future, there will be further dilution to new investors. In addition, we may choose to raise additional capital due to market conditions or strategic considerations even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. To the extent that additional capital is raised through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the issuance of these securities could result in further dilution to our shareholders.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We previously entered into the Sale Agreement with Jefferies relating to our common shares. $100.0 million of our common shares are being offered by this prospectus supplement pursuant to the Sale Agreement.
In accordance with the terms of the Sale Agreement, we may offer and sell our common shares from time to time through Jefferies, acting as sales agent, under this prospectus supplement. Sales of our common shares, if any, under this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus will be made by any method that is deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act including sales made directly on or through the Nasdaq Global Select Market or any other existing trading market for our common shares provided such sales are conducted on a market or exchange outside of Canada or to persons resident outside of Canada.
Each time we wish to issue and sell common shares under the Sale Agreement, we will notify Jefferies of the number of shares to be issued, the dates on which such sales are anticipated to be made, any limitation on the number of shares to be sold in any one day and any minimum price below which sales may not be made. Once we have so instructed Jefferies, unless Jefferies declines to accept the terms of such notice, Jefferies has agreed to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such shares up to the amount specified on such terms. The obligations of Jefferies under the Sale Agreement to sell our common shares are subject to a number of conditions that we must meet.
The settlement of sales of common shares between us and Jefferies is generally anticipated to occur on the first trading day following the date on which the sale was made. Sales of our common shares as contemplated in this prospectus supplement will be settled through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company or by such other means as we and Jefferies may agree upon. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
We will pay Jefferies a commission equal to 3.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds we receive from each sale of our common shares. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to close this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. We estimate that the total expenses for the offering under this prospectus supplement, excluding any commissions or expense reimbursement payable to Jefferies under the terms of the Sale Agreement, will be approximately $240,000. The remaining sale proceeds, after deducting any other transaction fees, will equal our net proceeds from the sale of such common shares.
Jefferies will provide written confirmation to us before the open on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on the day following each day on which common shares are sold under the Sale Agreement. Each confirmation will include the number of common shares sold on that day, the aggregate gross proceeds of such sales and the proceeds to us.
In connection with the sale of the common shares on our behalf, Jefferies will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the compensation of Jefferies will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed to indemnify Jefferies against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. We have also agreed to contribute to payments Jefferies may be required to make in respect of such liabilities.
The offering of our common shares pursuant to the Sale Agreement will terminate as permitted therein.
This summary of the material provisions of the Sale Agreement does not purport to be a complete statement of its terms and conditions. A copy of the Sale Agreement, and the amendments thereto, are filed as exhibits to our filings made under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.
Jefferies and its affiliates may in the future provide various investment banking, commercial banking, financial advisory and other financial services for us and our affiliates, for which services they may in the future receive customary fees. In the course of its business, Jefferies may actively trade our securities for its own account or for the accounts of customers, and, accordingly, Jefferies may at any time hold long or short positions in such securities.
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in electronic format may be made available on a website maintained by Jefferies, and Jefferies may distribute this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus electronically.
Notwithstanding the above, the securities: (i) have not been qualified for distribution by prospectus in Canada, and (ii) may not be offered or sold in Canada during the course of their distribution except pursuant to a Canadian prospectus or in reliance on an available prospectus exemption.
MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a general summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to a U.S. Holder (as defined below) arising from and relating to the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of common shares acquired pursuant to this prospectus supplement. This section applies only to a U.S. Holder that holds common shares as capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In addition, it does not set forth all of the U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant in light of the U.S. Holder’s particular circumstances, including alternative minimum tax consequences, the potential application of the provisions of the Code known as the Medicare contribution tax and tax consequences applicable to U.S. Holders subject to special rules, such as:
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certain financial institutions;
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dealers or traders in securities who use a mark-to-market method of tax accounting;
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U.S. expatriates and certain former citizens or long-term residents of the United States;
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persons holding common shares as part of a hedging transaction, straddle, wash sale, conversion transaction or other integrated transaction or persons entering into a constructive sale with respect to the common shares;
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persons whose functional currency for U.S. federal income tax purposes is not the U.S. dollar;
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entities classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes;
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tax-exempt entities, including an “individual retirement account” or “Roth IRA”;
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persons that own or are deemed to own ten percent or more of our shares (by vote or value); or
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persons holding common shares in connection with a trade or business conducted outside of the United States.
If an entity that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds common shares, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner will depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partnerships holding common shares and partners in such partnerships should consult their tax advisers as to the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing of the common shares.
This section is based on the Code, administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions, final, temporary and proposed Treasury regulations, all as of the date hereof, any of which is subject to change or differing interpretations, possibly with retroactive effect.
A “U.S. Holder” is a holder who, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is a beneficial owner of common shares, and who is:
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a citizen or individual resident of the United States;
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a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state therein or the District of Columbia;
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an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or
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a trust if (1) a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons have authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (2) the trust has a valid election to be treated as a U.S. person under applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations.
U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers concerning the U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax consequences of owning and disposing of common shares in their particular circumstances.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules
Under the Code, we will be a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) for any taxable year in which, after the application of certain “look-through” rules with respect to subsidiaries, either (i) 75% or more of our gross income consists of “passive income,” or (ii) 50% or more of the average quarterly value of our assets consist of assets that produce, or are held for the production of, “passive income.” For purposes of the above calculations, we will be treated as if we hold our proportionate share of the assets of, and receive directly
our proportionate share of the income of, any other corporation in which we directly or indirectly own at least 25%, by value, of the shares of such corporation.
Passive income includes, among other things, interest, dividends, rents, certain non-active royalties and capital gains. Based on the composition of our gross income and assets in 2023, our reasonable estimates of our gross income and assets for 2024, and the nature of our business, we have determined that we were not a PFIC for our 2023 taxable year and we do not expect to be a PFIC for our taxable year ending December 31, 2024. Nevertheless, whether we are a PFIC in 2024 or any future taxable year is uncertain because, among other things, (i) we currently own, and will own after the closing of this offering, a substantial amount of passive assets, including cash, (ii) the valuation of our assets that generate non-passive income for PFIC purposes is uncertain and may vary substantially over time, and (iii) the composition of our income may vary substantially over time. If we are a PFIC for any year during which a U.S. Holder holds common shares, we will continue to be treated as a PFIC with respect to that U.S. Holder for all succeeding years during which the U.S. Holder holds common shares, even if we ceased to meet the threshold requirements for PFIC status, unless the U.S. Holder makes a valid deemed sale or deemed dividend election under the applicable Treasury regulations with respect to its common shares.
If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder holds common shares (assuming such U.S. Holder has not made a timely mark-to-market election, as described below), gain recognized by a U.S. Holder on a sale or other disposition (including certain pledges) of the common shares would be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the common shares. The amounts allocated to the taxable year of the sale or other disposition and to any year before we became a PFIC would be taxed as ordinary income. The amount allocated to each other taxable year would be subject to tax at the highest rate in effect for individuals or corporations, as appropriate, for that taxable year, and an interest charge would be imposed on the amount allocated to that taxable year. Further, to the extent that any distribution received by a U.S. Holder on its common shares exceeds 125% of the average of the annual distributions on the common shares received during the preceding three years or the U.S. Holder’s holding period, whichever is shorter, that distribution would be subject to taxation in the same manner as gain, described immediately above.
A U.S. Holder can avoid certain of the adverse rules described above by making a mark-to-market election with respect to its common shares, provided that the common shares are “marketable.” Common shares will be marketable if they are “regularly traded” on a “qualified exchange” or other market within the meaning of applicable Treasury regulations. The common shares will be treated as “regularly traded” in any calendar year in which more than a de minimis quantity of the common shares are traded on a qualified exchange on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter (subject to the rule that trades that have as one of their principal purposes the meeting of the trading requirement as disregarded). The Nasdaq Global Select Market is a qualified exchange for this purpose and, consequently, if the common shares are regularly traded, the mark-to-market election will be available to a U.S. Holder. If a U.S. Holder makes the mark-to-market election, it will recognize as ordinary income any excess of the fair market value of the common shares at the end of each taxable year over their adjusted tax basis, and will recognize an ordinary loss in respect of any excess of the adjusted tax basis of the common shares over their fair market value at the end of the taxable year (but only to the extent of the net amount of income previously included as a result of the mark-to-market election). If a U.S. Holder makes the election, the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the common shares will be adjusted to reflect the income or loss amounts recognized. Any gain recognized on the sale or other disposition of common shares in a year when we are a PFIC will be treated as ordinary income and any loss will be treated as an ordinary loss (but only to the extent of the net amount of income previously included as a result of the mark-to-market election).
However, a mark-to-market election generally cannot be made for equity interests in any lower-tier PFICs that we own, unless shares of such lower-tier PFIC are themselves “marketable.” As a result, even if a U.S. Holder validly makes a mark-to-market election with respect to our common shares, the U.S. Holder may continue to be subject to the PFIC rules (described above) with respect to its indirect interest in any of our investments that are treated as an equity interest in a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors as to the availability and desirability of a mark-to-market election, as well as the impact of such election on interests in any lower-tier PFICs.
Alternatively, a U.S. Holder can make an election, if we provide the necessary information, to treat us and each lower-tier PFIC as a qualified electing fund (a “QEF Election”) in the first taxable year we (and our relevant
subsidiaries) are treated as a PFIC with respect to the U.S. Holder. If a U.S. Holder makes a QEF Election with respect to a PFIC, the U.S. Holder will be currently taxable on its pro rata share of the PFIC’s ordinary earnings and net capital gain (at ordinary income and capital gain rates, respectively) for each taxable year that the entity is classified as a PFIC and will not be required to include such amounts in income when actually distributed by the PFIC. If we are a PFIC, we intend to provide the information necessary for a U.S. Holder to make a QEF Election with respect to us and to cause each lower-tier PFIC which we control to provide such information with respect to such lower-tier PFIC. If such election remains in place while we and any lower-tier PFIC subsidiaries are PFICs, we and our subsidiaries will not be treated as PFICs with respect to such U.S. Holder. A U.S. Holder must make the QEF Election for us and for each of our subsidiaries that is a PFIC by attaching a separate properly completed IRS Form 8621 for each such PFIC to the U.S. Holder’s timely filed U.S. federal income tax return.
In addition, if we are a PFIC or, with respect to a particular U.S. Holder, are treated as a PFIC for the taxable year in which we paid a dividend or for the prior taxable year, the preferential dividend rates discussed above with respect to dividends paid to certain non-corporate U.S. Holders would not apply.
If a U.S. Holder owns common shares during any year in which we are a PFIC, the U.S. Holder must file annual reports, containing such information as the U.S. Treasury may require on IRS Form 8621 (or any successor form) with respect to us, with the U.S. Holder’s federal income tax return for that year, unless otherwise specified in the instructions with respect to such form.
U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers concerning our PFIC status and the application of the PFIC rules.
General Rules Applicable to the Ownership and Disposition of Common Shares
The following discussion describes the general rules applicable to the ownership and disposition of the common shares but is subject in its entirety to the special rules described above under the heading “Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules.”
Distributions on Common Shares
A U.S. Holder that receives a distribution with respect to a common share will be required to include the amount of such distribution in gross income as a dividend (without reduction for any Canadian income tax withheld from such distribution) to the extent of our current and accumulated “earnings and profits,” as computed for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Subject to the passive foreign investment company rules described above, a distribution generally will be treated as a dividend to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles). To the extent that a distribution exceeds our current and accumulated “earnings and profits,” such distribution will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of a U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the common shares and thereafter as gain from the sale or exchange of such common shares. (See “Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Shares” below). However, we may not maintain the calculations of our earnings and profits in accordance with U.S. federal income tax principles, and each U.S. Holder may have to assume that any distribution by us with respect to the common shares will constitute ordinary dividend income. Dividends paid by a “qualified foreign corporation” to certain non-corporate U.S. Holders may be eligible for taxation at a reduced capital gains rate rather than the marginal tax rates generally applicable to ordinary income provided that a holding period requirement (more than 60 days of ownership, without protection from the risk of loss, during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the ex-dividend date) and certain other requirements are met. Each U.S. Holder is advised to consult its tax advisors regarding the availability of the reduced tax rate on dividends to its particular circumstances. However, if we are a PFIC for the taxable year in which the dividend is paid or the preceding taxable year, we will not be treated as a qualified foreign corporation, and therefore the reduced capital gains tax rate described above will not apply. Dividends received on common shares by corporate U.S. Holders generally will not be eligible for the “dividends received deduction.” The dividend rules are complex, and each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisors regarding the application of such rules.
Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Shares
Upon the sale or other taxable disposition of common shares, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the U.S. dollar value of cash received plus the fair
market value of any property received and such U.S. Holder’s tax basis in such common shares sold or otherwise disposed of. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in common shares generally will be such holder’s U.S. dollar cost for such common shares. Gain or loss recognized on such sale or other disposition generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if, at the time of the sale or other disposition, the common shares have been held for more than one year.
Subject to the PFIC rules discussed above, preferential tax rates currently apply to long-term capital gain of a U.S. Holder that is an individual, estate, or trust. There are currently no preferential tax rates for long-term capital gain of a U.S. Holder that is a corporation. Deductions for capital losses are subject to significant limitations under the Code.
Receipt of Foreign Currency
The amount of any distribution paid to a U.S. Holder in foreign currency, or on the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of common shares, generally will be equal to the U.S. dollar value of such foreign currency based on the exchange rate applicable on the date of receipt (regardless of whether such foreign currency is converted into U.S. dollars at that time). A U.S. Holder will have a basis in the foreign currency equal to its U.S. dollar value on the date of receipt. Any U.S. Holder who converts or otherwise disposes of the foreign currency after the date of receipt may have a foreign currency exchange gain or loss that would be treated as ordinary income or loss, and generally will be U.S. source income or loss for foreign tax credit purposes. Different rules apply to U.S. Holders who use the accrual method. Each U.S. Holder should consult its own U.S. tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of receiving, owning, and disposing of foreign currency.
Foreign Tax Credit
Subject to the PFIC rules discussed above, a U.S. Holder that pays (whether directly or through withholding) Canadian income tax with respect to dividends paid on the common shares generally will be entitled, at the election of such U.S. Holder, to receive either a deduction or a credit for such Canadian income tax. Generally, a credit will reduce a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability on a dollar-for-dollar basis, whereas a deduction will reduce a U.S. Holder’s income that is subject to U.S. federal income tax. This election is made on a year-by-year basis and applies to all foreign taxes paid (whether directly or through withholding) by a U.S. Holder during a year.
Complex limitations apply to the foreign tax credit, including the general limitation that the credit cannot exceed the proportionate share of a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability that such U.S. Holder’s “foreign source” taxable income bears to such U.S. Holder’s worldwide taxable income. In applying this limitation, a U.S. Holder’s various items of income and deduction must be classified, under complex rules, as either “foreign source” or “U.S. source.” Generally, dividends paid by a foreign corporation should be treated as foreign source for this purpose, and gains recognized on the sale of stock of a foreign corporation by a U.S. Holder should be treated as U.S. source for this purpose. However, the amount of a distribution with respect to the common shares that is treated as a “dividend” may be lower for U.S. federal income tax purposes than it is for Canadian federal income tax purposes, resulting in a reduced foreign tax credit allowance to a U.S. Holder. In addition, this limitation is calculated separately with respect to specific categories of income. The foreign tax credit rules are complex, and each U.S. Holder should consult its own U.S. tax advisors regarding the foreign tax credit rules.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
Payments made within the U.S., or by a U.S. payor or U.S. middleman, of dividends on, and proceeds arising from the sale or other taxable disposition of, common shares will generally be subject to information reporting and backup withholding if a U.S. Holder (a) fails to furnish such U.S. Holder’s correct U.S. taxpayer identification number (generally on Form W-9), (b) furnishes an incorrect U.S. taxpayer identification number, (c) is notified by the IRS that such U.S. Holder has previously failed to properly report items subject to backup withholding tax, or (d) fails to certify, under penalty of perjury, that such U.S. Holder has furnished its correct U.S. taxpayer identification number and that the IRS has not notified such U.S. Holder that it is subject to backup withholding tax. However, certain exempt persons generally are excluded from these information reporting and backup withholding rules. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the U.S. backup withholding tax rules will be allowed as a credit against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, or will be refunded, if such U.S. Holder furnishes required information to the IRS in a timely manner.
THE ABOVE SUMMARY IS NOT INTENDED TO CONSTITUTE A COMPLETE ANALYSIS OF ALL TAX CONSIDERATIONS APPLICABLE TO U.S. HOLDERS WITH RESPECT TO THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP, AND DISPOSITION OF COMMON SHARES. U.S. HOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE TAX CONSIDERATIONS APPLICABLE TO THEM IN THEIR OWN PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES.
CERTAIN CANADIAN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a general summary of the principal Canadian federal income tax considerations under the Income Tax Act (Canada) and the regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Tax Act”) generally applicable to a Non-Canadian Holder (as defined below) arising from and relating to the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of common shares acquired pursuant to this offering.
This summary is applicable to a purchaser who acquires common shares pursuant to this offering and who, for the purposes of the Tax Act and any applicable tax treaty at all relevant times: (i) is not (and is not deemed to be) a resident in Canada, (ii) holds such common shares as capital property, (iii) deals at arm’s length and is not affiliated with us or Jefferies, (iv) does not use or hold (and will not use or hold) and is not deemed to use or hold the common shares in, or in the course of, carrying on a business in Canada, (v) does not carry on an insurance business in Canada and elsewhere, and (vi) is not an “authorized foreign bank” as defined in the Tax Act (a “Non-Canadian Holder”).
This summary does not apply to a Non-Canadian Holder (i) that is a “financial institution”, as defined in the Tax Act; (ii) that is a “specified financial institution” as defined in the Tax Act; (iii) an interest in which is or would constitute a “tax shelter investment” as defined in the Tax Act; or (iv) that has or will enter into a “synthetic disposition arrangement”, “synthetic equity arrangement” or a “derivative forward agreement”, as those terms are defined in the Tax Act, in respect of common shares acquired pursuant to this offering. All such Non-Canadian Holders should consult their own tax advisors with respect to an investment in the common shares.
This summary is based on the current provisions of the Tax Act, our understanding of the current published administrative policies and assessing practices of the Canada Revenue Agency (the “CRA”), all specific proposals to amend the Tax Act announced by or on behalf of the Minister of Finance (Canada) prior to the date hereof (the “Tax Proposals”), and the current provisions of the Canada-U.S. Tax Convention (1980), as amended (the “Canada-U.S. Tax Treaty”). This summary assumes that the Tax Proposals will be enacted in the current form proposed and does not otherwise take into account or anticipate any changes in the law or in the administrative policies and assessing practices of the CRA, whether by judicial, administrative, or legislative decisions or action, and whether prospective or retroactive in effect, nor does it take into account tax legislation or considerations of any province or territory of Canada or any jurisdiction other than Canada, which may differ materially from those described in this summary.
This summary is not exhaustive of all possible Canadian federal income tax considerations, is of a general nature only, and is not intended to be, nor should it be construed to be, legal or tax advice to any particular Non-Canadian Holder. The relevant tax considerations applicable to the acquiring, holding and disposing of common shares acquired pursuant to this offering may vary according to the status of the Non-Canadian Holder, the jurisdiction in which the Non-Canadian Holder resides or carries on business and the holder’s own particular circumstances. Accordingly, each Non-Canadian Holder should consult their own tax advisors about the specific tax consequences to them of acquiring, holding and disposing of common shares acquired pursuant to this offering.
Dividends on common shares acquired pursuant to this offering
Dividends on common shares acquired pursuant to this offering paid or credited, or deemed to be paid or credited (including on a repurchase or redemption of the common shares by us unless purchased by us in the open market in the manner in which shares are normally purchased by any member of the public in the open market) to a Non-Canadian Holder will be subject to a non-resident withholding tax under the Tax Act at a rate of 25%, subject to reduction under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty or convention. Under the Canada-U.S. Tax Treaty, the withholding tax rate for dividends is reduced to 5% for Non-Canadian Holders who are resident in the U.S. for purposes of, and are entitled to the benefits of, the Canada-U.S. Tax Treaty (a “U.S. Holder”) and that are corporations that hold at least 10% of our voting shares, and reduced to 15% for other U.S. Holders. The Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profiting Shifting (the “MLI”) affects many of Canada’s tax treaties (but not the Canada-U.S. Tax Treaty), including the ability to claim benefits under such tax treaties. Not all persons who are resident of the U.S. for purposes of the Canada-U.S. Tax Treaty will be qualified for the benefits of the Canada-U.S. Tax Treaty. Non-Canadian Holders who may be eligible for a reduced rate of withholding tax on dividends
(if any) pursuant to any applicable tax treaty should consult with their own tax advisors with respect to taking all appropriate steps to obtain the benefit of a reduced withholding rate, including the execution and delivery to us of the appropriate Canadian tax forms.
Dispositions of common shares acquired pursuant to this offering
A Non-Canadian Holder will not be subject to tax under the Tax Act in respect of any capital gain realized on a disposition of common shares acquired pursuant to this offering unless such common shares disposed of constitute “taxable Canadian property” (as defined in the Tax Act) of the Non-Canadian Holder and the Non-Canadian Holder is not entitled to relief under an applicable income tax treaty or convention (as may be affected by the MLI).
Generally, a common share acquired pursuant to this offering will not be “taxable Canadian property” of a Non-Canadian Holder at a particular time provided such common share is listed on a “designated stock exchange” (which currently includes the Nasdaq) unless, at any time during the 60-month period preceding the particular time, (a) the common share derived more than 50% of its fair market value directly or indirectly from one or any combination of: (i) real or immovable properties situated in Canada, (ii) Canadian resource properties, (iii) timber resource properties (as such terms are defined in the Tax Act), and (iv) options in respect of, or interests in, or for civil law rights in, property described in (i) to (iii), whether or not the property exists; and (b) 25% or more of the issued shares of any class or series of our shares were owned by one or any combination of (i) the Non-Canadian Holder, (ii) persons with whom the Non-Canadian Holder did not deal at “arm’s length” (within the meaning of the Tax Act), and (iii) partnerships in which the Non-Canadian Holder or a person described in (ii) holds a membership interest directly or indirectly through one or more partnerships. For a U.S. Holder, even if the common shares are taxable Canadian property to such Non-Canadian Holder at the time of disposition, the Canada-U.S. Tax Treaty will generally exempt a disposition of the common shares from Canadian federal income taxes unless the value of the common shares at that time is derived principally from real property situated in Canada. Common shares may also be deemed to be “taxable Canadian property” in certain other circumstances as set out in the Tax Act.
If the common shares acquired are, or deemed to be, taxable Canadian property of a Non-Canadian Holder and a capital gain realized on a disposition, or deemed disposition, of such common share is not entitled to relief under an applicable income tax treaty or convention, the Non-Canadian Holder generally will realize a capital gain (or a capital loss) equal to the amount by which the proceeds of disposition of such common share exceeds (or is exceeded by) the aggregate of the Non-Canadian Holder’s adjusted cost base thereof and any reasonable costs of disposition. The adjusted cost base to a Non-Canadian Holder of common shares acquired pursuant to this offering will be averaged with the adjusted cost base of all other common shares held by the Non-Canadian Holder as capital property immediately before that time.
A Non-Canadian Holder whose common shares are taxable Canadian property at the time of disposition is generally required to comply with certain reporting obligations under the Tax Act in respect of the disposition of such common shares including the requirement to file a Canadian income tax return reporting the disposition of such common shares. Non-Canadian Holders whose common shares may constitute taxable Canadian property should consult their own tax advisors for advice having regard to their particular circumstances.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain United States legal matters in connection with this offering will be passed upon on our behalf by Hogan Lovells US LLP. Certain Canadian legal matters in connection with this offering will be passed upon on our behalf by Farris LLP, Vancouver, British Columbia. Jefferies LLC is being represented in connection with this offering by Cooley LLP, New York, New York, for certain United States legal matters and Bennett Jones LLP, Vancouver, British Columbia, for certain Canadian legal matters.
EXPERTS
The financial statements of Arbutus Biopharma Corporation appearing in Arbutus Biopharma Corporation’s
Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2023, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP
, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. Our reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, and amendments to those reports, are also available for download, free of charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after these reports are filed with, or furnished to, the SEC, at our website at www.arbutusbio.com. Information contained on or accessible through our website is not a part of this prospectus supplement, and the inclusion of our website address in this prospectus supplement is an inactive textual reference only.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus supplement the information in other documents that we file with it. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus supplement, and information in documents that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede information contained in documents filed earlier with the SEC or contained in this prospectus supplement. We incorporate by reference in this prospectus supplement (i) the documents listed below, (ii) all documents that we file with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of the initial filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part and prior to the effectiveness of such registration statement, and (iii) and any future filings that we may make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of the offering under this prospectus supplement; provided, however, that we are not incorporating, in each case, any documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed, including any information that we disclose under Items 2.02 or 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K, in accordance with SEC rules:
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our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended
March 31, 2024, June 30, 2024 and
September 30, 2024, filed with the SEC on May 2, 2024, August 8, 2024 and November 6, 2024, respectively;
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our Current Reports on Form 8-K (other than portions thereof furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits accompanying such reports that are related to such items) filed with the SEC on
January 4, 2024, January 8, 2024, February 29, 2024, April 4, 2024, May 2, 2024, May 2, 2024, May 22, 2024, May 28, 2024, June 5, 2024, June 6, 2024, August 1, 2024, October 11, 2024, October 15, 2024 and
November 6, 2024; and
▪
the description of our common shares contained in our
Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-34949) filed with the SEC on November 4, 2010, as updated by
Exhibit 4.1 to the our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.
You may request, orally or in writing, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated herein by reference. These documents will be provided to you at no cost by contacting: Arbutus Biopharma Corporation, Attn: Corporate Secretary, 701 Veterans Circle, Warminster, Pennsylvania 18974. In addition, copies of any or all of the documents incorporated herein by reference may be accessed at our website at www.arbutusbio.com. The information on such website is not incorporated by reference and is not a part of this prospectus supplement.
Up to $100,000,000
Common Shares
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
Jefferies
, 2024
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The following table sets forth the estimated costs and expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by us in connection with the offering of the securities being registered. All the amounts shown are estimates, except for the SEC registration fee. The amounts do not include the costs of preparing any prospectus supplements, Nasdaq listing fees, FINRA filing fees, transfer agent fees or other expenses relating to the sale and distribution of particular securities registered under this registration statement, as those costs and expenses cannot be estimated at this time.
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|
|
Amount to
be paid
|
|
SEC registration fee
|
|
|
|
$ |
15,241.75 |
|
|
Printing expenses
|
|
|
|
$ |
(1)
|
|
|
Accounting fees and expenses
|
|
|
|
$ |
(1)
|
|
|
Legal fees and expenses
|
|
|
|
$ |
(1)
|
|
|
Miscellaneous
|
|
|
|
$ |
(1)
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
$ |
(1)
|
|
|
(1)
These fees and expenses depend on the securities offered and the number of issuances and, accordingly, cannot be estimated at this time.
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
We are subject to the provisions of Part 5, Division 5 of the British Columbia Business Corporations Act (the “Act”).
Under Section 160 of the Act, we may, subject to Section 163 of the Act, do one or both of the following:
(1)
indemnify an individual who:
•
is or was a director or officer of ours;
•
is or was a director or officer of another corporation (i) at a time when such corporation is or was an affiliate of ours; or (ii) at our request, or
•
at our request, is or was, or holds or held a position equivalent to that of, a director or officer of a partnership, trust, joint venture or other unincorporated entity, and including, subject to certain limited exceptions, the heirs and personal or other legal representatives of that individual (collectively, an “eligible party”), against all eligible penalties to which the eligible party is or may be liable; and
(2)
after final disposition of an eligible proceeding, pay the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by an eligible party in respect of that proceeding, where:
•
“eligible penalty” means a judgment, penalty or fine awarded or imposed in, or an amount paid in settlement of, an eligible proceeding.
•
“eligible proceeding” means a proceeding in which an eligible party or any of the heirs and personal or other legal representatives of the eligible party, by reason of the eligible party being or having been a director or officer of, or holding or having held a position equivalent to that of a director or officer of, ours or an associated corporation (a) is or may be joined as a party, or (b) is or may be liable for or in respect of a judgment, penalty or fine in, or expenses related to, the proceeding.
•
“proceeding” includes any legal proceeding or investigative action, whether current, threatened, pending or completed.
Under Section 161 of the Act, and subject to Section 163 of the Act, we must, after the final disposition of an eligible proceeding, pay the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by an eligible party in respect of that proceeding if the eligible party (a) has not been reimbursed for those expenses, and (b) is wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the outcome of the proceeding or is substantially successful on the merits in the outcome of the proceeding.
Under Section 162 of the Act, and subject to Section 163 of the Act, we may pay, as they are incurred in advance of the final disposition of an eligible proceeding, the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by an eligible party in respect of the proceeding, provided that we must not make such payments unless we first receive from the eligible party a written undertaking that, if it is ultimately determined that the payment of expenses is prohibited under Section 163 of the Act, the eligible party will repay the amounts advanced.
Under Section 163 of the Act, we must not indemnify an eligible party against eligible penalties to which the eligible party is or may be liable or pay the expenses of an eligible party in respect of that proceeding under Sections 160, 161 or 162 of the Act, as the case may be, if any of the following circumstances apply:
•
if the indemnity or payment is made under an earlier agreement to indemnify or pay expenses and, at the time that the agreement to indemnify or pay expenses was made, we were prohibited from giving the indemnity or paying the expenses by our Articles;
•
if the indemnity or payment is made otherwise than under an earlier agreement to indemnify or pay expenses and, at the time that the indemnity or payment is made, we are prohibited from giving the indemnity or paying the expenses by our Articles;
•
if, in relation to the subject matter of the eligible proceeding, the eligible party did not act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of us or the associated corporation, as the case may be; or
•
in the case of an eligible proceeding other than a civil proceeding, if the eligible party did not have reasonable grounds for believing that the eligible party’s conduct in respect of which the proceeding was brought was lawful.
If an eligible proceeding is brought against an eligible party by or on behalf of us or by or on behalf of an associated corporation, we must not either indemnify the eligible party against eligible penalties to which the eligible party is or may be liable, or pay the expenses of the eligible party under Sections 160, 161 or 162 of the Act, as the case may be, in respect of the proceeding.
Under Section 164 of the Act, and despite any other provision of Part 5, Division 5 of the Act and whether or not payment of expenses or indemnification has been sought, authorized or declined under Part 5, Division 5 of the Act, on application of us or an eligible party, the Supreme Court of British Columbia may do one or more of the following:
•
order us to indemnify an eligible party against any liability incurred by the eligible party in respect of an eligible proceeding;
•
order us to pay some or all of the expenses incurred by an eligible party in respect of an eligible proceeding;
•
order the enforcement of, or payment under, an agreement of indemnification entered into by us;
•
order us to pay some or all of the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by any person in obtaining an order under Section 164 of the Act; or
•
make any other order the court considers appropriate.
Section 165 of the Act provides that we may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of an eligible party or the heirs and personal or other legal representatives of the eligible party against any liability that may be incurred by reason of the eligible party being or having been a director or officer of, or holding or having held a position equivalent to that of a director or officer of, ours or an associated corporation.
Under our Articles, and subject to the Act, we must indemnify an eligible party and his or her heirs and legal personal representatives against all eligible penalties to which such person is or may be liable, and we must, after the final disposition of an eligible proceeding, pay the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such person in respect of that proceeding. Each eligible party is deemed to have contracted with us on the terms of the indemnity contained in our Articles.
Under our Articles, and subject to the Act, we may agree to indemnify and may indemnify any person (including an eligible party) against eligible penalties and pay expenses incurred in connection with the performance of services by that person for us.
Under our Articles, and subject to the Act, we may advance expenses to an eligible party.
Pursuant to our Articles, the failure of an eligible party to comply with the Act or our Articles does not, of itself, invalidate any indemnity to which he or she is entitled under our Articles.
Under our Articles, we may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of an eligible person (or his or her heirs or legal personal representatives) against any liability incurred by him or her as a director, officer or person who holds or held such equivalent position.
We have entered into indemnity agreements with our directors and executive officers. In general, these agreements provide that we will indemnify the director or executive officer for claims arising in his or her capacity as a director or officer of ours or in connection with their service at our request for another corporation or entity. The indemnity agreements also provide for procedures that will apply in the event that a director or executive officer makes a claim for indemnification.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is therefore unenforceable.
Item 16. Exhibits.
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Exhibit
Number
|
|
|
Description of Document
|
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1.1*
|
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|
Form of Underwriting Agreement.
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4.1
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|
Notice of Articles and Articles of the Registrant, as amended (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the Commission on March 16, 2018).
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4.2
|
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|
Amendment to Articles of the Registrant (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2018, filed with the Commission on November 7, 2018).
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4.3*
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|
Specimen certificate evidencing preferred shares.
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4.4*
|
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|
Form of any Certificate of Designation setting forth the preferences and rights with respect to any preferred shares issued hereunder.
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4.5
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4.6*
|
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|
Form of Warrant Agreement for Common Shares, including Warrant Certificate for Common Shares.
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4.7*
|
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|
Form of Warrant Agreement for Preferred Shares, including Warrant Certificate for Preferred Shares.
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4.8*
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|
Form of Warrant Agreement for Debt Securities, including Warrant Certificate for Debt Securities.
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4.9*
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Form of Unit Agreement.
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5.1
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5.2
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Exhibit
Number
|
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|
Description of Document
|
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10.1
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|
Open Market Sale AgreementSM, dated December 20, 2018, by and between the Company and Jefferies LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1.1 of the Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on December 20, 2018).
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10.2
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Amendment No. 1 to the Open Market Sale AgreementSM, dated December 20, 2019, by and between the Company and Jefferies LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1.3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3, filed with the SEC on December 20, 2019).
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10.3
|
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|
Amendment No. 2 to the Open Market Sale AgreementSM, dated August 7, 2020, by and between the Company and Jefferies LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 7, 2020).
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10.4
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Amendment No. 3 to the Open Market Sale AgreementSM, dated March 4, 2021, by and between Arbutus Biopharma Corporation and Jefferies LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on March 4, 2021.)
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23.1
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23.2
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23.3
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24.1
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25.1**
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Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of Trustee for Form of Indenture.
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107
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*
To be filed, if necessary, subsequent to the effectiveness of this registration statement by an amendment to this registration statement or incorporated by reference pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K in connection with an offering of securities.
**
To be filed in accordance with the requirements of Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Rule 5b-3 thereunder.
Item 17. Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1)
To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i)
To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii)
To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Filing Fee Tables” or “Calculation of Registration Fee” table, as applicable, in the effective registration statement; and
(iii)
To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement;
(2)
That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;
(3)
To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering;
(5)
That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:
(i)
Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(ii)
Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which the prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; and
(6)
That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i)
Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii)
Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii)
The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv)
Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(b)
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(h)
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(j)
If and when applicable, the undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the Township of Warminster, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on November 6, 2024.
ARBUTUS BIOPHARMA CORPORATION
By:
/s/ Michael J. McElhaugh
Michael J. McElhaugh
Interim President and Chief Executive Officer
KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Michael J. McElhaugh and David C. Hastings as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with the full power of substitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place or stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this registration statement (including post-effective amendments), and any other registration statements for the same offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
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Signature
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Title
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Date
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/s/ Michael J. McElhaugh
Michael J. McElhaugh
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Interim President and Chief Executive
Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
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November 6, 2024
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/s/ David C. Hastings
David C. Hastings
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Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal
Accounting Officer)
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November 6, 2024
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/s/ Frank Torti, M.D.
Frank Torti, M.D.
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Chairman
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November 6, 2024
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/s/ Daniel Burgess
Daniel Burgess
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Director
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November 6, 2024
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/s/ Richard C. Henriques
Richard C. Henriques
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Director
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November 6, 2024
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/s/ Keith Manchester, M.D.
Keith Manchester, M.D.
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Director
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November 6, 2024
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Signature
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Title
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Date
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/s/ James Meyers
James Meyers
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Director
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November 6, 2024
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/s/ Melissa V. Rewolinski, Ph.D.
Melissa V. Rewolinski, Ph.D.
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Director
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November 6, 2024
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SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE IN THE UNITED STATES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of the Registrant, has signed this Registration Statement on November 6, 2024.
By:
/s/ Michael J. McElhaugh
Michael J. McElhaugh
Interim President and Chief Executive Officer
Exhibit 4.5
INDENTURE
DATED AS OF ,
20
BETWEEN
ARBUTUS BIOPHARMA CORPORATION
as Issuer,
AND
as Trustee
Providing for Issuance of
Debt Securities
in Series
Table
of Contents
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Page |
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ARTICLE I. |
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION |
1 |
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|
Section 1.01 |
Definitions |
1 |
Section 1.02 |
Compliance Certificates and Opinions |
6 |
Section 1.03 |
Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee |
6 |
Section 1.04 |
Acts of Holders; Record Dates |
7 |
Section 1.05 |
Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company |
8 |
Section 1.06 |
Notice to Holders; Waiver |
9 |
Section 1.07 |
Conflict with Trust Indenture Act |
9 |
Section 1.08 |
Effect of Headings and Table of Contents |
10 |
Section 1.09 |
Successors and Assigns |
10 |
Section 1.10 |
Separability Clause |
10 |
Section 1.11 |
Benefits of Indenture |
10 |
Section 1.12 |
Governing Law |
10 |
Section 1.13 |
Legal Holidays |
10 |
Section 1.14 |
Incorporators, Equityholders, Directors, Members, Managers, Officers and Employees of the Company Exempt from Individual Liability |
10 |
Section 1.15 |
Counterparts |
11 |
Section 1.16 |
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL |
11 |
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ARTICLE II. |
SECURITY FORM |
11 |
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Section 2.01 |
Forms Generally |
11 |
Section 2.02 |
Form of Legend for Global Securities |
11 |
Section 2.03 |
Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication |
12 |
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ARTICLE III. |
THE SECURITIES |
13 |
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Section 3.01 |
Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series |
13 |
Section 3.02 |
Denominations |
16 |
Section 3.03 |
Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating |
16 |
Section 3.04 |
Temporary Securities |
17 |
Section 3.05 |
Registration; Registration of Transfer and Exchange |
17 |
Section 3.06 |
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities |
19 |
Section 3.07 |
Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved |
19 |
Section 3.08 |
Persons Deemed Owners |
20 |
Section 3.09 |
Cancellation |
21 |
Section 3.10 |
Computation of Interest |
21 |
Section 3.11 |
CUSIP Numbers |
21 |
Section 3.12 |
Original Issue Discount |
21 |
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ARTICLE IV. |
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE |
22 |
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Section 4.01 |
Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture |
22 |
Section 4.02 |
Application of Trust Money |
22 |
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ARTICLE V. |
REMEDIES |
23 |
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Section 5.01 |
Events of Default |
23 |
Section 5.02 |
Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment |
24 |
Section 5.03 |
Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee |
24 |
Section 5.04 |
Trustee May File Proofs of Claim |
25 |
Section 5.05 |
Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities |
25 |
Section 5.06 |
Application of Money Collected |
25 |
Section 5.07 |
Limitation on Suits |
26 |
Section 5.08 |
Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal Premium and Interest and to Convert Securities |
26 |
Section 5.09 |
Restoration of Rights and Remedies |
26 |
Section 5.10 |
Rights and Remedies Cumulative |
27 |
Section 5.11 |
Delay or Omission Not Waiver |
27 |
Section 5.12 |
Control by Holders |
27 |
Section 5.13 |
Waiver of Past Defaults |
27 |
Section 5.14 |
Undertaking for Costs |
27 |
Section 5.15 |
Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws |
28 |
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ARTICLE VI. |
THE TRUSTEE |
28 |
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Section 6.01 |
Certain Duties and Responsibilities |
28 |
Section 6.02 |
Notice of Defaults |
29 |
Section 6.03 |
Certain Rights of Trustee |
29 |
Section 6.04 |
Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities |
30 |
Section 6.05 |
May Hold Securities |
30 |
Section 6.06 |
Money Held in Trust |
31 |
Section 6.07 |
Compensation and Reimbursement |
31 |
Section 6.08 |
Conflicting Interests |
31 |
Section 6.09 |
Corporate Trustee Required, Eligibility |
31 |
Section 6.10 |
Resignation and Removal, Appointment of Successor |
32 |
Section 6.11 |
Acceptance of Appointment by Successor |
33 |
Section 6.12 |
Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business |
34 |
Section 6.13 |
Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company |
34 |
Section 6.14 |
Appointment of Authenticating Agent |
34 |
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ARTICLE VII. |
HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY |
35 |
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|
Section 7.01 |
Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders |
35 |
Section 7.02 |
Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders |
35 |
Section 7.03 |
Reports by Trustee |
36 |
Section 7.04 |
Reports by Company |
36 |
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ARTICLE VIII. |
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE |
36 |
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Section 8.01 |
Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms |
36 |
Section 8.02 |
Successor Substituted |
37 |
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ARTICLE IX. |
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES |
37 |
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|
Section 9.01 |
Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders |
37 |
Section 9.02 |
Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders |
38 |
Section 9.03 |
Execution of Supplemental Indentures |
39 |
Section 9.04 |
Effect of Supplemental Indentures |
39 |
Section 9.05 |
Conformity with Trust Indenture Act |
39 |
Section 9.06 |
Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures |
39 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE X. |
COVENANTS |
39 |
|
|
|
Section 10.01 |
Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest |
39 |
Section 10.02 |
Maintenance of Office or Agency |
40 |
Section 10.03 |
Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust |
40 |
Section 10.04 |
Statement by Officer as to Default |
41 |
Section 10.05 |
Existence |
41 |
Section 10.06 |
Waiver of Certain Covenants |
41 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE XI. |
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES |
41 |
|
|
|
Section 11.01 |
Applicability of Article |
41 |
Section 11.02 |
Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee |
42 |
Section 11.03 |
Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed |
42 |
Section 11.04 |
Notice of Redemption |
43 |
Section 11.05 |
Deposit of Redemption Price |
44 |
Section 11.06 |
Securities Payable on Redemption Date |
44 |
Section 11.07 |
Securities Redeemed in Part |
44 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE XII. |
SINKING FUNDS |
44 |
|
|
|
Section 12.01 |
Applicability of Article |
44 |
Section 12.02 |
Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities |
45 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE XIII. |
DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE |
45 |
|
|
|
Section 13.01 |
Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance |
45 |
Section 13.02 |
Defeasance and Discharge |
45 |
Section 13.03 |
Covenant Defeasance |
46 |
Section 13.04 |
Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance |
46 |
Section 13.05 |
Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions |
47 |
Section 13.06 |
Reinstatement |
48 |
Note: This table of contents shall not, for any
purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.
ARBUTUS BIOPHARMA CORPORATION
Certain Sections of this Indenture relating to
Sections 310 - 318, inclusive,
of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended
Trust Indenture Act Section |
|
Indenture
Section |
|
|
|
310(a)(1) |
|
6.09 |
(a)(2) |
|
6.09 |
(a)(3) |
|
N.A. |
(a)(4) |
|
N.A. |
(a)(5) |
|
6.09 |
(b) |
|
6.08, 6.10 |
(c) |
|
N.A. |
311(a) |
|
6.13 |
(b) |
|
6.13 |
(c) |
|
N.A. |
312(a) |
|
7.01, 7.02 |
(b) |
|
7.02 |
(c) |
|
7.02 |
313(a) |
|
7.03 |
(b)(1) |
|
N.A. |
(b)(2) |
|
7.03 |
(c) |
|
7.03 |
(d) |
|
7.03 |
314(a) |
|
7.04 |
(a)(4) |
|
1.04, 10.04 |
(b) |
|
N.A. |
(c)(1) |
|
1.02 |
(c)(2) |
|
1.02 |
(c)(3) |
|
N.A. |
(d) |
|
N.A. |
(e) |
|
1.02 |
(f) |
|
N.A. |
315(a) |
|
6.01 |
(b) |
|
6.02 |
(c) |
|
6.01 |
(d) |
|
6.01 |
(e) |
|
5.14 |
316(a)(last sentence) |
|
1.06 |
(a)(1)(A) |
|
5.02, 5.12 |
(a)(1)(B) |
|
5.13 |
(a)(2) |
|
N.A. |
(b) |
|
5.08 |
Trust Indenture Act Section |
|
Indenture
Section |
|
|
|
(c) |
|
1.04 |
317(a)(1) |
|
5.03 |
(a)(2) |
|
5.04 |
(b) |
|
10.03 |
318(a) |
|
1.07 |
(b) |
|
N.A. |
(c) |
|
1.07 |
* N.A.
means inapplicable.
NOTE:
This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of the Indenture.
INDENTURE
THIS INDENTURE, dated as of
, 20 , between ARBUTUS BIOPHARMA CORPORATION, a company incorporated under the laws of the Province of British Columbia (herein
called the “Company”), and ,
as trustee (herein called the “Trustee”).
RECITALS
The Company has duly authorized
the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of the Company’s debentures, notes or
other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the “Securities”), to be issued in one or more series as provided
in this Indenture.
All things necessary to make
this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company in accordance with its terms, have been done.
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE
WITNESSETH:
For and in consideration of
the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit
of all Holders of the Securities or of any series thereof, as follows:
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS
AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
Section 1.01 Definitions.
For all purposes of this Indenture,
except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) the
terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular
and the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter, and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires;
(b) all
other terms used herein that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned
to them therein;
(c) all
accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
in the United States of America (including, if applicable, International Financial Reporting Standards) as in effect from time to
time;
(d) unless
the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Article” or a “Section” refers to an Article or a Section,
as the case may be, of this Indenture;
(e) the
words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture
as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;
(f) “or”
is not exclusive, and “including” means “including without limitation”, “including but not limited to”
or words of similar import;
(g) when
used with respect to any Security, the words “convert,” “converted” and “conversion” are intended
to refer to the right of the Holder or the Company to convert or exchange such Security into or for securities or other property in accordance
with such terms, if any, as may hereafter be specified for such Security as contemplated by Section 3.01, and these words
are not intended to refer to any right of the Holder or the Company to exchange such Security for other Securities of the same series
and like tenor pursuant to Section 3.04, Section 3.05, Section 3.06, Section 9.06 or Section 11.07
or another similar provisions of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires; and references herein to the terms of any Security
that may be converted mean such terms as may be specified for such Security as contemplated in Section 3.01; and
(h) unless
otherwise provided, references to agreements and other instruments shall be deemed to include all amendments and other modifications to
such agreements and instruments, but only to the extent such amendments and other modifications are not prohibited by the terms of this
Indenture.
“Act”,
when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 1.04.
“Affiliate”
of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified
Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of
voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative
to the foregoing.
“Applicable
Procedures” of a Depositary means, with respect to any matter at any time, the policies and procedures of such Depositary,
if any, that are applicable to such matter at such time.
“Authenticating
Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.14 to act on behalf of the Trustee
to authenticate Securities of one or more series.
“Board
of Directors” means either the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of that board of directors.
“Board
Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have
been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification and delivered to the
Trustee.
“Business
Day”, when used with respect to any Place of Payment, means, except as otherwise provided or contemplated by Section 3.01
with respect to any series of Securities, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions
in that Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law or executive order or regulation to close.
“Commission”
means the Securities and Exchange Commission, from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after
the execution of this Indenture such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture
Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.
“Company”
means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor Person shall have become
such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person.
“Company
Request” or “Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by
its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or Corporate Secretary, or any other officer or officers of the Company designated
in writing by or pursuant to authority of the Board of Directors, and delivered to the Trustee.
“Corporate
Trust Office” means the principal office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business
shall be administered, or at any other time at such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders.
“corporation”
means a corporation, association, limited liability company, company, joint-stock company or business trust.
“Covenant
Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.03.
“Defaulted
Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.
“Defeasance”
has the meaning specified in Section 13.02.
“Depositary”
means, with respect to Securities of any series issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, a clearing
agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary for such Securities as contemplated by Section 3.01.
“Event
of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 5.01.
“Exchange
Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to
time.
“Expiration
Date” has the meaning specified in Section 1.04.
“Global
Security” means a Security that evidences all or part of the Securities of any series and bears the legend set forth
in Section 2.04 (or such legend as may be specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for such Securities).
“Holder”
means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register.
“Indenture”
means this instrument as originally executed and as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental
hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental
indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental
indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” shall also include the terms of particular series of Securities established
as contemplated by Section 3.01.
“interest”,
when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security that by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable
after Maturity.
“Interest
Payment Date”, when used with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such
Security.
“Internal Revenue
Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
“mandatory
sinking fund payment” has the meaning specified in Section 12.01.
“Maturity”,
when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes
due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or
otherwise.
“Notice
of Default” means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 5.01(d).
“Officer’s
Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial
Officer or the Corporate Secretary or any other officer or officers of the Company designated in writing by or pursuant to authority of
the Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee.
“Opinion
of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be an employee of, or outside counsel to, but does not have to
be counsel for, the Company, and who shall be acceptable to the Trustee, which acceptance shall not be unreasonably withheld. Opinions
of Counsel required to be delivered under this Indenture may have qualifications customary for opinions of the type required.
“optional
sinking fund payment” has the meaning specified in Section 12.01.
“Original
Issue Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be
due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02.
“Outstanding”,
when used with respect to Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under
this Indenture, except:
(1) Securities
theretofore cancelled and delivered to the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;
(2) Securities
for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other
than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for
the Holders of such Securities; provided that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant
to this Indenture or provision therefor has been made;
(3) Securities,
except to the extent provided in Sections 13.02 and 13.03 respectively, as to which the Company has effected Defeasance
pursuant to Section 13.02 or Covenant Defeasance pursuant to Section 13.03;
(4) Securities
which have been paid pursuant to Section 3.06 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated
and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee
proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of
the Company; and
(5) Securities
as to which any property deliverable upon conversion thereof has been delivered (or such delivery has been made available), or as to which
any other particular conditions have been satisfied, in each case as may be provided for such Securities as contemplated in Section 3.01;
provided, however, that in determining whether
the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given, made or taken any request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action hereunder as of any date, (A) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount
Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof which would be due and payable as of such
date upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof to such date pursuant to Section 5.02, (B) if, as of such date, the principal
amount payable at the Stated Maturity of a Security is not determinable, the principal amount of such Security which shall be deemed to
be Outstanding shall be the amount as specified or determined as contemplated by Section 3.01, (C) the principal amount
of a Security denominated in one or more foreign currencies, composite currencies or currency units which shall be deemed to be Outstanding
shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined as of such date in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 3.01, of
the principal amount of such Security (or, in the case of a Security described in Clause (A) or (B) above, of the amount determined
as provided in such Clause), and (D) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of
the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee
shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, only Securities
which the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. The Trustee shall be protected in relying on an Officer’s Certificate
or other evidence satisfactory to it in determining ownership. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded
as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such
Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such
other obligor.
“Paying Agent”
means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company.
“Person”
means any individual, corporation, company (including a limited liability company), partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock
company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.
“Place
of Payment”, when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means the place or places where the principal of
and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified or contemplated by Section 3.01.
“Predecessor
Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that
evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.06
in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Security.
“Redemption
Date”, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant
to this Indenture.
“Redemption
Price”, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant
to this Indenture.
“Regular
Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified
for that purpose as contemplated by Section 3.01.
“Responsible
Officer”, when used with respect to the Trustee, means the chairman or any vice-chairman of the board of directors, the
chairman or any vice-chairman of the executive committee of the board of directors, the chairman of the trust committee, the president,
any Vice President, the secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, the cashier, any assistant cashier,
any trust officer or assistant trust officer, the controller or any assistant controller or any other officer of the Trustee customarily
performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate
trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject
and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
“Securities”
has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under
this Indenture.
“Securities
Act” means the Securities Act of 1933 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
“Security
Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 3.05.
“Special
Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.07.
“Stated
Maturity”, when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means
the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest
is due and payable.
“Subsidiary”
means any Person a majority of the combined voting power of the total outstanding ownership interests in which is, at the time of determination,
beneficially owned or held, directly or indirectly, by the Company or one or more other Subsidiaries. For this purpose, “voting
power” means power to vote in an ordinary election of directors (or, in the case of a Person that is not a corporation, ordinarily
to appoint or approve the appointment of Persons holding similar positions), whether at all times or only as long as no senior class of
ownership interests has such voting power by reason of any contingency.
“Trust
Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this Indenture was executed,
except as otherwise provided in Section 9.05; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended
after such date, “Trust Indenture Act” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939
as so amended.
“Trustee”
means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor Trustee shall have become
such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who
is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the
Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.
“U.S.
Government Obligation” has the meaning specified in Section 13.04.
“Vice
President”, when used with respect to the Trustee, means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or
a word or words added before or after the title “vice president”.
Section 1.02 Compliance
Certificates and Opinions.
Upon any application or request
by the Company to the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish
to the Trustee such certificates and opinions as may be required under the Trust Indenture Act; provided, however, that no Opinion of
Counsel shall be required in connection with (i) the issuance of Securities that are part of any series as to which such an opinion
has been furnished and (ii) a request by the Company that the Trustee deliver a notice to Holders under this Indenture where the
Trustee receives an Officer’s Certificate with respect to such notice. Each such certificate and opinion shall be given in the form
of an Officer’s Certificate, if to be given by an officer of the Company and an Opinion of Counsel, if to be given by counsel, and
shall comply with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and any other requirements set forth in this Indenture.
Every certificate or opinion
with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (except for certificates provided in Section 10.04)
shall include:
(a) a
statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating
thereto;
(b) a
brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such
certificate or opinion are based;
(c) a
statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable
him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(d) a
statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
Section 1.03 Form of
Documents Delivered to Trustee.
In any case where several
matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters
be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but
one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and
any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.
Any certificate or opinion
of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations
by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations
with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or Opinion of Counsel may
be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of
the Company stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless such counsel
knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters
are erroneous. Counsel delivering an Opinion of Counsel may also rely as to factual matters on certificates of governmental or other officials
customary for opinions of the type required.
Where any Person is required
to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this
Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.
Section 1.04 Acts
of Holders; Record Dates.
Any request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders may be
embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly
appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments
are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action
embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument
or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose
of this Indenture and (subject to Section 6.01) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner
provided in this Section.
Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, a Holder, including a Depositary that is a Holder of a Global Security, may make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies,
duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture
to be made, given or taken by Holders, and a Depositary that is a Holder of a Global Security may provide its proxy or proxies to the
beneficial owners of interests in any such Global Security.
The fact and date of the execution
by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a
notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument
or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual
capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of
any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee
deems sufficient.
The ownership, principal amount
and serial numbers of Securities held by any Person, and the date of commencement of such Person’s holding the same, shall be proved
by the Security Register.
Any request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and
the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of
anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action
is made upon such Security.
The Company may set any day
as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to give, make or take any
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given,
made or taken by Holders of Securities of such series, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so; provided that the Company may
not set a record date for, and the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply with respect to, the giving or making of any notice, declaration,
request or direction referred to in the next paragraph. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding
Securities of the relevant series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to take the relevant action, whether or
not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior
to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record
date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Company from setting a new record date for any action for which a record
date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action
by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken
by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly
after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company, at its own expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the
proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of Securities of
the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 1.05 or Section 1.06.
The Trustee may set any day
as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to join in the giving or
making of (i) any Notice of Default, (ii) any declaration of acceleration referred to in Section 5.02, (iii) any
request to institute proceedings referred to in Section 5.07(b) or (iv) any direction referred to in Section 5.12,
in each case with respect to Securities of such series. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding
Securities of such series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or
direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder
unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such
series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new record date for any
action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically
and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective
any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action
is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, shall cause notice
of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Company in writing and to each
Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 1.05 or Section 1.06.
With respect to any record
date set pursuant to this Section, the party hereto which sets such record date may designate any day as the “Expiration Date”
and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day; provided that no such change shall be effective unless
notice of the proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant
series in the manner set forth in Section 1.06, on or prior to the then existing Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date is
not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party hereto which set such record date shall be deemed
to have initially designated the 180th day following such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its right
to change the Expiration Date as provided in this paragraph. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Expiration Date shall be later than the
180th day following the applicable record date.
Without limiting the foregoing,
a Holder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part
of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment
with regard to all or any part of such principal amount.
Section 1.05 Notices,
Etc., to Trustee and Company.
Any request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given
or furnished to, or filed with:
(1) the
Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing
(which may be by facsimile or electronic transmission) to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office at the location specified
in Section 1.01; or
(2) the
Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if
in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company at the address of the Company’s principal office specified in
writing to the Trustee, which shall be, until further notice:
Arbutus Biopharma Corporation
701 Veterans Circle
Warminster, PA 18974
Attn: Chief Executive Officer
Facsimile: (267) 469-0914
Copy to:
Hogan Lovells US LLP
1735 Market Street, 23rd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103-2799
Fax: (267) 675-4601
Attention: Steven J. Abrams, Esq.
In addition to the foregoing,
the Trustee agrees to accept and act upon notices, instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by unsecured e-mail, facsimile
transmission or other similar unsecured electronic methods. If the party elects to give the Trustee e-mail or facsimile notices, instructions
or directions (or notices, instructions or directions by a similar electronic method) and the Trustee acts upon such notices, instructions
or directions, the Trustee’s understanding of such notices, instructions or directions shall be deemed controlling. The Trustee
shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reliance upon and compliance
with such notices, instructions or directions notwithstanding such notices, instructions or directions conflict or are inconsistent with
a subsequent written notice, instruction or direction. The Company agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic
methods to submit notices, instructions and directions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on
unauthorized notices, instructions or directions, and the risk or interception and misuse by third parties.
Section 1.06 Notice
to Holders; Waiver.
Where this Indenture provides
for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing
and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at its address as it appears in the Security Register,
not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice. In
any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to
any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Any notice when mailed to a Holder in
the aforesaid manner shall be conclusively deemed to have been received by such Holder whether or not actually received by such Holder.
Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice,
either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed
with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.
In case by reason of the suspension
of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification
as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.
Where this Indenture provides
for notice of any event to a Holder of a Global Security, such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary for such
Security (or its designee), pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary, not later than the latest date, if any, and not earlier
than the earliest date, if any, prescribed for the giving of such notice.
Section 1.07 Conflict
with Trust Indenture Act.
This Indenture is subject
to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be a part of this Indenture and, to the extent applicable, shall be
governed by such provisions. If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act or with
another provision hereof which is required under the Trust Indenture Act to be a part of and govern this Indenture, the latter provision
shall control. If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act which may be so modified
or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or excluded, as the case may be.
Section 1.08 Effect
of Headings and Table of Contents.
The Article and Section headings
herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
Section 1.09 Successors
and Assigns.
All covenants and agreements
in this Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not. All agreements of the Trustee in
this Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
Section 1.10 Separability
Clause.
In case any provision in this
Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining
provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 1.11 Benefits
of Indenture.
Nothing in this Indenture
or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder and the
Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture, except as may otherwise be expressly provided
pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to any specific Securities.
Section 1.12 Governing
Law.
This Indenture and the Securities
shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
Section 1.13 Legal
Holidays.
In any case where any Interest
Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security, or any date on which a Holder has the right to convert such Holder’s
Security, shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities
(other than a provision of any Security which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section)) payment of
interest or principal (and premium, if any), or the Redemption Price or conversion of such Security, need not be made at such Place of
Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if
made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, or at the Stated Maturity, or on such conversion
date. No interest shall accrue for the period from and after any such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Stated Maturity or
conversion date, as the case may be, to the date of such payment.
Section 1.14 Incorporators,
Equityholders, Directors, Members, Managers, Officers and Employees of the Company Exempt from Individual Liability.
No recourse under or upon
any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture, or in any Security, or because of any indebtedness evidenced thereby,
shall be had against any incorporator, as such, or against any past, present or future equityholder, director, member, manager, officer
or employee, as such, of the Company or of any successor, either directly or through the Company or any successor, under any rule of
law, statute or constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or otherwise,
all such liability being expressly waived and released by the acceptance of the Securities by the Holders thereof and as part of the consideration
for the issue of the Securities.
Section 1.15 Counterparts.
This
Indenture may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute but one and the
same instrument. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Indenture by facsimile or any other rapid transmission device
designed to produce a written record of the communication transmitted shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart
thereof. The words “execution,” “executed,” “signed,” signature” and words of like import in
this Indenture or in any other certificate, agreement or document related to this Indenture shall include images of manually executed
signatures transmitted by facsimile, email or other electronic format (including, without limitation, “pdf,” “tif”
or “jpg”) and other electronic signatures (including, without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign). The use of electronic signatures
and electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received,
or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use
of a paper-based record-keeping system to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures
in Global and National Commerce Act and any other applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based on the Uniform Electronic
Transactions Act or the Uniform Commercial Code.
Section 1.16 WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL.
EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE HOLDERS
AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY
LEGAL PROCEEDING AS BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE ONLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE OR THE SECURITIES.
ARTICLE II. SECURITY
FORM
Section 2.01 Forms
Generally.
The Securities of each series
and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the forms set forth in this Article, or in such other
form as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution and, subject to Section 3.03, to the extent established
in an Officer’s Certificate or Company Order setting forth, or determining the manner of, such establishment, or in one or more
indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required
or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed
thereon as may be required to comply with applicable laws or the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on
which the Securities of such series may be listed or traded or of any Depositary therefor or as may, consistently herewith, be determined
by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution thereof. If the form of Securities of any series is established
by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or
an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 3.03
for the authentication and delivery of such Securities. If all of the Securities of any series established by action taken pursuant to
a Board Resolution are not to be issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver a record of such action at the time of issuance
of each Security of such series, but an appropriate record of such action shall be delivered at or before the time of issuance of the
first Security of such series.
The definitive Securities
shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the
officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.
Section 2.02 Form of
Legend for Global Securities.
Unless otherwise specified
as contemplated by Section 3.01 for the Securities evidenced thereby or as required by Applicable Procedures, every Global
Security authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
[Insert, if applicable —
UNLESS THIS NOTE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”),
TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF
CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE &
CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE
OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY
SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE
AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN
THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.]
[Insert, if applicable —
THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY
OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS
SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF,
EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE. EVERY SECURITY AUTHENTICATED AND DELIVERED UPON REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER
OF, OR IN EXCHANGE FOR OR IN LIEU OF, THIS SECURITY SHALL BE A GLOBAL SECURITY SUBJECT TO THE FOREGOING, EXCEPT IN SUCH LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.]
If Securities of a series
are issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, as contemplated by Section 3.01, then, notwithstanding
Clause (i) of Section 3.01 and the provisions of Section 3.02, any Global Security shall represent such of
the Outstanding Securities of such series as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of
Outstanding Securities from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby
may from time to time be reduced or increased, as the case may be, to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of a Global Security to reflect
the amount, or any reduction or increase in the amount, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made in such manner and
upon instructions given by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in a Company Order. Subject to the provisions of Sections
3.03, 3.04, 3.05 and 3.06, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any Global Security in the manner and upon instructions
given by the Person or Persons specified therein or in the applicable Company Order. Any instructions by the Company with respect to endorsement
or delivery or redelivery of a Global Security shall be in a Company Order (which need not comply with Section 1.02 and need
not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel).
The provisions of the last
sentence of Section 3.03 shall apply to any Security represented by a Global Security if such Security was never issued and
sold by the Company and the Company delivers to the Trustee the Global Security together with a Company Order (which need not comply with
Section 1.02 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) with regard to the reduction in the principal amount of
Securities represented thereby, together with the written statement contemplated by the last sentence of Section 3.03.
Section 2.03 Form of
Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.
The Trustee’s certificates
of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:
TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the debt Securities
of the series designated herein and referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
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As Trustee |
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By: |
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Authorized Signatory |
ARTICLE III. THE
SECURITIES
Section 3.01 Amount
Unlimited; Issuable in Series.
The aggregate principal amount
of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.
The Securities may be issued
in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution and, subject to Section 3.03, to the
extent established pursuant to, rather than set forth in, a Board Resolution, in an Officer’s Certificate or Company Order setting
forth, or determining the manner of, such establishment, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance
of Securities of any series:
(a) the
form and title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from Securities of any other series);
(b) any
limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture
(except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities
of the series pursuant to Section 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 9.06 or 11.07 and except for any Securities
which, pursuant to Section 3.03, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder); provided, however,
that the authorized aggregate principal amount of such series may from time to time be increased above such amount by a Board Resolution
to such effect;
(c) the
issue price or prices of originally issued Securities, expressed as a percentage of the principal amount, and the original issue date;
(d) the
Person to whom any interest on a Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one
or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest;
(e) the
date or dates on which the Securities will be issued and on which principal of, and premium, if any, on, any Securities of the series
is payable or the method of determination thereof;
(f) the
rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable, or a combination thereof) at which any Securities of the series shall bear interest, if
any, or the method of determination thereof, the date or dates from which any such interest shall accrue, or the method of determination
thereof, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date for any such interest payable
on any Interest Payment Date, or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, and the basis upon which interest shall be
calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, the right, if any, to extend or defer interest payments and the
duration of such extension or deferral;
(g) the
place or places where, subject to the provisions of Section 10.02, the principal of and any premium and interest on any Securities
of the series shall be payable, Securities of the series may be surrendered for registration or transfer, Securities of the series may
be surrendered for exchange, and notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of the series and this Indenture
may be served;
(h) the
period or periods, if any, within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the series
may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election
by the Company to redeem the Securities shall be evidenced;
(i) the
obligation, if any, and the option, if any, of the Company to redeem, purchase or repay any Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking
fund, amortization or analogous provisions or upon the happening of a specified event or at the option of the Holder thereof and the period
or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the series shall be redeemed,
purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation or option;
(j) if
other than a minimum denomination equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, the denominations in which any
Securities of the series shall be issuable;
(k) if
the debt Securities will be issued in registered or bearer form or both and, if in bearer form, the related terms and conditions and any
limitations on issuance of such bearer debt Securities (including exchange for registered debt Securities of the same series);
(l) if
the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index including
an index based on a currency or currencies other than in which the Securities of that series are payable or pursuant to a formula, the
manner in which such amounts shall be determined;
(m) if
other than the currency of the United States of America, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or any premium
or interest on any Securities of the series shall be denominated, payable, redeemable or purchasable and the manner of determining the
equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States of America for any purpose, including for purposes of the definition of “Outstanding”
in Section 1.01;
(n) if
the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series is to be payable, redeemable or purchasable, at the election
of the Company or the Holder thereof, in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such Securities are
stated to be payable, redeemable, or purchasable, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or any premium
or interest on such Securities as to which such election is made shall be payable, redeemable or purchasable, the periods within which
and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made and the amount so payable, redeemable or purchasable (or the manner
in which such amount shall be determined);
(o) if
other than the entire principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of any Securities of the series which shall be payable
upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02 or provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 5.04
or the method of determination thereof;
(p) if
the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of any Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates
prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such Securities as of any such date for any
purpose thereunder or hereunder, including the principal amount thereof which shall be due and payable upon any Maturity other than the
Stated Maturity or which shall be deemed to be Outstanding as of any date prior to the Stated Maturity (or, in any such case, the manner
in which such amount deemed to be the principal amount shall be determined);
(q) if
applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or any specified part, shall be defeasible pursuant to Section 13.02
or Section 13.03 or both such Sections or if other than as provided in Sections 13.02 or 13.03, the terms and
conditions upon which and the manner in which such series of Securities may be defeased or discharged, and, if other than by a Board Resolution,
the manner in which any election by the Company to defease or discharge such Securities shall be evidenced;
(r) if
applicable, that any Securities of the series shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and,
in such case, the respective Depositaries for such Global Securities, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by any such
Global Security in addition to or in lieu of that set forth in Section 2.04, information with respect to book-entry procedures,
and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Section 3.05 in which any such Global Security may be
exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and any transfer of such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered,
in the name or names of Persons other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof;
(s) if
the debt Security is issued as an original issue discount debt Security, and if so, the yield to maturity;
(t) any
deletion from, addition to or change in the Events of Default that apply to Securities of the series and any change in the right of the
Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 5.02;
(u) any
addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Article X that apply to Securities of the series or in any defined term
used in Article X;
(v) the
right, if any, of the Company to defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment periods and specify the duration of such
extension, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and whether and under what circumstances additional interest
on amounts deferred shall be payable;
(w) if
other than the Trustee, the identity of any other trustee, the Security Registrar and any Paying Agent;
(x) if
other than as set forth in Article IV, provisions relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture;
(y) whether
the Securities of the series will be guaranteed by any Person or Persons and, if so, the identity of such Person or Persons, the terms
and conditions upon which such Securities shall be guaranteed and, if applicable, the terms and conditions upon which such guarantees
may be subordinated to other indebtedness of the respective guarantors;
(z) whether
the Securities of the series will be secured by any collateral and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities shall be
secured and, if applicable, upon which such liens may be subordinated to other liens securing other indebtedness of the Company or any
guarantor;
(aa) whether
the Securities will be issued in a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act and any restriction or condition on the
transferability of the Securities of such series;
(bb) the
exchanges, if any, on which the Securities may be listed;
(cc) the
terms of any right to convert or exchange Securities of such series into any other securities or property of the Company or of any other
corporation or Person, and the additions or changes, if any, to this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series to permit
or facilitate such conversion or exchange; and
(dd) any
and all other terms with respect to such series, including, but not limited to, any terms that may be required by or advisable under U.S.
laws or regulations or otherwise included in connection with the marketing of Securities of that series.
All Securities of any one
series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board
Resolution referred to above and (subject to Section 3.03) set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officer’s
Certificate referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto. Accordingly, the terms of any Security of a series may differ
from the terms of other Securities of the same series, if and to the extent provided pursuant to this Section. The matters referenced
in any or all of Clauses (a) through (dd) above may be established and set forth or determined as aforesaid with respect to all or
any specific Securities of a series (in each case to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act).
Any such Board Resolution
or Officer’s Certificate referred to above with respect to Securities of any series filed with the Trustee on or before the initial
issuance of the Securities of such series shall be incorporated herein by reference with respect to Securities of such series and shall
thereafter be deemed to be a part of this Indenture for all purposes relating to Securities of such series as fully as if such Board Resolution
or Officer’s Certificate were set forth herein in full.
All Securities of any one
series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened, without the consent of the Holders,
for increases in the aggregate principal amount of such series of Securities and issuances of additional Securities of such series or
for the establishment of additional terms with respect to the Securities of such series.
If any of the terms of the
series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified
by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officer’s
Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.
Section 3.02 Denominations.
The Securities of each series
shall be issuable only in registered form without coupons and only in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 3.01.
In the absence of any such specified denomination with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be
issuable in a denomination equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.
Section 3.03 Execution,
Authentication, Delivery and Dating.
The Securities shall be executed
on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, or Corporate Secretary (or any
other officer of the Company designated in writing by or pursuant to authority of the Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee
from time to time). The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual, electronic or facsimile.
Securities bearing the manual,
electronic or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company notwithstanding
that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did
not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.
At any time and from time
to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to
the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee
in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. If the form or terms of the Securities of the series
have been established by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Sections 2.01 and 3.01, in authenticating
such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall
be entitled to receive, and (subject to, Section 6.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating:
(a) if
the form of such Securities has been established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution as permitted by Section 2.01, that such
form has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;
(b) if
the terms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution as permitted by Section 3.01, that
such terms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and
(c) that
such Securities, when authenticated by the Trustee and issued and delivered by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions
specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company
in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of
general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles or other customary exceptions.
If such form or terms have
been so established, the Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this
Indenture in accordance with a Board Resolution will materially adversely affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities
under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
Notwithstanding the provisions
of Section 3.01 and of the preceding paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time,
it shall not be necessary, unless the Trustee reasonably determines otherwise, for the Company to deliver a Board Resolution, Officer’s
Certificate or supplemental indenture otherwise required pursuant to Section 3.01 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel
otherwise required pursuant to the third paragraph of this Section at or prior to the authentication of each Security of such series
if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.
Each Security shall be dated
the date of its authentication.
No Security shall be entitled
to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication
substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature, and such certificate upon any Security shall
be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled
to the benefits of this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder
but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 3.09,
for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never
be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.
Section 3.04 Temporary
Securities.
Pending the preparation of
definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary
Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially
of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions
and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.
If temporary Securities of
any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the
preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities
of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment
for that series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series,
the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor one or more definitive Securities of the
same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities
of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series and
tenor.
Section 3.05 Registration;
Registration of Transfer and Exchange.
The Company shall cause to
be kept at the Corporate Trust Office or other designated office of the Trustee a register (the “Security Register”)
in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and
of transfers of Securities entitled to registration or transfer as provided herein. The Trustee is hereby appointed “Security
Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided. The Company may at any
time replace such Security Registrar, change such office or agency or act as its own Security Registrar. The Company will give prompt
written notice to the Trustee of any change of the Security Registrar or of the location of such office or agency. At all reasonable times
the Security Register shall be available for inspection by the Trustee.
Upon surrender for registration
of transfer of any Security of a series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall
execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities
of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.
At the option of the Holder,
Securities of any series (except a Global Security) may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations
and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever
any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities
that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.
All Securities issued upon
any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled
to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
Every Security presented or
surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed, by the Holder
thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.
No service charge shall be
made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other
than exchanges pursuant to Section 3.04, 9.06 or 11.07 not involving any transfer.
If the Securities of any series
(or of any series and specified tenor) are to be redeemed in part, neither the Company nor the Trustee shall be required (A) to issue,
register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of that series (or of that series and specified tenor, as the case may be) during
a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of any such Securities selected
for redemption under Section 11.03 and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (B) to register
the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security
being redeemed in part.
The provisions of Clauses
(a), (b), (c) and (d) below shall apply only to Global Securities:
(a) Each
Global Security authenticated under this Indenture shall be registered in the name of the Depositary designated for such Global Security
or a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depositary or a nominee thereof or custodian therefor, and each such Global Security shall
constitute a single Security for all purposes of this Indenture.
(b) Notwithstanding
any other provision in this Indenture, and subject to such applicable provisions, if any, as may be specified as contemplated by Section 3.01,
no Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and no transfer of a Global Security in whole or in
part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof unless (1) such
Depositary has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or has ceased to
be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after
the Company’s receipt of such notice, (2) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to such
Global Security and the Security Registrar has received a request from the Depositary to issue certificated securities in lieu of the
Global Security, (3) the Company shall determine in its sole discretion that Securities of a series issued in global form shall no
longer be represented by a Global Security, or (4) there shall exist such circumstances, if any, in addition to or in lieu of the
foregoing as have been specified for this purpose as contemplated by Section 3.01, then in any such case, such Global Security
may be exchanged by such Depositary for definitive Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination and of a like aggregate
principal amount and tenor, registered in the names of, and the transfer of such Global Security or portion thereof may be registered
to, such Persons as such Depositary shall direct. If the Company designates a successor Depositary pursuant to Clause (1) above,
such Global Security shall promptly be exchanged in whole for one or more other Global Securities registered in the name of the successor
Depositary, whereupon such designated successor shall be the Depositary for such successor Global Security or Global Securities and the
provisions of Clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this Section shall continue to apply thereto.
(c) Subject
to Clause (b) above and to such applicable provisions, if any, as may be specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, any
exchange of a Global Security for other Securities may be made in whole or in part, and all Securities issued in exchange for a Global
Security or any portion thereof shall be registered in such names as the Depositary for such Global Security shall direct.
(d) Every
Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security or any portion
thereof, whether pursuant to this Section, Section 3.04, 3.06, 9.06 or 11.07 or otherwise, shall be authenticated
and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Security, unless such Security is registered in the name of a Person other than the
Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof.
Section 3.06 Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.
If any mutilated Security
is surrendered to the Trustee, together with such security or indemnity as may be required by the Company or the Trustee to save each
of them and any agent of either of them harmless, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange
therefor a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding
and shall cancel and dispose of such mutilated security in accordance with its customary procedures.
If there shall be delivered
to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such
security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of
notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and the
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same
series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously Outstanding. If, after the delivery of such new
Security, a bona fide purchaser of the original Security in lieu of which such new Security was issued presents for payment or registration
such original Security, the Trustee shall be entitled to recover such new Security from the party to whom it was delivered or any party
taking therefrom, except a bona fide purchaser, and shall be entitled to recover upon the security or indemnity provided therefor to the
extent of any loss, damage, cost or expense incurred by the Company and the Trustee in connection therewith.
In case any such mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing
a new Security, pay such Security.
Upon the issuance of any new
Security, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in
relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of counsel to the Company and the fees and expenses of the Trustee
and its counsel) connected therewith.
Every new Security of any
series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original
additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time
enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other
Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section are
exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
Section 3.07 Payment
of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.
Except as otherwise provided
as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security which is payable, and is
punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or
more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.
Any interest on any Security
of any series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted
Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such
Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in Clause (a) or (b) below:
(a) The
Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective
Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which
shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to
be paid on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the
Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements
satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust
for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this Clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee, in consultation
with the Company, shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and
not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice
of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense
of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be given
to each Holder of Securities of such series in the manner set forth in Section 1.06, not less than 10 days prior to such Special
Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so mailed, such
Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities)
are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following Clause (b).
(b) The
Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the
requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange,
if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this Clause, such manner of payment shall be
deemed practicable by the Trustee.
Subject to the foregoing provisions
of this Section and Section 3.05, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in
exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried
by such other Security.
For each series of Securities,
the Company shall, prior to Noon, New York City time, on each payment date for principal and premium, if any, and interest, if any, deposit
with the Trustee money in immediately available funds sufficient to make cash payments due on the applicable payment date.
In the case of any Security
which is converted after any Regular Record Date and on or prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (other than any Security
whose Maturity is prior to such Interest Payment Date), interest whose Stated Maturity is on such Interest Payment Date shall be payable
on such Interest Payment Date notwithstanding such conversion, and such interest (whether or not punctually paid or made available for
payment) shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of
business on such Regular Record Date. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the immediately preceding sentence, in the case of any
Security which is converted, interest whose Stated Maturity is after the date of conversion of such Security shall not be payable. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the terms of any Security that may be converted may provide that the provisions of this paragraph do not apply, or apply
with such additions, changes or omissions as may be provided thereby, to such Security.
Section 3.08 Persons
Deemed Owners.
Except as otherwise contemplated
by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer,
the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as
the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and any premium and (subject to Sections 3.05 and
3.07) any interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither
the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
No holder of any beneficial
interest in any Global Security held on its behalf by a Depositary shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect to such Global
Security, and such Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the owner of such
Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. None of the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee will have any
responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of
a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
Section 3.09 Cancellation.
All Securities surrendered
for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or conversion or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered
to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and, if not already cancelled, shall be promptly cancelled by it. The
Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which
the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee)
for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered
shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled
as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed
of in accordance with its customary procedures as directed by a Company Order, and the Trustee shall thereafter deliver to the Company
a certificate with respect to such disposition.
Section 3.10 Computation
of Interest.
Except as otherwise specified
as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed
on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
Section 3.11 CUSIP
Numbers
The Company in issuing the
Securities may use “CUSIP” or “ISIN” numbers (in addition to the other identification numbers printed on the Securities),
if then in use, and, if so, the Trustee shall use such “CUSIP” or “ISIN” numbers in notices of redemption as a
convenience to Holders; provided, however, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such
“CUSIP” or “ISIN” numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and
that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected
by any defect in or omission of such “CUSIP” or “ISIN” numbers. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee of
any change in the “CUSIP” or “ISIN” numbers.
Section 3.12 Original
Issue Discount.
If any of the Securities is
an Original Issue Discount Security, the Company shall file with the Trustee promptly at the end of each calendar year (1) a written
notice specifying the amount of original issue discount (including daily rates and accrual periods) accrued on such Outstanding Original
Issue Discount Securities as of the end of such year and (2) such other specific information relating to such original issue discount
as may then be relevant under the Internal Revenue Code.
ARTICLE IV. SATISFACTION
AND DISCHARGE
Section 4.01 Satisfaction
and Discharge of Indenture.
This Indenture shall, upon
Company Request, cease to be of further effect with respect to Securities of any series (except as to any surviving rights of registration
of transfer or exchange of Securities herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper
instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to such Securities, when:
(a) either:
(i) all
such Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) such Securities which have been mutilated, destroyed, lost
or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.06 and (ii) such Securities for whose payment
money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged
from such trust, as provided in Section 10.03) have been delivered to the Trustee cancelled or for cancellation; or
(ii) all
such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee as cancelled or for cancellation:
(1) have
become due and payable; or
(2) will
become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year; or
(3) are
to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the
Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company,
and the Company in the case of (1),
(2) or (3) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee, as trust funds in trust for such purpose, an amount
of money in the currency or currency units in which such Securities are payable sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness
on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee as cancelled or for cancellation, for principal and any premium and interest
to the date of such deposit (in the case of such Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption
Date, as the case may be;
(b) the
Company has paid or caused to be paid, or otherwise made provision for the payment of, all other sums payable hereunder by the Company
with respect to such Securities; and
(c) the
Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that all conditions precedent
herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to such Securities have been complied with.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction
and discharge of this Indenture with respect to Securities of any series, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 6.07,
the obligations of the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 6.14 and the right of the Trustee to resign under
Section 6.10 shall survive, and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (2) of Clause
(a) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 4.02 and the last paragraph of Section 10.03
shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.
Section 4.02 Application
of Trust Money.
Subject to the provisions
of the last paragraph of Section 10.03, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.01 shall be
held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly
or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled
thereto, of the principal and any premium and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee. All money deposited
with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.01 (and held by it or any Paying Agent) for the payment of such Securities subsequently
converted into other property shall be returned to the Company upon Company Request. The Company may direct by a Company Order the investment
of any money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.01, without distinction between principal and income, in (1) United
States Treasury Securities with a maturity of one year or less or (2) a money market fund that invests solely in short term United
States Treasury Securities (including money market funds for which the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee serves as investment advisor,
administrator, shareholder, servicing agent and/or custodian or sub-custodian, notwithstanding that (a) the Trustee charges and collects
fees and expenses from such funds for services rendered and (b) the Trustee charges and collects fees and expenses for services rendered
pursuant to this Indenture at any time), and from time to time the Company may direct the reinvestment of all or a portion of such money
in other securities or funds meeting the criteria specified in Clause (1) or (2) of this Section.
ARTICLE V. REMEDIES
Section 5.01 Events
of Default.
Except
as may otherwise be provided pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of any series, an “Event of Default”,
wherever used herein or in a Security issued hereunder with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events
(whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or
pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
(a) default
in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a
period of 30 days;
(b) default
in the payment of the principal of or any premium on any Security of that series at its Maturity;
(c) default
in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of a Security of that series;
(d) default
in the performance, or breach, of any covenant of the Company in this Indenture (other than a default in the performance or the breach
of a covenant which is specifically dealt with elsewhere in this Section or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely
for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after
there has been given to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal
amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied
and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder;
(e) the
entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (1) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary
case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or (2) a decree
or order adjudging the Company bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment
or composition of or in respect of the Company under any applicable Federal or State law, or appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator,
assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding
up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed
and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days;
(f) the
commencement by the Company of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization
or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry of
a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it,
or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect
of the Company under any applicable Federal or State law, or the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of
or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company of
any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing
of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance of any
such action; or
(g) any
other Event of Default provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to Securities of that series.
Section 5.02 Acceleration
of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.
If an Event of Default (other
than an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(e) or 5.01(f)) with respect to Securities of any series at
the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal
amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount of all the Securities of that series (or, if any
Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified
by the terms thereof) to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders),
and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default
specified in Section 5.01(e) or 5.01(f) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding
occurs, the principal amount of all the Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities,
such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms thereof) shall automatically, and without any
declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable. Upon payment of such amount,
all obligations of the Company in respect of the payment of principal and interest of the Securities of such series shall terminate.
Except
as may otherwise be provided pursuant to Section 3.01 for all or any specific Securities of any series, at any time
after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment
of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul
such declaration and its consequences if:
(a) the
Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:
(i) all
overdue interest on all Securities of that series;
(ii) the
principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of that series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration
and any interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities;
(iii) to
the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities;
and
(iv) all
sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its
agents and counsel, and
(b) all
Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series
which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.13.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent
default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 5.03 Collection
of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.
The Company covenants that
if:
(a) default
is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period
of 30 days; or
(b) default
is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof,
then the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee,
pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal
and any premium and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal
and premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further
amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements
and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
If the Company fails to pay
such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding
for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same
against the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided
by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities, wherever situated.
If an Event of Default with
respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights
and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual
to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid
of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
Section 5.04 Trustee
May File Proofs of Claim.
In case of any judicial proceeding
relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), its property or its creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether
the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of
whether the Trustee shall have made any demand for overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in
such proceeding or otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act in order to have claims of the Holders
and the Trustee allowed in any such proceeding. In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to collect and receive any moneys or other
property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator,
sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the
Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee
any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any
other amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.07.
No provision of this Indenture
shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization,
arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote
in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided, however, that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote
for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors’ or other similar committee.
Section 5.05 Trustee
May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.
All rights of action and claims
under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or
the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own
name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery shall after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect
of which such judgment has been recovered.
Section 5.06 Application
of Money Collected.
Any money or property collected
or to be applied by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the
Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal or any premium or interest, upon presentation of the Securities
and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
First:
To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.07;
Second:
To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities in respect of which
or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind (other than contractual
subordination agreements pursuant to the Indenture), according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and any
premium and interest, respectively; and
Third:
The balance, if any, to the Company.
Section 5.07 Limitation
on Suits.
No Holder of any Security
of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment
of a receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator or sequestrator (or similar official) or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:
(a) such
Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series;
(b) the
Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request
to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;
(c) such
Holder or Holders have offered, and if requested, provided to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses
and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;
(d) the
Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer and, if requested, provision of security or indemnity, has failed
to institute any such proceeding; and
(e) no
direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority
in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series,
it being understood and intended that no one or
more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect,
disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other
of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit
of all of such Holders.
Section 5.08 Unconditional
Right of Holders to Receive Principal Premium and Interest and to Convert Securities.
Notwithstanding any other
provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional to receive payment of
the principal of and any premium and (subject to Sections 3.05 and 3.07) interest on such Security on the respective Stated
Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date or, if the terms of such Security so provide,
to convert such Security in accordance with its terms) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment and, if applicable,
any such right to convert, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.
Section 5.09 Restoration
of Rights and Remedies.
If the Trustee or any Holder
has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned
for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination
in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder
and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
Section 5.10 Rights
and Remedies Cumulative.
Except as otherwise provided
with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 3.06,
no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or
remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy
given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder,
or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
Section 5.11 Delay
or Omission Not Waiver.
No delay or omission of the
Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right
or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or
by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or
by the Holders, as the case may be.
Section 5.12 Control
by Holders.
Subject to Section 6.03,
the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right
to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or
power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such series; provided that:
(a) such
direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture; and
(b) the
Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.
Section 5.13 Waiver
of Past Defaults.
The Holders of not less than
a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities
of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default:
(a) in
the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of such series; or
(b) in
respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article IX cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the
Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.
Upon any such waiver, such
default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this
Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 5.14 Undertaking
for Costs.
In any suit for the enforcement
of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee,
a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit (including the reasonable compensation,
expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), and may assess reasonable costs against any such party litigant, in the manner
and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided that neither this Section nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed
to authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Company or the Trustee,
a suit by a Holder under Section 5.08, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities.
Section 5.15 Waiver
of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.
The Company covenants (to
the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the
benefit or advantage of, any usury, stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the
covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all
benefit or advantage of any such law and covenant that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to
the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.
ARTICLE VI. THE
TRUSTEE
Section 6.01 Certain
Duties and Responsibilities.
(a) Except
during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to any series of Securities:
(i) the
Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture with respect to the Securities
of such series, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee with respect to such series;
and
(ii) in
the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the
opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture;
but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee,
the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.
(b) In
case an Event of Default with respect to any series of Securities has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise with respect
to the Securities of such series such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill
in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.
(c) No
provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure
to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) this
Subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of Subsection (a) of this Section;
(ii) the
Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it shall be proved that the
Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(iii) the
Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction
of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any Series relating to the time, method
and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee,
under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series; and
(iv) no
provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights and powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for
believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
(d) Whether
or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording
protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.
Section 6.02 Notice
of Defaults.
Within 90 days after the occurrence,
and during the continuance, of any default with respect to the Securities of any series that is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall
transmit, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, notice of all such uncured
or unwaived defaults; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any)
or interest on Securities of any series or in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund installment with respect to such Securities,
the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust
committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the
interests of the Holders of Securities of such series; and provided, further, however, that in the case of any default of the character
specified in Section 5.01(d) with respect to the Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders of Securities shall
be given until at least 60 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default” means any
event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default.
Section 6.03 Certain
Rights of Trustee.
Subject to the provisions
of Section 6.01:
(a) the
Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion,
report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed
by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
(b) any
request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order,
and any resolution of the Board of Directors shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;
(c) whenever
in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering
or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith
on its part, rely upon an Officer’s Certificate;
(d) the
Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization
and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;
(e) the
Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction
of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity
satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;
(f) the
Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument,
opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document,
but the Trustee, in its discretion, may, without obligation to do so, make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters
as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine
the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney;
(g) the
Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys
and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care
by it hereunder;
(h) the
rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified,
are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder and to its agents;
(i) the
Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to
be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;
(j) in
no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including,
but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and
regardless of the form of action;
(k) in
no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out
of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents,
acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions
of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services (it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts
which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to avoid and mitigate the effects of such occurrences and to resume
performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances);
(l) the
Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless written notice of any event which is in fact such
a default shall have been received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice
references the Securities and this Indenture;
(m) the
Trustee may request that the Company deliver a certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized
at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture; and
(n) the
Trustee agrees to accept and act upon instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by unsecured e-mail (PDF only), facsimile
transmission or other similar unsecured electronic methods; provided, however, that the Company shall provide to the Trustee an incumbency
certificate listing designated persons with the authority to provide such instructions, which incumbency certificate shall be amended
whenever a person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If the Company elects to give the Trustee e-mail or facsimile transmission
instructions (or instructions by a similar electronic method) and the Trustee in its sole and absolute discretion elects to act upon such
instructions, the Trustee’s understanding of such instructions shall be deemed controlling. The Trustee shall not be liable for
any losses, damages, costs, fees or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reliance upon and compliance with
such instructions notwithstanding such instructions conflict or inconsistency with a subsequent written instruction. The Company agrees
to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions to the Trustee, including,
without limitation, the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception by third parties.
Section 6.04 Not
Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.
The recitals contained herein
and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company and
neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating
Agent makes any representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. Neither the Trustee nor any
Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.
Section 6.05 May Hold
Securities.
The Trustee, any Authenticating
Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become
the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 6.08 and 6.13, may otherwise deal with the Company with the
same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.
Section 6.06 Money
Held in Trust.
Money held by the Trustee
in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability
for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed with the Company.
Section 6.07 Compensation
and Reimbursement.
The Company agrees:
(i) to
pay to the Trustee from time to time such reasonable compensation as shall be agreed in writing between the parties for all services rendered
by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express
trust);
(ii) except
as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances
incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the reasonable
expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its
own negligence or willful misconduct, and the Trustee shall provide the Company reasonable notice of any expenditure not in the ordinary
course of business; and
(iii) to
indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or willful misconduct
on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the reasonable
costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers
or duties hereunder.
The obligations of the Company
under this Section to compensate the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute
additional indebtedness hereunder.
Without limiting any rights
available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default
specified in Section 5.01(e) or Section 5.01(f), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses
of its counsel) and the compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable Federal
or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law.
The provisions of this Section shall
survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the defeasance of the Securities.
Section 6.08 Conflicting
Interests.
If the Trustee has or shall
acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign,
to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. To the extent
permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest by virtue of being a trustee under
this Indenture with respect to Securities of more than one series.
Section 6.09 Corporate
Trustee Required, Eligibility.
There shall at all times be
one (and only one) Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of each series, which may be Trustee hereunder for Securities of one
or more other series. Each Trustee shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined
capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If any such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to
the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section and to the extent permitted by
the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set
forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall
cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect
hereinafter specified in this Article.
Section 6.10 Resignation
and Removal, Appointment of Successor.
No resignation or removal
of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of
appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11.
The Trustee may resign at
any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance
by a successor Trustee required by Section 6.11 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving
of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor
Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.
The Trustee may be removed
at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of such series, by written notice delivered to the Trustee and to the Company. If an instrument of acceptance by a successor
Trustee shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after giving of such notice of removal, the removed Trustee may petition
any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
If at any time:
(a) the
Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 6.08 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been
a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months;
(b) the
Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 6.09 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company
or by any such Holder; or
(c) the
Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall
be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation,
conservation or liquidation,
then, in any such case, (1) the Company by
a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities of which such Trustee acts as trustee, or (2) subject to
Section 5.14, Holders of 10% in aggregate principal amount of Securities of any series who have been bona fide Holders of
such Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities of which such Trustee acts as trustee and the appointment of
a successor Trustee or Trustees.
If the Trustee shall resign,
be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities
of one or more series, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those
series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such
series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply
with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or
the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders
of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee,
the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements
of Section 6.11, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the
successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed
by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 6.11, Holders of 10% in aggregate
principal amount of Securities of any series who have been bona fide Holders of such Securities of such series for at least six months
or the Trustee may, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment
of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.
The Company shall give notice
of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee
with respect to the Securities of any series to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 1.06.
Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate
Trust Office.
Section 6.11 Acceptance
of Appointment by Successor.
In case of the appointment
hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge
and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal
of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested
with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such
retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges and reimbursement of its expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel
and agents), if any, to which such retiring Trustee is otherwise legally entitled, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such
successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor
Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.
In case of the appointment
hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee
and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto
wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (a) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or
desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring
Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (b) if
the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable
to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series
as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (c) shall add to or change
any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder
by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees
of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts
hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or
removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further
act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the
Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor
Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring
Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.
Upon request of any such successor
Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee
all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in the first or second preceding paragraph, as the case may be.
No successor Trustee shall
accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.
Section 6.12 Merger,
Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.
Any corporation into which
the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion
or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust
business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible
under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case
any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or
consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect
as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities; and in case at that time any Securities shall not have been authenticated,
any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor
to the Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Securities or in this Indenture
provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.
Section 6.13 Preferential
Collection of Claims Against Company.
If and when the Trustee shall
be or become a creditor of the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the
Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Company (or any such other obligor).
Section 6.14 Appointment
of Authenticating Agent.
The
Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act
on behalf of and subject to the direction of the Trustee to authenticate and deliver Securities of such series issued upon original issue
and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 3.06, and Securities so authenticated
shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee
hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s
certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating
Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall
be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States
of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined
capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such Authenticating
Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority,
then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined
capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall
cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner
and with the effect specified in this Section.
Any corporation into which
an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger,
conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially
all the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall be the successor of the Authenticating Agent hereunder,
provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further
act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.
An Authenticating Agent may
resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency
of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice
of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with
the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and
shall give notice of such appointment in the manner provided in Section 1.06 to all Holders of Securities of the series with
respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder
shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an
Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.
Except with respect to an
Authenticating Agent appointed at the request of the Company, the Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time
reasonable compensation for its services under this Section.
If an appointment with respect
to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s
certificate of authentication, an alternative certificate of authentication in the following form:
This is one of the Securities
of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
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ARTICLE VII. HOLDERS’
LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY
Section 7.01 Company
to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.
The Company will furnish or
cause to be furnished to the Trustee:
(a) semi-annually,
not more than 15 days after each Regular Record Date, a list for each series of Securities, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably
require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of such series as of such Regular Record Date; and
(b) at
such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of
similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished;
provided, however, that if and so long as the
Trustee shall be the Security Registrar for the Securities of a series, no such list need be furnished with respect to such series of
Securities.
Section 7.02 Preservation
of Information; Communications to Holders.
Subject to compliance with
its obligations pursuant to Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee (i) shall preserve, in as current a form as
is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in
Section 7.01 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar and (ii) may
destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 7.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
The rights of Holders to communicate
with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities, and the corresponding rights and privileges of
the Trustee shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act.
Every Holder of Securities,
by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that none of the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of any
of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to the
Trust Indenture Act.
Section 7.03 Reports
by Trustee.
The Trustee shall transmit
to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture
Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto. As promptly as practicable after each May 15 beginning with the May 15
following the date of this Indenture, and in any event prior to July 15 of each year, the Trustee shall deliver to each Holder a
brief report dated as of May 15 that complies with Trust Indenture Act Section 313(a). The Trustee also shall comply with Trust
Indenture Act Section 313(b). Prior to delivery to the Holders, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company a copy of any report it
delivers to Holders pursuant to this Section.
A copy of each such report
shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange and automated quotation system, if
any, upon which any Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company will notify the Trustee when any Securities
are listed on any stock exchange or automated quotation system.
Section 7.04 Reports
by Company.
Except as otherwise established
in or pursuant to a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 3.01
for such Securities, the Company shall file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company files the same with the Commission, copies
of the annual reports and the information, documents and other reports, if any, that it is required to file with the Commission pursuant
to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act or pursuant to § 314 of the Trust Indenture Act.
All required information,
documents and reports referred to in this Section 7.04 shall be deemed filed with the Trustee at the time such information,
documents and other reports are publicly filed with the Commission; provided, however, that the Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever
to determine whether or not such information, documents or reports have been so filed. Delivery of such reports, information and documents
to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of
any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any
of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on an Officer’s Certificate).
ARTICLE VIII. CONSOLIDATION,
MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE
Section 8.01 Company
May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.
The Company shall not consolidate
with or merge into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease (as lessor) its properties and assets as, or substantially as, an entirety
to any Person, unless:
(a) (i) in
the case of a merger, (1) the Company is the surviving Person, or (2) the Person formed by such consolidation or into which
the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer, or which leases, the properties and assets of the Company
as, or substantially as, an entirety shall be a corporation or partnership, shall be organized and validly existing under the laws of
the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto,
executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of
and any premium and interest on all the Securities and the performance or observance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of
the Company to be performed or observed;
(b) immediately
after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become
an Event of Default, shall exist; and
(c) the
Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger,
conveyance, transfer or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture
comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.
Section 8.02 Successor
Substituted.
Upon any consolidation of
the Company with, or merger of the Company into, any other Person or any conveyance, transfer or lease (as lessor) of the properties and
assets of the Company as, or substantially as, an entirety in accordance with Section 8.01, the successor Person formed by
such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be
substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor
Person had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease (where the Company is the lessor), the predecessor
Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.
ARTICLE IX. SUPPLEMENTAL
INDENTURES
Section 9.01 Supplemental
Indentures Without Consent of Holders.
Without the consent of any
Holders, the Company and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in
form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:
(a) to
evidence the succession of another Person to the Company under this Indenture and the Securities and the assumption by such successor
of the obligations of the Company hereunder;
(b) to
add covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the
benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such
series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company with regard to all or any series of Securities (and if any
such surrender is to be made with regard to less than all series of Securities, stating that such surrender is expressly being made solely
with regard to such series);
(c) to
add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such additional Events
of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such additional Events of Default are expressly
being included solely for the benefit of such series);
(d) to
add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of
Securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons, or to permit or facilitate
the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form;
(e) to
add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of all or any series of Securities (and if such addition,
change or elimination is to apply to less than all series of Securities, stating that it is expressly being made to apply solely with
respect to such series); provided that any such addition, change or elimination (1) shall neither (i) apply to any Security
of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (ii) modify
the rights of the Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision or (2) shall become effective only when there is no
such Security Outstanding;
(f) to
secure the Securities or any guarantee with respect to any Securities;
(g) to
establish the form or terms of Securities of any series hereunder;
(h) to
evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more
series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration
of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 6.11;
(i) to
cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein;
(j) to
make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture, provided that such action pursuant to this
Clause (j) shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of any Securities of any Outstanding series in any material respect;
(k) to
add one or more guarantors with respect to the Securities as parties to this Indenture or to release guarantors in accordance with the
provisions of any supplemental indenture;
(l) to
qualify this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;
(m) to
supplement any provisions of this Indenture necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities;
provided that such action does not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series or any other series;
(n) to
comply with the rules or regulations of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which any of the Securities may
be listed or traded;
(o) to
comply with the rules of any applicable Depositary;
(p) subject
to any limitations established pursuant to Section 3.01, to provide for the issuance of additional Securities of any series;
or
(q) to
conform any provision of this Indenture, any supplemental indenture, one or more series of Securities or any related guarantees or security
documents, if any, to the description of such Securities contained in the Company’s prospectus, prospectus supplement, offering
memorandum or similar document with respect to the offering of the Securities of such series.
Section 9.02 Supplemental
Indentures With Consent of Holders.
With the consent of the Holders
of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture
(including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange for Securities), by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company
and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental
hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to, or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of, this Indenture,
or modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such
supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected thereby:
(a) change
the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest, if any, on, any Security, or reduce the principal
amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal
of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Security which would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the
Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02, or change the Company’s obligation to maintain an office or agency for payment
of Securities and the other matters specified herein, or the coin or currency in which any Security is payable, or impair the right of
any Holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption,
on or after the Redemption Date), or alter the method of computation of interest;
(b) reduce
the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for
any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of
this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this Indenture;
(c) modify
any of the provisions of this Section, Section 5.13 or Section 10.06 except to increase any such percentage or
to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding
Security affected thereby; provided, however, that this Clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to
changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section and Section 10.06, or
the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 6.11 and 9.01(h); or
(d) if
the Securities of any series are convertible into or for any other securities or property of the Company, make any change that adversely
affects in any material respect the right to convert any Security of such series (except as permitted by Section 9.01) or
decrease the conversion rate or increase the conversion price of any such Security of such series, unless such decrease or increase is
permitted by the terms of such Security.
A supplemental indenture that
changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture that has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one
or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such
covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.
It shall not be necessary
for any Act of Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be
sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.
Section 9.03 Execution
of Supplemental Indentures.
In executing, or accepting
the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts
created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.01) shall be fully protected
in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized
or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects
the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Section 9.04 Effect
of Supplemental Indentures.
Upon the execution of any
supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall
form a part of this Indenture, for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered
hereunder shall be bound thereby.
Section 9.05 Conformity
with Trust Indenture Act.
Every supplemental indenture
executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 9.06 Reference
in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.
Securities of any series authenticated
and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee,
bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so
determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental
indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities
of such series. Failure to make a notation or issue a new Security shall not affect the validity and effect of any amendment, supplement
or waiver.
ARTICLE X. COVENANTS
Section 10.01 Payment
of Principal, Premium and Interest.
The Company covenants and
agrees for the benefit of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest
on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture. Principal, premium, if any, and interest
will be considered paid on the date due if the Trustee or Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of
Noon, New York City time, on the due date, money deposited by the Company in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient
to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes then due.
Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary contained in this Indenture, the Company or the Paying Agent may, to the extent it is required to do so by law, deduct or
withhold income or other similar taxes imposed by the United States of America or other domestic or foreign taxing authorities from principal
or interest payments hereunder.
Section 10.02 Maintenance
of Office or Agency.
The Company will maintain
in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered
for payment, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, where Securities may be surrendered
for conversion, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may
be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office
or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with
the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee,
and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
The Company may also from
time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered
for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission
shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any
series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any
change in the location of any such other office or agency.
Except as otherwise specified
with respect to a series of Securities as contemplated by Section 3.01, the Company hereby initially designates as the Place
of Payment for each series of Securities The City of New York, and initially appoints the Trustee as Paying Agent at its Corporate Trust
Office as the Company’s office or agency for each such purpose in such city; provided that with respect to a Global Security, and
except as may otherwise be specified for such Global Security as contemplated by Section 3.01, any payment, presentation,
surrender or delivery effected pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary for such Global Security shall be deemed to have
been effected at the Place of Payment for such Global Security in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.
Section 10.03 Money
for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.
If the Company shall at any
time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of or
any premium or interest on any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto
a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium and interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise
disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.
Whenever the Company shall
have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, on or prior to Noon, New York City time, on each due date of the
principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit (or, if the Company has deposited any trust funds with
a trustee pursuant to Section 13.04(a), cause such trustee to deposit) with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount,
such sum to be held as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify
the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.
The Company will cause each
Paying Agent for any series of Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying
Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will (1) hold all sums held
by it for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on Securities of that series in trust for the benefit
of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided; (2) give
the Trustee notice of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series) in the making of any payment
of principal (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of that series; and (3) during the continuance of any such
default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment
in respect of the Securities of that series.
The Company may at any time,
for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct
any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee
upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying
Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from any further liability with respect to such money.
Subject to any applicable
abandoned property law, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment
of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal,
premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall
be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company
for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the
Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.
Section 10.04 Statement
by Officer as to Default.
The
Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each of its fiscal years ending after the date hereof, an
Officer’s Certificate, stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signer thereof the Company is in default in the performance
and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement
of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof
of which the signer thereof may have knowledge.
Section 10.05 Existence.
Subject to Article VIII,
the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate (or equivalent)
existence.
Section 10.06 Waiver
of Certain Covenants.
Except as otherwise specified
as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of such series, the Company may, with respect to the Securities of any series,
omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in any covenant pursuant to Sections 3.01(u),
9.01(b) or 9.01(g), Article VIII or Sections 10.04 or 10.05 for the benefit of the Holders
of such series if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of such series shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with
such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent
so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect
of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.
ARTICLE XI. REDEMPTION
OF SECURITIES
Section 11.01 Applicability
of Article.
Securities of any series that
are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated
by Section 3.01 for such Securities) in accordance with this Article.
Section 11.02 Election
to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.
The election of the Company
to redeem any Securities shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate or in another manner
specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for such Securities.
Except as otherwise established
in or pursuant to a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 3.01
for such Securities, in case of any redemption at the election of the Company of the Securities of any series (including any such redemption
affecting only a single Security), the Company shall, not less than 10 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless
a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date, of the principal amount of Securities
of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities
(a) prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture,
or (b) pursuant to an election of the Company which is subject to a condition specified in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere
in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officer’s Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction
or condition.
Section 11.03 Selection
by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.
Except as otherwise established
in or pursuant to a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 3.01
for such Securities, if less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed (unless all the Securities of such series and of
a specified tenor are to be redeemed or unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed
shall be selected not more than 45 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not
previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which complies with any securities
exchange or other Applicable Procedures; provided that the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of any Security shall be in an authorized
denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security. If less than all the Securities of
such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed (unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the particular Securities
to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 45 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of
such series and specified tenor not previously called for redemption in accordance with the preceding sentence.
If
any Security selected for partial redemption is converted in part before termination of the conversion right with respect to the portion
of the Security so selected, the converted portion of such Security shall be deemed (so far as may be) to be the portion selected for
redemption. Securities which have been converted during a selection of securities to be redeemed shall be treated by the Trustee as Outstanding
for the purpose of such selection.
The Trustee shall promptly
notify the Company and each Security Registrar in writing of the Securities selected for redemption as aforesaid and, in case of any Securities
selected for partial redemption as aforesaid, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.
The provisions of the three
preceding paragraphs shall not apply with respect to any redemption affecting only a single Security, whether such Security is to be redeemed
in whole or in part. In the case of any such redemption in part, the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of the Security shall
be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security.
For all purposes of this Indenture,
unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Securities
redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.
If the Company shall so direct, Securities registered in the name of the Company, any Affiliate or any Subsidiary thereof shall not be
included in the Securities selected for redemption.
Section 11.04 Notice
of Redemption.
Except as otherwise established
in or pursuant to a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 3.01
for such Securities, notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed or otherwise in accordance with
the Applicable Procedures not less than 10 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date (or within such period as otherwise specified
as contemplated by Section 3.01 for the relevant Securities), to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at such Holder’s
address appearing in the Security Register.
Except as otherwise established
in or pursuant to a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 3.01
for such Securities, all notices of redemption shall identify the Securities to be redeemed (including CUSIP numbers, if any) and shall
state:
(a) the
Redemption Date;
(b) the
Redemption Price (or the method of calculating such price);
(c) if
less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series consisting of more than a single Security are to be redeemed, the identification
(and, in the case of partial redemption of any such Securities, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed and,
if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series consisting of a single Security are to be redeemed, the principal amount of
the particular Security to be redeemed;
(d) that
on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that
interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date;
(e) the
place or places where each such Security is to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price;
(f) that
the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case;
(g) for
any Securities that by their terms may be converted, the terms of conversion, the date on which the right to convert the Security to be
redeemed will terminate and the place or places where such Securities may be surrendered for conversion; and
(h) any
conditions precedent described in the second paragraph below.
Notice of redemption of Securities
to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request (which may be rescinded
or revoked at any time prior to the time at which the Trustee shall have given such notice to the Holders), by the Trustee in the name
and at the expense of the Company. The notice, if sent in the manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given,
whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice by mail or otherwise in accordance with the Applicable
Procedures or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Security designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect
the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities.
Any redemption or notice may,
at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent and, at the Company’s discretion, the Redemption
Date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions precedent included at the Company’s discretion shall be satisfied
(or waived by the Company) or the Redemption Date may not occur and such notice may be rescinded if all such conditions precedent included
at the Company’s discretion shall not have been satisfied (or waived by the Company). In addition, such notice may provide that
payment of the Redemption Price and performance of the Company’s obligations with respect to such redemption may be performed by
another person.
Section 11.05 Deposit
of Redemption Price.
Except as otherwise established
in or pursuant to a Board Resolution or an Officer’s Certificate or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 3.01
for such Securities, on or prior to Noon, New York City time, on any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with
a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.03)
an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date or
the Securities of the series provide otherwise) accrued interest on, all the Securities that are to be redeemed on that date, other than
Securities or portions of Securities called for redemption that are owned by the Company or a Subsidiary and have been delivered by the
Company or such Subsidiary to the Trustee for cancellation. All money, if any, earned on funds held by the Paying Agent shall be remitted
to the Company. In addition, the Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any money deposited with the Paying Agent by the Company
in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the Redemption Price of, and accrued interest, if any, on, all Securities to be redeemed.
If
any Security called for redemption is converted into shares of common stock or other securities of the Company in compliance with the
terms of such Security, any money deposited with the Trustee or with any Paying Agent or so segregated and held in trust for the redemption
of such Security shall (subject to any right of the Holder of such Security or any Predecessor Security to receive interest as provided
in the last paragraph of Section 3.07 or in the terms of such Security) be paid to the Company upon Company Request or, if
then held by the Company, shall be discharged from such trust.
Section 11.06 Securities
Payable on Redemption Date.
Notice of redemption having
been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price
therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest)
such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such
Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together, if applicable, with accrued interest to the Redemption Date;
provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, installments of interest whose Stated
Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities,
registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.07;
provided further that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, if the Redemption Date is after a Regular
Record Date and on or prior to the Interest Payment Date, the accrued and unpaid interest shall be payable to the Holder of the redeemed
Securities registered on the relevant Regular Record Date.
If any Security called for
redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal and any premium shall, until paid, bear interest
from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.
Section 11.07 Securities
Redeemed in Part.
Any Security that is to be
redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement
by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or such
Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to
the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized
denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal
of the Security so surrendered.
ARTICLE XII. SINKING
FUNDS
Section 12.01 Applicability
of Article.
The provisions of this Article shall
be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of any series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01
for such Securities.
The minimum amount of any
sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of any series of Securities is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund
payment”, and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of such Securities is herein referred to
as an “optional sinking fund payment”. If provided for by the terms of any series of Securities, the cash amount of
any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 12.02. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied
to the redemption of Securities of the series as provided for by the terms of such Securities.
Section 12.02 Satisfaction
of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.
The Company (a) may deliver
Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any previously called for redemption) and (b) may apply as a credit Securities of
a series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application
of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part
of any sinking fund payment with respect to any Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities
as and to the extent provided for by the terms of such Securities; provided that the Securities to be so credited have not been previously
so credited. The Securities to be so credited shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price,
as specified in the Securities so to be redeemed, for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking
fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.
Section 12.03. Redemption
of Securities for Sinking Fund.
Not less than 45 days (or
shorter period as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Securities, the Company will deliver
to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for such Securities pursuant
to the terms of such Securities, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if
any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities pursuant to Section 12.02 and will also deliver to the
Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days prior to each such sinking fund payment date, the Trustee shall select
the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 11.03 and cause notice
of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 11.04.
Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections
11.06 and 11.07.
ARTICLE XIII. DEFEASANCE
AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
Section 13.01 Company’s
Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
The Company may elect, at
its option at any time, to have Section 13.02 or Section 13.03 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities,
as the case may be, designated pursuant to Section 3.01 as being defeasible pursuant to such Section 13.02 or
13.03, in accordance with any applicable requirements provided pursuant to Section 3.01 and upon compliance with the
conditions set forth below in this Article. Any such election shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or
in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for such Securities.
Section 13.02 Defeasance
and Discharge.
Upon the Company’s exercise
of its option (if any) to have this Section apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company
shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Securities as provided in this Section on and after
the date the conditions set forth in Section 13.04 are satisfied (hereinafter called “Defeasance”). For
this purpose, such Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by
such Securities and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are
concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), subject to the following
which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of such Securities to receive,
solely from the trust fund described in Section 13.04 and as more fully set forth in Section 13.05, payments in
respect of the principal of and any premium and interest on such Securities when payments are due, (b) the Company’s obligations
with respect to such Securities under Sections 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 10.02 and 10.03, (c) the rights,
powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (d) this Article. Subject to compliance with this Article, the
Company may exercise its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities notwithstanding the prior exercise of its
option (if any) to have Section 13.03 applied to such Securities.
Section 13.03 Covenant
Defeasance.
Upon the Company’s exercise
of its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, (a) the
Company shall be released from its obligations under Sections 7.04, 8.01, 10.04, 10.05 and any covenants provided
pursuant to Section 3.01(u), 9.01(b) or 9.01(g) for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities
and (b) the occurrence of any event specified in Section 5.01(d) or 5.01(g) shall be deemed not to be
or result in an Event of Default, in each case with respect to such Securities as provided in this Section on and after the date
the conditions set forth in Section 13.04 are satisfied (hereinafter called “Covenant Defeasance”). For
this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to such Securities, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have
no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such specified Section, whether directly or indirectly by
reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or by reason of any reference in any such Section to any other
provision herein or in any other document, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.
Section 13.04 Conditions
to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
The following shall be the
conditions to the application of Section 13.02 or 13.03 to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case
may be:
(a) The
Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee which satisfies the requirements
contemplated by Section 6.09 and agrees to comply with the provisions of this Article applicable to it) as trust funds
in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefits
of the Holders of such Securities, (A) money in an amount, or (B) in the case of any series of Securities the payment on which
may only be made in legal coin or currency of the United States, U.S. Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal
and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than Noon, New York City time, on the due date
of any payment, money in an amount, or (C) such other obligations or arrangements as may be specified as contemplated by Section 3.01
with respect to such Securities, or (D) a combination thereof, in each case sufficient, in the opinion of an independent public accountant
or financial advisor, in either case expressed in a written certification thereof to be delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge,
and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or any such other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, (1) the principal of and any
premium and interest on such Securities on the respective Stated Maturities, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and such Securities
or any Redemption Date established pursuant to Clause (i) below, and (2) any mandatory sinking fund payments on the dates on
which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and such Securities. As used herein, “U.S.
Government Obligation” means (x) any security which is (i) a direct obligation of the United States of America for
the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged or (ii) an obligation of a Person controlled
or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed
as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case (i) or (ii), is not callable or redeemable
at the option of the issuer thereof and (y) any depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the
Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any U.S. Government Obligation which is specified in Clause (x) above and held by such
bank for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt, or with respect to any specific payment of principal of or interest on
any U.S. Government Obligation which is so specified and held, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized
to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect
of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal or interest evidenced by such depositary receipt.
(b) In
the event of an election to have Section 13.02 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been
published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable
Federal income tax law, in either case (A) or (B) to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the
Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, Defeasance and
discharge to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner
and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit, Defeasance and discharge were not to occur.
(c) In
the event of an election to have Section 13.03 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel that shall confirm that the Holders of such Securities will not recognize
gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and Covenant Defeasance to be effected with respect to such Securities
and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit
and Covenant Defeasance were not to occur.
(d) The
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate to the effect that neither such Securities nor any other Securities
of the same series, if then listed on any securities exchange, will be delisted as a result of such deposit.
(e) No
event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the
time of such deposit (other than such event or Event of Default (if any) resulting from the incurrence of indebtedness or the grant of
liens securing such indebtedness, all or a portion of the proceeds of which will be applied to such deposit).
(f) The
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the
intent of preferring the Holders over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding
any other creditors of the Company or others.
(g) Such
deposit shall not result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture)
to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound, or if such breach or default would occur, which is not waived as of, and for
all purposes, on and after, the date of such deposit.
(h) The
Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions
precedent with respect to such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.
Before or
after a deposit, the Company may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Securities at a future date in accordance
with Article XI.
Section 13.05 Deposited
Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions.
Subject
to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.03, all money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds
thereof) deposited with the Trustee or other qualifying trustee (solely for purposes of this Section and Section 13.06,
the Trustee and any such other trustee are referred to collectively as the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 13.04
in respect of any Securities shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and
this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any such Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent)
as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities, of all sums, due and to become due thereon in respect of principal
and any premium and interest, but money so held in trust need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
The Company shall pay and
indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant
to Section 13.04 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which
by law is for the account of the Holders of Outstanding Securities; provided that the Trustee shall be entitled to charge any such tax,
fee or other charge to such Holder’s account.
Anything in this Article to
the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or U.S.
Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 13.04 with respect to any Securities which are in excess of the amount
thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect the Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, with respect
to such Securities.
Section 13.06 Reinstatement.
If the Trustee or the Paying
Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with this Article with respect to any Securities by reason of any order or judgment
of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the obligations under this
Indenture, such Securities from which the Company has been discharged or released pursuant to Section 13.02 or 13.03
shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article with respect to such Securities, until
such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all money held in trust pursuant to Section 13.05 with respect
to such Securities in accordance with this Article; provided, however, that (a) if the Company makes any payment of principal of
or any premium or interest on any such Security following such reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the
rights (if any) of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money so held in trust and (b) unless otherwise
required by any legal proceeding or any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall return
all such money and U.S. Government Obligations to the Company promptly after receiving a written request therefor at any time, if such
reinstatement of the Company’s obligations has occurred and continues to be in effect.
[signature pages follow]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties
hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
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ARBUTUS BIOPHARMA CORPORATION |
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[ ], as Trustee |
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Exhibit 5.1
November 6, 2024
Arbutus Biopharma Corporation
701 Veterans Circle
Warminster, Pennsylvania 18974
Attention: | Board of Directors |
Dear Sirs/Mesdames:
| Re: | Arbutus Biopharma Corporation
Registration Statement on Form S-3 |
We are acting as counsel to Arbutus Biopharma
Corporation, a corporation incorporated under the laws of British Columbia (the “Company”), in connection with its
registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on the date hereof, relating to the proposed public offering of up to US$300,000,000 in aggregate amount of one or more series of the
following securities of the Company: (i) debt securities (the “Debt Securities”), (ii) preferred shares,
without par value (the “Preferred Shares”), (iii) common shares, without par value (the “Common Shares”),
(iv) warrants to purchase Debt Securities, Preferred Shares or Common Shares (the “Warrants”), and (v) units
consisting of a combination of the foregoing securities (the “Units” and, together with the Preferred Shares, Common
Shares, Warrants and Debt Securities, the “Securities”), all of which may be sold from time to time and on a delayed
or continuous basis, as set forth in the prospectus which forms a part of the Registration Statement, and as to be set forth in one or
more supplements to the prospectus. This opinion letter is furnished to you at your request to enable you to fulfill the requirements
of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K, 17 C.F.R. §229.601(b)(5), in connection with the Registration Statement.
For purposes of this opinion letter, we have examined
copies of such agreements, instruments and documents as we have deemed an appropriate basis on which to render the opinions hereinafter
expressed. In our examination of the aforesaid documents, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all
natural persons, the accuracy and completeness of all documents submitted to us, the authenticity of all original documents, and the conformity
to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies (including pdfs). As to all matters of fact, we have relied
on the representations and statements of fact made in the documents so reviewed, and we have not independently established the facts so
relied on. This opinion letter is given, and all statements herein are made, in the context of the foregoing.
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For purposes of this opinion letter, we have assumed
that (i) the issuance, sale, amount and terms of any Securities of the Company to be offered from time to time will have been duly
authorized and established by proper action of the board of directors of the Company or a duly authorized committee of such board (“Board
Action”) consistent with the procedures and terms described in the Registration Statement and in accordance with the Company’s
articles and applicable British Columbia corporate law, in a manner that does not violate any law, government or court-imposed order or
restriction or agreement or instrument then binding on the Company or otherwise impair the legal or binding nature of the obligations
represented by the applicable Securities; (ii) at the time of offer, issuance and sale of any Securities, the Registration Statement
will have been declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), and no stop order
suspending its effectiveness will have been issued and remain in effect; (iii) any Debt Securities will be issued pursuant to an
indenture for Debt Securities substantially in the form of the indenture filed as Exhibit 4.5 to the Registration Statement, with
items shown in such exhibit as subject to completion completed in a satisfactory manner; (iv) the indenture under which any Debt
Securities are issued will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and other applicable laws; (v) any Warrants
will be issued under one or more warrant agreements, each to be between the Company and a financial institution identified therein as
a warrant agent; (vi) any Units will be issued under one or more unit agreements; (vii) any Preferred Shares will be issued
with appropriate certificates; (viii) if being sold by the Company, the Securities will be delivered against payment of valid consideration
therefor and in accordance with the terms of the applicable Board Action authorizing such sale and any applicable underwriting agreement
or purchase agreement and as contemplated by the Registration Statement and/or the applicable prospectus supplement; and (ix) the
Company will remain a British Columbia corporation.
To the extent that the obligations of the Company
with respect to the Securities may be dependent upon such matters, we assume for purposes of this opinion that the other party under the
indenture for any Debt Securities, under the warrant agreement for any Warrants, under the unit agreement for any Units, namely, the trustee,
the warrant agent or the unit agent, respectively, is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction
of organization; that such other party is duly qualified to engage in the activities contemplated by such indenture, warrant agreement,
or unit agreement, as applicable; that such indenture, warrant agreement, or unit agreement, as applicable, has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the other party and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the other party enforceable against
the other party in accordance with its terms; that such other party is in compliance with respect to performance of its obligations under
such indenture, warrant agreement, or unit agreement, as applicable, with all applicable laws, rules and regulations; and that such
other party has the requisite organizational and legal power and authority to perform its obligations under such indenture, warrant agreement,
or unit agreement, as applicable.
This opinion letter is based as to matters of
law solely on the laws of the Province of British Columbia and the laws of Canada applicable therein. We express no opinion herein as
to any other statutes, rules or regulations (and in particular, we express no opinion as to any effect that such other statutes,
rules or regulations may have on the opinions expressed herein).
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Based upon, subject to and limited by the foregoing,
we are of the opinion that:
| (a) | The Debt Securities (including any Debt Securities duly issued upon the exercise of Warrants and receipt
by the Company of any additional consideration payable upon such exercise), upon due execution and delivery of an indenture relating thereto
on behalf of the Company and the trustee named therein, and upon authentication by such trustee and due execution and delivery on behalf
of the Company in accordance with the indenture and any supplemental indenture relating thereto, will constitute valid and binding obligations
of the Company. |
| (b) | The Preferred Shares (including any Preferred Shares duly issued upon the exchange or conversion of Debt
Securities that are exchangeable for or convertible into Preferred Shares or upon the exercise of Warrants and receipt by the Company
of any additional consideration payable upon such conversion, exchange or exercise), upon due execution and delivery on behalf of the
Company of certificates therefor, including global certificates, or the entry of the issuance thereof in the books and records of the
Company, as the case may be, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. |
| (c) | The Common Shares (including any Common Shares duly issued upon the exchange or conversion of Debt Securities
or Preferred Shares that are exchangeable for or convertible into Common Shares or upon the exercise of Warrants and receipt by the Company
of any additional consideration payable upon such conversion, exchange or exercise), upon due execution and delivery on behalf of the
Company of certificates therefor, including global certificates, or the entry of the issuance thereof in the books and records of the
Company, as the case may be, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. |
| (d) | The Warrants, upon due execution and delivery of a warrant agreement relating thereto on behalf of the
Company and the warrant agent named therein and due authentication of the Warrants by such warrant agent, and upon due execution and delivery
of the Warrants on behalf of the Company, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company. |
| (e) | The Units, upon due execution and delivery of a unit agreement relating thereto on behalf of the Company,
and upon due execution and delivery of one or more certificates bearing such terms on behalf of the Company, will constitute valid and
binding obligations of the Company. |
The opinions expressed in Paragraphs (a), (d) and
(e) above with respect to the valid and binding nature of obligations may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership,
moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights (including, without limitation, the effect of statutory and other law regarding
fraudulent conveyances, fraudulent transfers and preferential transfers) and by the exercise of judicial discretion and the application
of principles of equity, good faith, fair dealing, reasonableness, conscionability and materiality (regardless of whether the Securities
are considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
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This opinion letter has been prepared for use
in connection with the Registration Statement. We assume no obligation to advise of any changes in the foregoing subsequent to the effective
date of the Registration Statement.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion
letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm under the caption “Legal Matters”
in the prospectus constituting a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are an “expert”
within the meaning of the Act.
| | Yours truly, |
| | |
| | /s/ FARRIS LLP |
| | |
| | FARRIS LLP |
Exhibit 5.2
November 6,
2024
Board of Directors
Arbutus Biopharma Corporation
701 Veterans Circle
Warminster, PA 18974
Dear Sirs/Mesdames:
| Re: | Arbutus Biopharma Corporation (the “Corporation”) |
We are Canadian counsel to the Corporation, a
British Columbia, Canada company, and have been requested to provide this opinion in connection with the Corporation’s issuance
of up to $100,000,000 of the Corporation’s common shares, no par value (the “ATM Shares”), from time to time
and at various prices in an “at-the-market” offering pursuant to that certain Open Market Sale AgreementSM, dated
December 20, 2018, by and between the Corporation and Jefferies LLC, as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 to the Sale
Agreement, dated December 20, 2019, that certain Amendment No. 2 to the Sale Agreement, dated August 7, 2020, and that
certain Amendment No. 3 to the Sale Agreement, dated March 4, 2021 (as amended, the “Sale Agreement”). The
ATM Shares are being offered pursuant to the Registration Statement on Form S-3, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), on the date hereof (as amended from time to time, the “Registration
Statement”), including a base prospectus (the “Base Prospectus”) that forms a part thereof and a prospectus
supplement (the “Prospectus Supplement,” and together with the Base Prospectus, the “Prospectus”).
This opinion letter is furnished to you at your
request to enable you to fulfill the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K, 17 C.F.R. § 229.601(b)(5), in connection
with the Registration Statement.
For purposes of this opinion letter, we have examined
copies of such agreements, instruments and documents as we have deemed an appropriate basis on which to render the opinions hereinafter
expressed. In our examination of the aforesaid documents, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all
natural persons, the accuracy and completeness of all documents submitted to us, the authenticity of all original documents, and the conformity
to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies (including pdfs). As to all matters of fact, we have relied
on the representations and statements of fact made in the documents so reviewed, and we have not independently established the facts so
relied on. This opinion letter is given, and all statements herein are made, in the context of the foregoing.
This opinion letter is based as to matters of
law solely on the laws of the Province of British Columbia and the laws of Canada applicable therein. We express no opinion herein as
to any other statutes, rules or regulations.
| - 2 - | |
Based upon, subject to and limited by the foregoing,
we are of the opinion that following: (i) effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (ii) issuance of the ATM Shares pursuant
to the terms of the Sale Agreement, which such issuance shall not exceed the Maximum Program Amount (as defined in the Sale Agreement),
and (iii) receipt by the Corporation of the consideration for the ATM Shares specified in the resolutions of the Board of Directors
or a committee designated by the Board of Directors, the ATM Shares will be validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable.
This opinion letter has been prepared for use
in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement and Prospectus relating to the offer and sale of the ATM Shares, and speaks
as of the date hereof. We assume no obligation to advise of any changes in the foregoing subsequent to the date hereof.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion
letter as Exhibit 5.2 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm under the caption “Legal Matters”
in the Prospectus constituting a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are an “expert”
within the meaning of the Act.
| | Yours truly, |
| | |
| | /s/ FARRIS LLP |
| | |
| | FARRIS LLP |
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent
Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the reference to our firm
under the caption "Experts" in the Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of Arbutus Biopharma
Corporation for the registration of its common shares, preferred shares, debt securities, warrants and units and to the
incorporation by reference therein of our report dated March 5, 2024, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of
Arbutus Biopharma Corporation included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
/s/ Ernst & Young
LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
November 6, 2024
Exhibit 107
Calculation of Filing Fee Tables
Form S-3
(Form Type)
Arbutus Biopharma Corporation
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities
|
Security
Type |
Security Class Title |
Fee
Calculation
or Carry Forward
Rule |
Amount
Registered
(1) |
Proposed
Maximum
Offering
Price Per
Unit (2) |
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price |
Fee
Rate |
Amount
of
Registration
Fee (3) |
Carry
Forward
Form Type |
Carry
Forward
File Number |
Carry
Forward
Initial effective
date |
Filing
Fee
Previously Paid In
Connection with
Unsold Securities
to be Carried
Forward |
Newly
Registered Securities |
Fees
to Be Paid |
Equity |
Common
Shares, without par value |
457(o) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Fees
to Be Paid |
Equity |
Preferred
Shares, without par value |
457(o) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Fees
to Be Paid |
Debt |
Debt
securities |
457(o) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Fees
to Be Paid |
Other |
Warrants |
457(o) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Fees
to Be Paid |
Other |
Units |
457(o) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Fees
to Be Paid |
Unallocated
(Universal) Shelf |
Unallocated
(Universal) Shelf (1) |
457(o) |
- |
- |
$99,554,226.82
(4) |
0.00015310 |
$15,241.75 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Fees
Previously Paid |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Carry
Forward Securities |
Carry
Forward Securities |
Equity |
Common
Shares, without par value |
415(a)(6) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
S-3 |
333-260782 |
November 18,
2021 |
- |
Carry
Forward Securities |
Equity |
Preferred
Shares, without par value |
415(a)(6) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
S-3 |
333-260782 |
November 18,
2021 |
- |
Carry
Forward Securities |
Debt |
Debt
securities |
415(a)(6) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
S-3 |
333-260782 |
November 18,
2021 |
- |
Carry
Forward Securities |
Other |
Warrants |
415(a)(6) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
S-3 |
333-260782 |
November 18,
2021 |
|
Carry
Forward Securities |
Other |
Units |
415(a)(6) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
S-3 |
333-260782 |
November 18,
2021 |
- |
Carry
Forward Securities |
Unallocated
(Universal) Shelf |
Unallocated
(Universal) Shelf (4) |
415(a)(6) |
(4) |
- |
$200,445,773.18
(4) |
0.00009270 |
- |
S-3 |
333-260782 |
November 18,
2021 |
$18,581.32 |
|
Total
Offering Amounts |
|
$300,000,000.00 |
|
$15,241.75 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Fees Previously Paid |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Fee Offsets |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Fee Due |
|
|
|
$15,241.75 |
|
|
|
|
| (1) | Arbutus
Biopharma Corporation (the “Registrant”) is registering under this registration
statement such indeterminate number of common shares and preferred shares, such indeterminate
principal amount of debt securities, such indeterminate number of warrants to purchase common
shares, preferred shares and/or debt securities, and such indeterminate number of units as
may be sold by the Registrant from time to time, which together shall have an aggregate initial
offering price not to exceed $300,000,000. If the Registrant issues any debt securities at
an original issue discount, then the offering price of such debt securities shall be in such
greater principal amount at maturity as shall result in an aggregate offering price not to
exceed $300,000,000, less the aggregate dollar amount of all securities previously issued
hereunder. The Registrant may sell any securities the Registrant is registering under this
registration statement separately or as units with one or more of the other securities the
Registrant is registering under this registration statement. The Registrant will determine,
from time to time, the proposed maximum offering price per unit in connection with its issuance
of the securities the Registrant is registering under this registration statement. The securities
the Registrant is registering under this registration statement also include such indeterminate
number of common shares and preferred shares and amount of debt securities as the Registrant
may issue upon conversion of or exchange for preferred shares or debt securities that provide
for conversion or exchange, upon exercise of warrants or pursuant to the antidilution provisions
of any of such securities. In addition, pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the shares the Registrant is registering
under this registration statement include such indeterminate number of common shares and
preferred shares as may be issuable with respect to the shares the Registrant is registering
as a result of shares splits, shares dividends or similar transactions. |
| (2) | The
proposed maximum offering price per security will be determined from time to time by the
Registrant in connection with the issuance by the Registrant of the securities registered
hereunder and is not specified as to each class of security pursuant to Instruction 2.A.iii.b
of the Instructions to the Calculation of Filing Fee Tables and Related Disclosure of Form S-3. |
| (3) | Calculated
pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act based on the proposed maximum
aggregate offering price of all securities listed. |
| (4) | Pursuant
to Rule 415(a)(6) under the Securities Act, securities with a maximum aggregate
price of $200,445,773.18 registered hereunder are unsold securities (the “Unsold Securities”)
previously covered by the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-3 (File
No. 333-260782) which was initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on November 4, 2021 and became effective on November 18, 2021 (the “Prior
Registration Statement”), and are included in this registration statement. The Registrant
paid a filing fee of $18,581.32 (calculated at the filing fee rate in effect at the time
of the filing of the Prior Registration Statement) relating to the Unsold Securities under
the Prior Registration Statement, and no additional filing fee is due with respect to the
Unsold Securities in connection with the filing of this registration statement. During the
grace period afforded by Rule 415(a)(5) under the Securities Act, the Registrant
may continue to offer and sell under the Prior Registration Statement the Unsold Securities
being registered hereunder. To the extent that, after the filing date hereof and prior to
the effectiveness of this registration statement, the Registrant sells any Unsold Securities
under the Prior Registration Statement, the Registrant will identify in a pre-effective amendment
to this registration statement the updated number of Unsold Securities from the Prior Registration
Statement to be included in this registration statement pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) and
the updated amount of new securities to be registered on this registration statement. Pursuant
to Rule 415(a)(6) under the Securities Act, the offering of Unsold Securities under
the Prior Registration Statement will be deemed terminated as of the date of effectiveness
of this registration statement. |
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