RBT Rubicon Technologies Inc

 

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 5, 2023

 

Registration No. 333-     

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM S-3

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

RUBICON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Delaware		88-3703651
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

335 Madison Avenue, 4^th Floor

New York, NY 10017

(844) 479-1507

(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

 

Philip Rodoni

Chief Executive Officer

335 Madison Avenue, 4^th Floor

New York, NY 10017

(844) 479-1507

(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

 

Copy to:

 

Michael J. Blankenship

Winston & Strawn LLP

800 Capitol Street, Suite 2400

Houston, Texas 77002

Tel: 713-651-2678

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

 

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.

 

	Large accelerated filer	☐	Accelerated filer	☐
	Non-accelerated filer	☒	Smaller reporting company	☒
			Emerging growth company	☒

 

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 which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until this registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

 

This registration statement of Rubicon Technologies, Inc. (the “Registrant”) contains two prospectuses:

 

●

A base prospectus which covers the offering, issuance and sale by the Registrant of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $150,000,000 of its Class A common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, rights and/or units; and

 

●

a sales agreement prospectus, which covers the offering, issuance, and sale by the Registrant of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $50,000,000.00 (which amount is included in the $150,000,000.00 aggregate offering price set forth in the base prospectus) of the Registrant’s Class A common stock that may be issued and sold from time to time under the Controlled Equity OfferingSM Sales Agreement dated September 5, 2023 (the “Sales Agreement”), by and between the Registrant and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co (“Cantor” or “Sales Agent”).

 

The base prospectus immediately follows this explanatory note. The specific terms of any security to be offered pursuant to the base prospectus will be specified in a prospectus supplement to the base prospectus.

 

The prospectus relating to the offering of shares of our Class A common stock under the Sales Agreement immediately follows the base prospectus. The Class A common stock that may be offered, issued and sold by the Company under the Sales Agreement prospectus is included in the $150,000,000.00 of securities that may be offered, issued and sold by the Company under the base prospectus. Upon termination of the Sales Agreement with Cantor, any portion of the $50,000,000.00 included in the Sales Agreement prospectus that is not sold pursuant to the Sales Agreement will be available for sale in other offerings pursuant to the base prospectus and a corresponding prospectus supplement, and if no shares are sold under the Sales Agreement, the full $50,000,000.00 of securities may be sold in other offerings pursuant to the base prospectus and a corresponding prospectus supplement.

 

 

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

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED SEPTEMBER 5, 2023

 

PROSPECTUS

 

RUBICON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

$150,000,000

 

CLASS A COMMON STOCK

PREFERRED STOCK
DEBT SECURITIES

WARRANTS

RIGHTS

UNITS

 

 

We may, from time to time, offer and sell, in one or more offerings, in amounts, at prices and on terms determined at the time of any such offering, (1) shares of our Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class A Common Stock”), (2) shares of our preferred stock, which we may issue in one or more series, (3) debt securities, which may be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities, (4) warrants, (5) rights, or (6) units. The aggregate initial offering price of all securities sold by us under this prospectus will not exceed $150,000,000.

 

We may offer and sell the securities separately or together in any combination for sale directly to investors or through underwriters, dealers, or agents. If any underwriters, dealers, or agents are involved in the sale of these securities we will set forth their names and describe their compensation in the applicable prospectus supplement. For additional information on the methods of sale, you should refer to the section titled “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus.

 

This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to an offering of our securities. We will provide the specific terms of these offerings and securities in one or more supplements to this prospectus. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you in connection with these offerings. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus may also add, update, or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, as well as the documents incorporated by reference, before buying any of the securities being offered.

 

This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of any securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

As of September 1, 2023 the aggregate market value of our outstanding Class A Common Stock held by non-affiliates, or public float, was approximately $127.4 million, based on 275,030,197 shares of outstanding Class A Common Stock, of which approximately 41.2 million shares were held by affiliates, and a price of $0.54 per share, which was the price at which our Class A Common Stock was last sold on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) on September 1, 2023.

 

Our Class A Common Stock and Public Warrants are currently listed on the NYSE under the symbols “RBT” and “RBT-WT,” respectively. On September 1, 2023, the closing price of our Class A Common Stock was $0.54 and the closing price for our Public Warrants was $0.02.

 

 

We are an “emerging growth company” under applicable federal securities laws and are subject to reduced public company reporting requirements.

 

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should review carefully the risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in this prospectus on page 8 and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q incorporated by reference into this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and in any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the securities to be issued under this prospectus or determined if this prospectus is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The date of this prospectus is September 5, 2023.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Prospectus

 

		Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS		1
TRADEMARKS		2
MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA		2
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY		3
RISK FACTORS		5
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS		6
USE OF PROCEEDS		7
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK AND OUTSTANDING WARRANTS		8
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES		14
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS		23
DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS		25
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS		26
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION		27
LEGAL MATTERS		29
EXPERTS		29
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE		30

 

 

You should rely only on the information provided in this prospectus and the information incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any documents incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the applicable document. Since the date of this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed.

 

For investors outside the United States: We have not done anything that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. You are required to inform yourselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to this offering and the distribution of this prospectus.

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission” or SEC”) utilizing a “shelf” registration process. By using a shelf registration statement, we may sell, from time to time, in one or more offerings, any combination of the securities described in this prospectus, up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $150,000,000.

 

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. The accompanying prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you may also add, update, or change information contained in this prospectus. References to the “applicable prospectus supplement” are to the prospectus supplement to this prospectus that describes the specific terms and conditions of the applicable security. You should read both this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, and any related free writing prospectus, together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation by Reference,” before investing in any of the securities offered.

 

We may include agreements as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. In reviewing such agreements, please remember that they are included to provide you with information regarding their terms and are not intended to provide any other factual or disclosure information about us or the other parties to the agreements. The agreements may contain representations and warranties by each of the parties to the applicable agreement. These representations and warranties have been made solely for the benefit of the other parties to the applicable agreement and:

 

●

should not in any instance be treated as categorical statements of fact, but rather as a way of allocating the risk to one of the parties if those statements prove to be inaccurate;

 

●

may have been qualified by disclosures that were made to the other party in connection with the negotiation of the applicable agreement, which disclosures would not necessarily be reflected in the agreement;

 

●

may apply standards of materiality in ways that are different from what may be viewed as material to you or other investors; and

 

●

were made only as of the date of the applicable agreement or such other date or dates as may be specified in the agreement and are subject to more recent developments.

 

Accordingly, these representations and warranties may not describe the actual state of affairs as of the date they were made or at any other time. Additional information about us may be found elsewhere in the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and our other public filings, which are available without charge through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

We have not authorized any other person, including any dealer, salesperson or other individual, to provide you with any information or to make any representations other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement. We do not take any responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference is accurate only as of their respective dates.

 

 

TRADEMARKS

 

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain trademarks, service marks, copyrights and trade names of other companies, which are the property of their respective owners. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trademarks, copyrights, or trade names to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by any other companies. Solely for convenience, our trademarks and trade names referred to in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein may appear without the ® or ™ symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or the right of the applicable licensor to these trademarks and trade names.

 

MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA

 

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein include industry position and industry data and forecasts that we obtained or derived from internal company reports, independent third-party publications and other industry data. Some data are also based on good faith estimates, which are derived from internal company analyses or review of internal company reports as well as the independent sources referred to above.

 

Although we believe that the information on which we have based these estimates of industry position and industry data are generally reliable, the accuracy and completeness of this information is not guaranteed and we have not independently verified any of the data from third-party sources nor have we ascertained the underlying economic assumptions relied upon therein. Statements as to industry position are based on market data currently available. While we are not aware of any misstatements regarding the industry data presented herein, these estimates involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in this prospectus. These and other factors could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in these publications and reports.

 

 

 

 

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risk factors incorporated by reference to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K, and all other information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act, and the risk factors and other information contained in any applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus before acquiring any such securities. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in the offered securities. See “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation by Reference” in this prospectus.

 

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “Exchange Act”). All statements contained in this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference herein and any applicable prospectus supplement other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding our future results of operations, financial position, market size and opportunity, our business strategy and plans, the factors affecting our performance and our objectives for future operations, are forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as “plan,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “outlook,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “continue,” “could,” “may,” “might,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “should,” “would,” “will,” “seek,” “target,” and other similar words and expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.

 

The forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations, forecasts and assumptions of the management of Rubicon Technologies, Inc. (“Rubicon” or the “Company”), involve a number of judgments, risks and uncertainties and are inherently subject to changes in circumstances and their potential effects and speak only as of the date of such statements. There can be no assurance that future developments will be those that have been anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed, contemplated or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

●

Actual results may vary from expectations regarding (and the Company’s ability to meet expectations regarding) the Company’s strategies and future performance, including Rubicon’s future business plans or objectives and its ability to invest in growth initiatives.

 

●

The Company has a history of net losses and may not achieve or maintain profitability in the future.

 

●

The Company faces significant competition and expects to face increasing competition in many aspects of its business, which could cause its business, financial condition, and operating results to suffer.

 

●

If the Company fails to grow its business as anticipated, revenues and gross margin will be adversely affected.

 

●

The Company’s attempts to expand its products and services into new sectors and geographies may not be successful.

 

●

The Company’s stock price may be volatile or may decline regardless of its operating performance.

 

●

The Company’s operating results and financial condition may fluctuate on a quarterly and annual basis.

 

●

Failure to attract, integrate and retain additional personnel in the future could harm the Company’s business and negatively affect the Company’s ability to grow its business.

 

●

The loss of one or more key members of the Company’s management team or personnel could harm its business.

 

●

The Company’s actual results may be significantly different from projections, estimates, targets, or forecasts.

 

●

Other risks and uncertainties set forth under the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 8 of this prospectus.

 

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the assumptions made by the management of Rubicon prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in or contemplated by these forward-looking statements.

 

Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, Rubicon undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this Registration Statement or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Unless otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement with respect to the proceeds from the sale of the particular securities to which such prospectus supplement relates, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the offered securities for general corporate purposes, including working capital. In addition, we may use a portion of such net proceeds for acquisitions of complementary businesses, technologies or other assets, or to fund the repayment, refinancing or redemption of outstanding debt. However, we have no current understandings, agreements or commitments for any material acquisitions at this time, and we have not allocated specific amounts of the net proceeds to be received by us from any offering for any of these purposes. If we decide to use the net proceeds from a particular offering of securities for a particular purpose, we will describe that purpose, as well as any other required disclosures, in the related prospectus supplement.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK AND OUTSTANDING WARRANTS

 

The following description of our Class A Common Stock, Class V common stock, par value $0.0001 (“Class V Common Stock”), which are the only securities of the Company registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and Public Warrants summarizes certain information regarding the Common Stock and the Public Warrants in our certificate of incorporation (the “Charter”), our bylaws (the “Bylaws”) and applicable provisions of Delaware general corporate law (the “DGCL”), and is qualified by reference to our Charter and our Bylaws, which are incorporated by reference as Exhibit 3.2 and 3.3, respectively, to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022 (our “Annual Report”).

 

Authorized and Outstanding Stock

 

The Charter authorizes the issuance of 975,000,000 shares of common stock, consisting of (i) 690,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, (ii) 275,000,000 shares of Class V Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and (ii) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

 

Common Stock

 

The Charter authorizes two classes of common stock, Class A Common Stock and Class V Common Stock, each with a par value of $0.0001. As of September 1, 2023, there were 275,030,197 shares of Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding and 35,402,821   shares of Class V Common Stock issued and outstanding.

 

Pursuant to the Eighth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Rubicon Technologies, LLC (the “A&R LLCA”), Class B Units are exchangeable into an equivalent number of Class A Common Stock, subject to certain limitations and adjustments, at the election of the holder thereof or pursuant to a mandatory redemption at the election of Rubicon (as managing member of Rubicon Technologies, LLC (“Holdings LLC”)). Upon the exchange of any Class B Units, Rubicon will retire an equivalent number of shares of Class V Common Stock held by such holder of exchanged Class B Units.

 

Preferred Stock

 

The Charter provides that up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The Board of Directors (“Board”) is authorized to fix the voting rights, if any, designations, powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional, special and other rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, applicable to the shares of each series. The Board is able, without stockholder approval, to issue preferred stock with voting and other rights that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of the Class A Common Stock and Class V Common Stock and could have anti-takeover effects. The ability of the Board to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of us or the removal of existing management. We have no preferred stock outstanding at the date hereof. Although we do not currently intend to issue any shares of preferred stock, we cannot assure you that we will not do so in the future.

 

Dividends and Other Distributions

 

Under the Charter, holders of Class A Common Stock are entitled to receive ratable dividends, if any, as may be declared from time-to-time by our Board out of legally available assets or funds. There are no current plans to pay cash dividends on Class A Common Stock for the foreseeable future. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the holders of our Class A Common stock will be entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of or provision for any liabilities, subject to prior distribution rights of preferred stock, if any, then outstanding. Class V Common Stock has no economic rights and shares of Class V Common Stock are not entitled to receive any assets upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of Rubicon, nor can such shares participate in any dividends or distributions of Rubicon.

 

 

We are a holding company with no material assets other than our interest in Holdings LLC. We intend to cause Holdings LLC to make distributions to holders of Class A Units and Class B Units in amounts such that the total cash distribution from Holdings LLC to the holders are sufficient to enable each holder to pay all applicable taxes on taxable income allocable to such holder and other obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement, dated August 15, 2022, by and among Rubicon, Holdings LLC, the TRA Representative, and certain former equity holders of Rubicon, as well as any cash dividends declared by us.

 

The A&R LLCA generally provides that pro rata cash tax distributions will be made to holders of Class A Units and Class B Units (including Rubicon) at certain assumed tax rates. We anticipate that the distributions we will receive from Holdings LLC may, in certain periods, exceed our actual tax liabilities and obligations to make payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement. The Board, in its sole discretion, will make any determination from time to time with respect to the use of any such excess cash so accumulated, which may include, among other uses, to pay dividends on the Class A Common Stock. We will have no obligation to distribute such cash (or other available cash other than any declared dividend) to stockholders. We also expect, if necessary, to undertake ameliorative actions, which may include pro rata or non-pro rata reclassifications, combinations, subdivisions or adjustments of outstanding Class A Units pursuant to the A&R LLCA, to maintain one-for-one parity between Class A Units held by us and shares of Class A Common Stock.

 

Voting Power

 

Except as otherwise required by law or as otherwise provided in any certificate of designation for any series of preferred stock, under the Charter, the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class V Common Stock possess all voting power for the election of our directors and all other matters requiring stockholder action and are entitled to one vote per share on matters to be voted on by stockholders. Holders of Class A Common Stock and Class V Common Stock shall at all times vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of the holders of Class A Common Stock and Class V Common Stock under the Charter. Under the Charter, directors are elected by a plurality voting standard, whereby each of our stockholders may not give more than one vote per share towards any one director nominee. There are no cumulative voting rights.

 

Preemptive or Other Rights

 

The Charter does not provide for any preemptive or other similar rights.

 

Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors

 

The Charter and Bylaws limit the liability of our directors, and provide for the indemnification of our current and former officers and directors, in each case, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law.

 

We have entered into agreements with our officers and directors to provide contractual indemnification in addition to the indemnification provided for in our Charter and Bylaws. The Charter and Bylaws also permit us to secure insurance on behalf of any officer, director or employee for any liability arising out of his or her actions.

 

In connection with the closing of the business combination, Founder purchased a tail policy with respect to liability coverage for the benefit of former Founder officers and directors. We will maintain such tail policy for a period of no less than six (6) years following the closing of the business combination.

 

These provisions may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against officers and directors, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against officers and directors pursuant to these indemnification provisions.

 

We believe that these provisions, the directors’ and officers’ liability insurance and the indemnity agreements are necessary to attract and retain talented and experienced officers and directors.

 

 

Exclusive Forum

 

The Charter provides that, unless Rubicon selects or consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable law: (a) the sole and exclusive forum for any complaint asserting any internal corporate claims, to the fullest extent permitted by law, and subject to applicable jurisdictional requirements, shall be the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have, or declines to accept, jurisdiction, another state court or a federal court located within the State of Delaware); and (b) the sole and exclusive forum for any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall be the federal district courts of the United States of America. For purposes of the foregoing, “internal corporate claims” means claims, including claims in the right of Rubicon that are based upon a violation of a duty by a current or former director, officer, employee or stockholder in such capacity, or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction upon the Court of Chancery. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of Class A Common Stock or Class V Common Stock will be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this provision.

 

Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions of Delaware Law; Rubicon’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

 

The Charter and Bylaws contain, and the DGCL contains, provisions, as summarized in the following paragraphs, that are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of the Board. These provisions are intended to avoid costly takeover battles, reduce our vulnerability to a hostile change of control and enhance the Board’s ability to maximize stockholder value in connection with any unsolicited offer to acquire Rubicon. However, these provisions may have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, deter or prevent a merger or acquisition of Rubicon by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or other takeover attempt that a stockholder might consider in its best interest, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the prevailing market price for the shares of Class A Common Stock held by stockholders.

 

Delaware Law

 

Rubicon is governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL. Section 203 generally prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with any “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless (with certain exceptions) the business combination or the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder is approved in a prescribed manner. Generally, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Generally, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns (or within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status, did own) 15% or more of a corporation’s voting stock. These provisions may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing changes in control of Rubicon not approved in advance by the Board.

 

Special Meetings

 

The Charter provides that special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by or at the direction of the Board, the Chairman of the Board, or the Chief Executive Officer. The Bylaws prohibit the conduct of any business at a special meeting other than as specified in the notice for such meeting. These provisions may have the effect of deferring, delaying, or discouraging hostile takeovers or changes in control or management of our Company.

 

Advance Notice of Director Nominations and New Business

 

The Bylaws state that in order for a stockholder to propose nominations of candidates to be elected as directors or any other proper business to be considered by stockholders at the annual meeting, such stockholder must, among other things, provide notice thereof in writing to the secretary at the principal executive offices of Rubicon within the time periods set forth in the Bylaws. Such notice must contain, among other things, certain information about the stockholder giving the notice (and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made) and certain information about any nominee or other proposed business. Stockholder proposals of business other than director nominations cannot be submitted in connection with special meetings of stockholders.

 

 

The Bylaws allow the presiding officer at a meeting of stockholders to adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings which may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if such rules and regulations are not followed. These provisions may also defer, delay, or discourage a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to influence or obtain control of our company.

 

Supermajority Voting for Amendments to Our Governing Documents

 

Certain amendments to the Charter require the affirmative vote of at least 66⅔% of the voting power of all shares of our common stock then outstanding. The Charter provides that the Board is expressly authorized to adopt, amend, or repeal the Bylaws and that our stockholders may amend certain provision of the Bylaws only with the approval of at least 66⅔% of the voting power of all shares of our common stock then outstanding. These provisions make it more difficult for stockholders to change the Charter or Bylaws and may, therefore, defer, delay, or discourage a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to amend the Charter or Bylaws or otherwise attempting to influence or obtain control of our company.

 

No Cumulative Voting

 

The DGCL provides that a stockholder’s right to vote cumulatively in the election of directors does not exist unless the Charter specifically provides otherwise. The Charter does not provide for cumulative voting. The prohibition on cumulative voting has the effect of making it more difficult for stockholders to change the composition of the Board.

 

Classified Board of Directors

 

The Charter provides that the Board is divided into three classes of directors, with the classes to be as nearly equal in number as possible, designated Class I, Class II and Class III. The terms of Class I, Class II and Class III directors end at our 2023, 2024 and 2025 annual meetings of stockholders, respectively. As of June 8, 2023, the Class I director nominees were re-elected for a three-year term expiring at Rubicon’s 2026 annual meeting.

 

Directors of each class the term of which shall then expire shall be elected to hold office for a three-year term. The classification of directors has the effect of making it more difficult for stockholders to change the composition of our Board and require a longer time period to do so. The Charter provides that the number of directors will be fixed from time to time exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Board. The classification of directors has the effect of making it more difficult for stockholders to change the composition of our Board. As a result, in most circumstances, a person can gain control of the Board only by successfully engaging in a proxy contest at two or more meetings of stockholders at which directors are elected.

 

Removal of Directors; Vacancies

 

The Charter and Bylaws provide that, so long as the Board is classified, directors may be removed only for cause and only upon the affirmative vote of holders of at least 66⅔% of the voting power of all the then outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. Therefore, because stockholders cannot call a special meeting of stockholders, as discussed above, stockholders may only submit a stockholder proposal for the purpose of removing a director at an annual meeting. The Charter and Bylaws provide that vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors shall be filled only by a majority of the directors then in office or by a sole remaining director. Therefore, while stockholders may remove a director, stockholders are not able to elect new directors to fill any resulting vacancies that may be created as a result of such removal.

 

Stockholder Action by Written Consent

 

The DGCL permits any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders to be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares of stock entitled to vote thereon were present and voted, unless the Charter provides otherwise. The Charter and Bylaws preclude stockholder action by written consent. This prohibition, combined with the fact stockholders cannot call a special meeting, as discussed above, means that stockholders are limited in the manner in which they can bring proposals and nominations for stockholder consideration, making it more difficult to effect change in our governing documents and the Board.

 

 

Warrants

 

As of September 1, 2023, there were 30,016,851 warrants outstanding (“Warrants”), consisting of 15,812,476 public warrants (the “Public Warrants”) and 14,204,375 private warrants (the “Private Warrants”). Each whole Warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one share of Class A Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

 

A Warrant does not entitle the registered holder thereof to any of the rights of a stockholder of Rubicon, including, without limitation, the right to receive dividends or any voting rights, until such Warrant is exercised for shares of Class A Common Stock. Rubicon will at all times reserve and keep available a sufficient number of authorized but unissued shares of Class A Common Stock to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants.

 

Warrant Exercise

 

The Warrants became exercisable on September 14, 2022 (30 days after the consummation of the Business Combination) and will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on August 15, 2027 (the fifth anniversary of the completion of the Business Combination) or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.

 

The Warrants may be exercised on or before the expiration date upon surrender of the warrant certificate at the office of the warrant agent, with the subscription form duly executed, and by paying in full the exercise price and all applicable taxes due for the number of Warrants being exercised. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the Warrants. If, by reason of any adjustment made pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, a holder would be entitled, upon the exercise of a Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will, upon such exercise, round up to the nearest whole number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued to the Warrant holder.

 

No Warrant will be exercisable for cash, and we will not be obligated to issue Class A Common Stock upon exercise of a Warrant unless the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of such Warrant have been registered, qualified, or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the registered holder of the Warrant. In the event that the foregoing condition is not met, the holder of such Warrant will not be entitled to exercise such Warrant for cash and such Warrant may have no value and expire worthless. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will we be required to net cash settle any Warrant.

 

A holder of a Warrant may notify us in writing in the event it elects to be subject to a requirement that such holder will not have the right to exercise such Warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such person’s affiliates), to the warrant agent’s actual knowledge, would beneficially own in excess of 9.8% (the “maximum percentage”) of the shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise. The holder of a Warrant may by written notice increase or decrease the maximum percentage applicable to such holder, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Warrant Agreement.

 

Redemption

 

Rubicon may, at its option, redeem not less than all of the outstanding Warrants at any time during the exercise period, at a price of $0.01 per Warrant:

 

●

upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each Warrant holder,

 

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provided that the last reported sale price of the Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share on each of 20 trading days within a 30 trading day period commencing after the Warrants become exercisable and ending on the third trading day prior to the notice of redemption to Warrant holders, and

 

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provided that there is an effective registration statement with respect to the Class A Common Stock underlying such Warrants, and a current prospectus relating thereto, available throughout the 30-day redemption or Rubicon has elected to require the exercise of the Warrants on a “cashless basis.”

 

 

In accordance with the Warrant Agreement, in the event that we elect to redeem the outstanding Warrants as set forth above, we will fix a date for the redemption (the “Redemption Date”). Notice of redemption will be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, not less than 30 days prior to the Redemption Date to the registered holders of the Warrants to be redeemed at their last addresses as they appear on the registration books. Any notice mailed in the manner provided above will be conclusively presumed to have been duly given whether or not the registered holder received such notice.

 

The Warrants may be exercised for cash at any time after notice of redemption is given by Rubicon and prior to the Redemption Date. On and after the Redemption Date, the record holder of the Warrants will have no further rights, except to receive the redemption price for such holder’s Warrants upon surrender thereof.

 

If we call the Warrants for redemption as described above, our management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise Warrants to do so on a “cashless basis.” In such event, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the Warrants for that number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the Warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the Warrants and the “fair market value” by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” shall mean the volume-weighted average trading price of the Class A Common Stock for the 10 trading days immediately following the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the Warrant holders.

 

Private Warrants

 

The Private Warrants are identical to the Public Warrants in all material respects, except that (i) the Private Warrants issued to Jefferies will not be exercisable more than five years after October 19, 2021 in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(8), and (ii) the Private Warrants held by Sponsor and certain insiders of Founder are subject to certain additional transfer restrictions set forth in the Sponsor Agreement.

 

Our Transfer Agent and Warrant Agent

 

The transfer agent for our Common Stock and warrant agent for our Warrants is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, 1 State Street, New York, New York 10004.

 

Listing of Securities

 

Our Class A Common Stock and Public Warrants are listed on NYSE under the symbols “RBT” and “RBT-WT,” respectively.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

 

We have summarized below general terms and conditions of the debt securities that we will offer and sell pursuant to this prospectus. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms and conditions of the series in a prospectus supplement to this prospectus. We will also indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement whether the general terms and conditions described in this prospectus apply to the series of debt securities. The terms and conditions of the debt securities of a series may be different in one or more respects from the terms and conditions described below. If so, those differences will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

We will issue the debt securities in one or more series under an indenture between us and a trustee to be selected by us. The following description of provisions of the indenture does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the indenture, which has been filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. A form of each debt security, any future supplemental indenture or similar document also will be so filed. You should read the indenture and any supplemental indenture or similar document because they, and not this description, define your rights as holder of our debt securities. All capitalized terms have the meanings specified in the indenture.

 

For purposes of this section of this prospectus, references to “we,” “us” and “our” are to Rubicon Technologies, Inc. and not to any of its subsidiaries.

 

General

 

We may issue, from time to time, debt securities, in one or more series, that will consist of either senior debt (“Senior Debt Securities”), senior subordinated debt (“Senior Subordinated Debt Securities”), subordinated debt (“Subordinated Debt Securities”) or junior subordinated debt (“Junior Subordinated Debt Securities” and, together with the Senior Subordinated Debt Securities and the Subordinated Debt Securities, the “Subordinated Securities”). Debt securities, whether senior, senior subordinated, subordinated or junior subordinated, may be issued as convertible debt securities or exchangeable debt securities.

 

The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue. We may, without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of any series, issue additional debt securities ranking equally with, and otherwise similar in all respects to, the debt securities of the series (except for any differences in the issue price and, if applicable, the initial interest accrual date and interest payment date) so that those additional debt securities will be consolidated and form a single series with the debt securities of the series previously offered and sold; provided that if the additional debt securities are not fungible with the debt securities of the series previously offered or sold for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the additional debt securities will have a separate CUSIP or other identifying number.

 

The indenture provides that we may issue debt securities up to the principal amount that we may authorize and may be in any currency or currency unit designated by us. Except for the limitations on consolidation, merger and sale of all or substantially all of our assets contained in the indenture, the terms of the indenture do not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to afford holders of any debt securities protection with respect to our operations, financial condition or transactions involving us.

 

We may issue the debt securities issued under the indenture as “discount securities,” which means they may be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. These debt securities, as well as other debt securities that are not issued at a discount, may, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, be treated as if they were issued with “original issue discount,” because of interest payment and other characteristics. Special U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities issued with original issue discount will be described in more detail in any applicable prospectus supplement.

 

 

Provisions of the Indenture

 

The applicable prospectus supplement for a series of debt securities that we issue will describe, among other things, the following terms of the offered debt securities:

 

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the title;

 

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the price or prices at which the debt securities will be issued;

 

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any limit on the aggregate principal amount of debt securities of such series;

 

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the currency or currencies of payment of principal or interest;

 

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the date or dates on which principal is payable;

 

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interest rates, and the date or dates from which interest, if any, will accrue, and the date or dates when interest is payable;

 

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the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of the extensions;

 

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the record date or record dates for determining to whom interest is payable;

 

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the place or places where and the manner in which principal, premium or interest will be payable and the place or places where the debt securities may be presented for transfer and, if applicable, conversion or exchange;

 

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our rights or obligations to redeem or purchase the debt securities, including sinking fund or partial redemption payments;

 

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the terms, if any, pursuant to which any debt securities will be subordinate to any of our other debt;

 

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the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued;

 

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if other than the entire principal amount of the debt securities when issued, the portion of the principal amount payable upon acceleration of maturity as a result of an Event of Default (as defined herein);

 

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if the amount of payments of principal or interest is to be determined by reference to an index or formula, or based on a coin or currency other than that in which the debt securities are stated to be payable, the manner in which these amounts are determined and the calculation agent, if any, with respect thereto;

 

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the terms applicable to any debt securities issued at a discount from their stated principal amount;

 

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any provisions for the remarketing of the debt securities;

 

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any additional Events of Default applicable to any debt securities;

 

●

if applicable, covenants affording holders of debt protection with respect to our operations, financial condition or transactions involving us;

 

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conversion or exchange provisions, if any, including conversion or exchange prices or rates and adjustments thereto; and

 

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any other specific terms of any debt securities.

 

 

The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth certain U.S. federal income tax considerations for holders of any debt securities and the securities exchange or quotation system on which any debt securities are listed or quoted, if any.

 

Debt securities issued by us will be structurally subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries, except to the extent any such subsidiary guarantees or is otherwise obligated to make payment on such debt securities.

 

Senior Debt Securities

 

Payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, Senior Debt Securities will rank on a parity with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt.

 

Senior Subordinated Debt Securities

 

Payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, Senior Subordinated Debt Securities will be junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our unsubordinated debt. We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any Senior Subordinated Debt Securities the subordination terms of such securities as well as the aggregate amount of outstanding debt, as of the most recent practicable date, that by its terms would be senior to the Senior Subordinated Debt Securities. We will also set forth in such applicable prospectus supplement limitations, if any, on issuance of additional debt ranking senior to the Senior Subordinated Debt Securities.

 

Subordinated Debt Securities

 

Payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, Subordinated Debt Securities will be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our unsubordinated and senior subordinated debt. We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any Subordinated Debt Securities the subordination terms of such securities as well as the aggregate amount of outstanding indebtedness, as of the most recent practicable date, that by its terms would be senior to the Subordinated Debt Securities. We will also set forth in such prospectus supplement limitations, if any, on issuance of additional debt ranking senior to the Subordinated Debt Securities.

 

Junior Subordinated Debt Securities

 

Payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, Junior Subordinated Debt Securities will be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our unsubordinated, senior subordinated and subordinated debt. We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any Junior Subordinated Debt Securities the subordination terms of such securities as well as the aggregate amount of outstanding debt, as of the most recent practicable date, that by its terms would be senior to the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities. We will also set forth in such prospectus supplement limitations, if any, on issuance of additional debt ranking senior to the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities.

 

Conversion or Exchange Rights

 

Debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for other securities or property of us. The terms and conditions of conversion or exchange will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms will include, among others, the following:

 

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the conversion or exchange price;

 

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the conversion or exchange period;

 

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provisions regarding the ability of us or the holder to convert or exchange the debt securities;

 

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events requiring adjustment to the conversion or exchange price; and

 

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provisions affecting conversion or exchange in the event of our redemption of the debt securities.

 

 

Consolidation, Merger or Sale

 

We cannot consolidate or merge with or into, or transfer or lease our properties and assets substantially as an entirety to, any person, and we shall not permit any other person to consolidate with or merge into us, unless:

 

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(a) we will be the continuing corporation or (b) the successor corporation or person formed by such consolidation or into which we are merged or to which our properties and assets substantially as an entirety are transferred or leased is a person organized or formed under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia and, if such entity is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the debt securities is a corporation organized or existing under any such laws, and such successor corporation or person, including such co-obligor, if any, expressly assumes our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture; and

 

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immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default or event, which after notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

Subject to certain exceptions, when the person to whom our assets are transferred or leased has assumed our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture, we shall be discharged from all our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture.

 

This covenant would not apply to any recapitalization transaction, a change of control of us or a highly leveraged transaction, unless the transaction or change of control were structured to include a merger or consolidation or transfer or lease of our properties and assets substantially as an entirety.

 

Events of Default

 

Unless otherwise indicated, the term “Event of Default,” when used in the indenture with respect to the debt securities of any series, means any of the following:

 

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failure to pay interest for 30 days after the date payment on any debt security of such series is due and payable; provided that an extension of an interest payment period by us in accordance with the terms of the debt securities shall not constitute a failure to pay interest;

 

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failure to pay principal or premium, if any, on any debt security of such series when due, either at maturity, upon any redemption, by declaration or otherwise;

 

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failure to perform any other covenant in the indenture or the debt securities of such series for a specified period of time after written notice that performance was required, which notice must be sent by either the trustee or holders of not less than a specified percentage of the principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series;

 

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certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of us; or

 

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any other Event of Default provided in the applicable resolution of the Board or the officers’ certificate or supplemental indenture under which we issue such series of debt securities.

 

An Event of Default for a particular series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an Event of Default for any other series of debt securities issued under the indenture.

 

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default relating to events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of us) involving any series of debt securities has occurred and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of a specified aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of each affected series may declare the entire principal amount of all the debt securities of such affected series, and the interest accrued thereon, if any, to be due and payable immediately. The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of an affected series may, after satisfying conditions, rescind and annul any of the above-described declarations and consequences involving such series.

 

 

If an Event of Default relating to events of bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization of us occurs and is continuing, then the entire principal amount of all of the debt securities outstanding, and the interest accrued thereon, if any, will automatically become due and payable immediately, without any declaration or other act by the trustee or any holder.

 

The indenture imposes limitations on suits brought by holders of debt securities against us with respect to an Event of Default. Except as provided below, no holder of debt securities of any series may institute any action against us under the indenture unless:

 

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an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of such continuing Event of Default;

 

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the holders of a specified percentage in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series have requested that the trustee institute the action in respect of such Event of Default;

 

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the requesting holders have offered the trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it for expenses and liabilities that may be incurred by bringing the action;

 

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the trustee has not instituted the action within a specified number of days of the request; and

 

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the trustee has not received inconsistent direction by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, each holder of debt securities of any series has the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of, and premium and interest, if any, on, such debt securities when due and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights may not be impaired without the consent of that holder of debt securities.

 

We will be required to file annually with the trustee a certificate, signed by one of our officers, stating whether or not the officer knows of any default by us in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any condition or covenant of the indenture.

 

Registered Global Securities

 

We may issue the debt securities of a series in whole or in part in the form of one or more fully registered global securities that we will deposit with a depositary or with a nominee for a depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of such depositary or nominee. In such case, we will issue one or more registered global securities denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of all of the debt securities of the series to be issued and represented by such registered global security or securities.

 

Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities in definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be transferred except as a whole:

 

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by the depositary for such registered global security to its nominee;

 

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by a nominee of the depositary to the depositary or another nominee of the depositary; or

 

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by the depositary or its nominee to a successor of the depositary or a nominee of the successor.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities will describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any portion of such series represented by a registered global security. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements for debt securities:

 

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ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be limited to persons that have accounts with the depositary for the registered global security, those persons being referred to as “participants,” or persons that may hold interests through participants;

 

 

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upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depositary for the registered global security will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants’ accounts with the respective principal amounts of the debt securities represented by the registered global security beneficially owned by the participants;

 

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any dealers, underwriters, or agents participating in the distribution of the debt securities will designate the accounts to be credited; and

 

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ownership of any beneficial interest in the registered global security will be shown on, and the transfer of any ownership interest will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary for the registered global security (with respect to interests of participants) and on the records of participants (with respect to interests of persons holding through participants).

 

The laws of some states may require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities in definitive form. These laws may limit the ability of those persons to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in registered global securities.

 

So long as the depositary for a registered global security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of the registered global security, the depositary or the nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by the registered global security for all purposes under the indenture. Except as set forth below, owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security:

 

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will not be entitled to have the debt securities represented by a registered global security registered in their names;

 

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will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the debt securities in the definitive form; and

 

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will not be considered the owners or holders of the debt securities under the indenture.

 

Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a registered global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for the registered global security and, if the person is not a participant, on the procedures of a participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the indenture.

 

We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a registered global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under the indenture, the depositary for the registered global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take the action, and those participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through those participants to give or take the action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.

 

We will make payments of principal and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on debt securities represented by a registered global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owners of the registered global security. None of us, the trustee or any other agent of us or the trustee will be responsible or liable for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in the registered global security or for maintaining, supervising, or reviewing any records relating to the beneficial ownership interests.

 

We expect that the depositary for any debt securities represented by a registered global security, upon receipt of any payments of principal and premium, if any, and interest, if any, in respect of the registered global security, will immediately credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the registered global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that standing customer instructions and customary practices will govern payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the registered global security held through the participants, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name.” We also expect that any of these payments will be the responsibility of the participants.

 

 

If the depositary for any debt securities represented by a registered global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, we will appoint an eligible successor depositary. If we fail to appoint an eligible successor depositary within 90 days, we will issue the debt securities in definitive form in exchange for the registered global security. In addition, we may at any time and in our sole discretion decide not to have any of the debt securities of a series represented by one or more registered global securities. In such event, we will issue debt securities of that series in a definitive form in exchange for all of the registered global securities representing the debt securities. The trustee will register any debt securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a registered global security in such name or names as the depositary, based upon instructions from its participants, shall instruct the trustee.

 

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

 

We can discharge or defease our obligations under the indenture as set forth below. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the subordination provisions applicable to any Subordinated Securities will be expressly made subject to the discharge and defeasance provisions of the indenture.

 

We may discharge our obligations to holders of any series of debt securities that have not already been delivered to the trustee for cancellation and that have either become due and payable or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year (or to be called for redemption within one year). We may effect a discharge by irrevocably depositing with the trustee cash or U.S. government obligations, as trust funds, in an amount certified to be sufficient to pay when due, whether at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise, the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the debt securities and any mandatory sinking fund payments.

 

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may also discharge any and all of our obligations to holders of any series of debt securities at any time (“legal defeasance”). We also may be released from the obligations imposed by any covenants of any outstanding series of debt securities and provisions of the indenture, and we may omit to comply with those covenants without creating an Event of Default (“covenant defeasance”). We may effect legal defeasance and covenant defeasance only if, among other things:

 

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we irrevocably deposit with the trustee cash or U.S. government obligations, as trust funds, in an amount certified to be sufficient to pay when due (whether at maturity, upon redemption, or otherwise) the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on all outstanding debt securities of the series; and

 

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we deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel from a nationally recognized law firm to the effect that the beneficial owners of the series of debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the legal defeasance or covenant defeasance, as applicable, and that legal defeasance or covenant defeasance, as applicable, will not otherwise alter the beneficial owners’ U.S. federal income tax treatment of principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on the series of debt securities, which opinion, in the case of legal defeasance, must be based on a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service, or a change in U.S. federal income tax law.

 

Although we may discharge or defease our obligations under the indenture as described in the two preceding paragraphs, we may not avoid, among other things, our duty to register the transfer or exchange of any series of debt securities, to replace any temporary, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen series of debt securities or to maintain an office or agency in respect of any series of debt securities.

 

We may exercise our legal defeasance option notwithstanding our prior exercise of our covenant defeasance option.

 

Modifications of the Indenture

 

The indenture provides that we and the trustee may enter into supplemental indentures without the consent of the holders of debt securities to:

 

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secure any debt securities;

 

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evidence the assumption by another person of our obligations, as permitted by the indenture;

 

 

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add covenants for the protection of the holders of debt securities of all or any series or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us;

 

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add any additional events of default for the benefit of holders of the debt securities of all or any series;

 

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add one or more guarantees for the benefit of holders of the debt securities;

 

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provide for the issuance of additional debt securities of any series;

 

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comply with the rules of any applicable securities depository;

 

●

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

 

●

add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of the indenture in respect of one or more series of debt securities; provided that any such addition, change or elimination (a) shall neither (1) apply to any debt security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (2) modify the rights of the holder of any such debt security with respect to such provision or (b) shall become effective only when there is no debt security described in clause (a)(1) outstanding;

 

●

supplement any of the provisions of the indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of debt securities pursuant to the indenture; provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of debt securities of such series or any other series of debt securities in any material respect;

 

●

comply with the rules or regulations of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which any of the debt securities may be listed or traded;

 

●

add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of the indenture as shall be necessary or desirable in accordance with any amendments to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”), provided that such action does not adversely affect the rights or interests of any holder of debt securities in any material respect;

 

●

cure or correct any ambiguity, defect, omission or inconsistency in the indenture; provided that such action does not adversely affect the interests of the holders of debt securities of any series in any material respect;

 

●

establish the forms or terms of debt securities of any series;

 

●

evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee; and

 

●

add to, change or eliminate any other provision of the indenture; provided that such addition, change or elimination does not adversely affect the interests of the holders of debt securities of any series in any material respect.

 

The indenture also provides that we and the trustee may, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series of Senior Debt Securities or Subordinated Securities, as the case may be, then outstanding and affected thereby (voting as one class), add any provisions to, or change in any manner, eliminate or modify in any way the provisions of, the indenture or modify in any manner the rights of the holders of the debt securities. We and the trustee may not, however, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby:

 

●

extend the final maturity of any debt security;

 

●

reduce the principal amount of, or premium, if any, on any debt security;

 

●

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

 

 

●

reduce any amount payable on redemption of any debt security;

 

●

change the currency in which the principal (other than as may be provided otherwise with respect to a series), premium, if any, or interest is payable on any debt security;

 

●

reduce the amount of the principal of any debt security issued with an original issue discount that is payable upon acceleration or provable in bankruptcy;

 

●

modify any of the subordination provisions or the definition of senior indebtedness applicable to any Subordinated Securities in a manner adverse to the holders of those securities;

 

●

alter provisions of the indenture relating to the debt securities not denominated in U.S. dollars;

 

●

impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on any debt security when due; or

 

●

reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities of any series whose consent is required for any modification of the indenture.

 

Concerning the Trustee

 

The indenture provides that there may be more than one trustee under the indenture, each with respect to one or more series of debt securities. If there are different trustees for different series of debt securities, each trustee will be a trustee of a trust under the indenture separate and apart from the trust administered by any other trustee under the indenture. Except as otherwise indicated in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement, any action permitted to be taken by a trustee may be taken by such trustee only with respect to the one or more series of debt securities for which it is the trustee under the indenture. Any trustee under the indenture may resign or be removed with respect to one or more series of debt securities. All payments of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, and all registration, transfer, exchange, authentication and delivery (including authentication and delivery on original issuance of the debt securities) of, the debt securities of a series will be effected by the trustee with respect to such series at an office designated by the trustee.

 

The indenture contains limitations on the right of the trustee, should it become a creditor of us, to obtain payment of claims in some cases or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee may engage in other transactions. If it acquires any conflicting interest relating to any duties with respect to the debt securities, however, it must eliminate the conflict or resign as trustee.

 

The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of any series of debt securities then outstanding will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the trustee with respect to such series of debt securities, provided that the direction would not conflict with any rule of law or with the indenture, would not be unduly prejudicial to the rights of another holder of the debt securities, and would not involve any trustee in personal liability. The indenture provides that in case an Event of Default shall occur and be known to any trustee and not be cured, the trustee must use the same degree of care as a prudent person would use in the conduct of his or her own affairs in the exercise of the trustee’s power. Subject to these provisions, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request of any of the holders of the debt securities, unless they shall have offered to the trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to the trustee.

 

No Individual Liability of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers or Directors

 

The indenture provides that no incorporator and no past, present or future stockholder, officer or director of us or any successor corporation in their capacity as such shall have any individual liability for any of our obligations, covenants or agreements under the debt securities or the indenture.

 

Governing Law

 

The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

 

We may issue debt warrants for the purchase of debt securities or stock warrants for the purchase of preferred stock or common stock.

 

The warrants will be issued under warrant agreements to be entered into between us and the purchasers or between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all to be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any or all warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered. We will file a copy of the warrant and warrant agreement with the SEC each time we issue a series of warrants, and these warrants and warrant agreements will be incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

 

The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the warrants to which any applicable prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms of the warrants to which any applicable prospectus supplement may relate and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may apply to the warrants so offered will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following summary of certain provisions of the warrants, warrant agreements and warrant certificates does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by express reference to, all the provisions of the warrant agreements and warrant certificates, including the definitions therein of certain terms.

 

Debt Warrants

 

General. Reference is made to the applicable prospectus supplement for the terms of debt warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, the debt securities warrant agreement relating to such debt warrants and the debt warrant certificates representing such debt warrants, including the following:

 

●

the designation, aggregate principal amount and terms of the debt securities purchasable upon exercise of such debt warrants and the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of such debt warrants;

 

●

the designation and terms of any related debt securities with which such debt warrants are issued and the number of such debt warrants issued with each such debt security;

 

●

the date, if any, on and after which such debt warrants and any related offered securities will be separately transferable;

 

●

the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of each debt warrant and the price at which such principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon such exercise;

 

●

the date on which the right to exercise such debt warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire;

 

●

a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the ownership or exercise of debt warrants;

 

●

whether the debt warrants represented by the debt warrant certificates will be issued in registered or bearer form, and, if registered, where they may be transferred and registered;

 

●

call provisions of such debt warrants, if any; and

 

●

any other terms of the debt warrants.

 

The debt warrant certificates will be exchangeable for new debt warrant certificates of different denominations and debt warrants may be exercised at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Prior to the exercise of their debt warrants, holders of debt warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the debt securities purchasable upon such exercise and will not be entitled to any payments of principal and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the debt securities purchasable upon such exercise.

 

 

Exercise of Debt Warrants. Each debt warrant will entitle the holder to purchase for cash such principal amount of debt securities at such exercise price as shall in each case be set forth in, or be determinable as set forth in, the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the debt warrants offered thereby. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, debt warrants may be exercised at any time up to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date, unexercised debt warrants will become void.

 

Debt warrants may be exercised as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the debt warrants. Upon receipt of payment and the debt warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the debt securities purchasable upon such exercise. If less than all of the debt warrants represented by such debt warrant certificate are exercised, a new debt warrant certificate will be issued for the remaining amount of debt warrants.

 

Stock Warrants

 

General. Reference is made to the applicable prospectus supplement for the terms of stock warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, the stock warrant agreement relating to such stock warrants and the stock warrant certificates representing such stock warrants, including the following:

 

●

the type and number of shares of preferred stock or common stock purchasable upon exercise of such stock warrants and the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of such stock warrants;

 

●

the date, if any, on and after which such stock warrants and related offered securities will be separately tradeable;

 

●

the offering price of such stock warrants, if any;

 

●

the initial price at which such shares may be purchased upon exercise of stock warrants and any provision with respect to the adjustment thereof;

 

●

the date on which the right to exercise such stock warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire;

 

●

a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the ownership or exercise of stock warrants;

 

●

call provisions of such stock warrants, if any;

 

●

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

 

●

any other terms of the stock warrants; and

 

●

information relating to any preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of such stock warrants.

 

The stock warrant certificates will be exchangeable for new stock warrant certificates of different denominations and stock warrants may be exercised at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Prior to the exercise of their stock warrants, holders of stock warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of shares of capital stock purchasable upon such exercise, and will not be entitled to any dividend payments on such capital stock purchasable upon such exercise.

 

Exercise of Stock Warrants. Each stock warrant will entitle the holder to purchase for cash such number of shares of preferred stock or common stock, as the case may be, at such exercise price as shall in each case be set forth in, or be determinable as set forth in, the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the stock warrants offered thereby. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, stock warrants may be exercised at any time up to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date, unexercised stock warrants will become void.

 

Stock warrants may be exercised as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating thereto. Upon receipt of payment and the stock warrant certificates properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward a certificate representing the number of shares of capital stock purchasable upon such exercise. If less than all of the stock warrants represented by such stock warrant certificate are exercised, a new stock warrant certificate will be issued for the remaining amount of stock warrants.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS

 

We may issue rights to purchase common stock or preferred stock. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement will contain the material terms and conditions for each right. The accompanying prospectus supplement may add, update or change the terms and conditions of the rights as described in this prospectus.

 

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms and conditions of the issue of rights being offered, the rights agreement relating to the rights and the rights certificates representing the rights, including, as applicable:

 

●

the title of the rights;

 

●

the date of determining the stockholders entitled to the rights distribution;

 

●

the title, aggregate number of shares of common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of the rights;

 

●

the exercise price;

 

●

the aggregate number of rights issued;

 

●

the date, if any, on and after which the rights will be separately transferable;

 

●

the date on which the right to exercise the rights will commence and the date on which the right will expire; and

 

●

any other terms of the rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the distribution, exchange and exercise of the rights.

 

Each right will entitle the holder of rights to purchase for cash the principal amount of shares of common stock or preferred stock at the exercise price provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. Rights may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for the rights provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised rights will be void.

 

Holders may exercise rights as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Upon receipt of payment and the rights certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the rights agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the shares of common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of the rights. If less than all of the rights issued in any rights offering are exercised, we may offer any unsubscribed securities directly to persons other than stockholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby underwriting arrangements, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

 

We may issue units consisting of any combination of the other types of securities offered under this prospectus in one or more series. We may evidence each series of units by unit certificates that we will issue under a separate agreement. We may enter into unit agreements with a unit agent. Each unit agent will be a bank or trust company that we select. We will indicate the name and address of the unit agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of units.

 

The following description, together with the additional information included in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the general features of the units that we may offer under this prospectus. You should read the applicable prospectus supplement that we may authorize to be provided to you related to the series of units being offered, as well as the complete unit agreements that contain the terms of the units. Specific unit agreements will contain additional important terms and provisions and we will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, or will incorporate by reference from another report that we file with the SEC, the form of each unit agreement relating to units offered under this prospectus.

 

If we offer any units, certain terms of that series of units will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, the following, as applicable:

 

●

the title of the series of units;

 

●

identification and description of the separate constituent securities comprising the units;

 

●

the price or prices at which the units will be issued;

 

●

the date, if any, on and after which the constituent securities comprising the units will be separately transferable;

 

●

a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the units; and

 

●

any other terms of the units and their constituent securities.

 

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We may sell the securities offered through this prospectus in primary offerings (1) to or through underwriters or dealers, (2) directly to purchasers, including our affiliates, (3) through agents, or (4) through a combination of any of these methods. The securities may be distributed at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, market prices prevailing at the time of sale, prices related to the prevailing market prices, or negotiated prices. The applicable prospectus supplement will include the following information:

 

●

the terms of the offering;

 

●

the names of any underwriters or agents;

 

●

the name or names of any managing underwriter or underwriters;

 

●

the purchase price of the securities;

 

●

the net proceeds from the sale of the securities;

 

●

any delayed delivery arrangements;

 

●

any underwriting discounts, commissions and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation;

 

●

any initial public offering price;

 

●

any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and

 

●

any commissions paid to agents.

 

We may also sell equity securities covered by this registration statement in an “at-the-market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act. Such offering may be made into an existing trading market for such securities in transactions at other than a fixed price on or through the facilities of the NYSE or any other securities exchange or quotation or trading service on which such securities may be listed, quoted or traded at the time of sale. Such at the market offerings, if any, may be conducted by underwriters acting as principal or agent.

 

Sale through underwriters or dealers

 

If underwriters are used in the sale, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account, including through underwriting, purchase, security lending or repurchase agreements with us. The underwriters may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions. Underwriters may sell the securities in order to facilitate transactions in any of our other securities (described in this prospectus or otherwise), including other public or private transactions and short sales. Underwriters may offer securities to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the offered securities if they purchase any of them. The underwriters may change from time to time any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers. The applicable prospectus supplement will include the names of the principal underwriters, the respective amount of securities underwritten, the nature of the obligation of the underwriters to take the securities and the nature of any material relationship between an underwriter and us.

 

If dealers are used in the sale of securities offered through this prospectus, we will sell the securities to them as principals. They may then resell those securities to the public at varying prices determined by the dealers at the time of resale. The applicable prospectus supplement will include the names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction.

 

 

Direct sales and sales through agents

 

We may sell the securities offered through this prospectus directly. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved. Such securities may also be sold through agents designated from time to time. The applicable prospectus supplement will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered securities and will describe any commissions payable to the agent by us. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, any agent will agree to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of its appointment.

 

We may sell the securities directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of those securities. The terms of any such sales will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Delayed delivery contracts

 

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

 

Market making, stabilization and other transactions

 

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, each series of offered securities will be a new issue and will have no established trading market, other than our Class A Common Stock, which is listed on the NYSE. We may elect to list any series of offered securities on an exchange, but we are not obligated to do so. Any underwriters that we use in the sale of offered securities may make a market in such securities, but may discontinue such market making at any time without notice. Therefore, we cannot assure you that the securities will have a liquid trading market.

 

Any underwriter may also engage in overallotment, stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Rule 104 under the Exchange Act. Overallotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions involve bids to purchase the underlying security in the open market for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the securities. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions.

 

Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the securities originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions. Stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would be in the absence of the transactions. The underwriters may, if they commence these transactions, discontinue them at any time.

 

Derivative transactions and hedging

 

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

 

 

Electronic auctions

 

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

 

Such electronic system may allow bidders to directly participate, through electronic access to an auction site, by submitting conditional offers to buy that are subject to acceptance by us, and which may directly affect the price or other terms and conditions at which such securities are sold. These bidding or ordering systems may present to each bidder, on a so-called “real-time” basis, relevant information to assist in making a bid, such as the clearing spread at which the offering would be sold, based on the bids submitted, and whether a bidder’s individual bids would be accepted, prorated or rejected.

 

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

 

General information

 

Agents, underwriters, and dealers may be entitled, under agreements entered into with us, to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

The validity of the securities offered hereby has been passed upon for us by Winston & Strawn LLP. Any underwriters or agents will be advised about other issues relating to the offering by counsel to be named in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

EXPERTS

 

The financial statements of Rubicon as of and for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, incorporated by reference herein, have been audited by Cherry Bekaert LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report incorporated by reference herein, and are so incorporated upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

Where You Can Find More Information

 

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities offered hereby. This prospectus, which constitutes part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto. For further information with respect to the Company and its securities, reference is made to the registration statement and the exhibits and any schedules filed therewith. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or any other document referred to are not necessarily complete, and in each instance, we refer you to the copy of the contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. Each of these statements is qualified in all respects by this reference. You can read our SEC filings, including the registration statement, over the internet at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

We are subject to the information reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, and we are required to file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. These reports, proxy statements, and other information are available for inspection and copying at the SEC’s website referred to above. We also maintain a website at https://investors.rubicon.com, at which you may access these materials free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Information contained on or accessible through our website is not a part of this prospectus, and the inclusion of our website address in this prospectus is an inactive textual reference only.

 

Incorporation by Reference

 

The SEC rules allow us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, and subsequent information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede that information. Any statement contained in this prospectus or a previously filed document incorporated by reference will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or a subsequently filed document incorporated by reference modifies or replaces that statement.

 

This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement incorporate by reference the documents set forth below that have previously been filed with the SEC:

 

●

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 23, 2023;

 

●

our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on May 22, 2023, and the quarter ended June 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on August 11, 2023;

 

●

our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 7, 2023, February 9, 2023, February 17, 2023, February 21, 2023, March 13, 2023, March 31, 2023, May 24, 2023, June 8, 2023, June 9, 2023, August 3, 2023, August 11, 2023 and August 21, 2023; and

 

●

The description of our capital stock set forth in the registration statement on Form 8-A registering our capital stock under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, which was filed with the SEC on August 15, 2022, including any amendments or reports filed for purposes of updating such description, including Exhibit 4.5 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.

 

All reports and other documents we subsequently file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of this offering, including all such documents we may file with the SEC after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement, but excluding any information furnished to, rather than filed with, the SEC, will also be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and deemed to be part of this prospectus from the date of the filing of such reports and documents.

 

You may request a free copy of any documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

 

Rubicon Technologies, Inc.

335 Madison Avenue, 4^th Floor

New York, NY 10017

Attention: Corporate Secretary

Tel. (844) 479-1507

 

Exhibits to the filings will not be sent, however, unless those exhibits have been specifically incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

RUBICON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

$150,000,000

 

CLASS A COMMON STOCK

PREFERRED STOCK

DEBT SECURITIES

WARRANTS

RIGHTS

UNITS

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED SEPTEMBER 5, 2023

 

PROSPECTUS

 

RUBICON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Up to $50,000,000

 

CLASS A COMMON STOCK

 

 

We have entered into a Controlled Equity Offering^SM Sales Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (the “Sales Agent”) relating to the sale of shares of our Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class A Common Stock”), offered by this prospectus and the accompanying base prospectus. In accordance with the terms of the Sales Agreement, we may offer and sell shares of our Class A Common Stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $50,000,000 from time to time through the Sales Agent, acting as our agent.

 

Sales of our Class A Common Stock, if any, under this prospectus and the accompanying base prospectus will be made in sales deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), in ordinary brokers’ transactions, to or through a market maker, on or through the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) or any other market venue where common stock may be traded, in the over-the-counter market, in privately negotiated transactions, or through a combination of any such methods of sale. If we and the Sales Agent agree on any method of distribution other than the sale of shares of Class A Common Stock on or through the NYSE or another existing trading market in the United States at market prices, we will file a further prospectus supplement providing all information about such offering as required by Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act. The Sales Agent is not required to sell any specific number or dollar amount of securities, but will act as our sales agent using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with their normal trading and sales practices, on mutually agreed terms between the Sales Agent and us. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in any escrow, trust or similar arrangement.

 

Under the Sales Agreement, we may also sell shares of Class A Common Stock to the Sales Agent as principal for its own account, at a price to be agreed upon at the time of sale. If we sell shares to the Sales Agent as principal, we will enter into a separate terms agreement with the Sales Agent, and we will describe the agreement in a separate prospectus supplement or pricing supplement.

 

The compensation to the Sales Agent for the sales of Class A Common Stock pursuant to the Sales Agreement will be an amount equal to 3% of the aggregate gross proceeds of any shares of Class A Common Stock sold under the Sales Agreement. In connection with the sale of our Class A Common Stock on our behalf, the Sales Agent may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and the compensation paid to the Sales Agent may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have also agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to the Sales Agent with respect to certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). See “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page 16 for additional information regarding the compensation to be paid to the Sales Agent.

 

Our Class A Common Stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “RBT.” On September 1, 2023 the closing price of our Class A Common Stock, as reported on the NYSE, was $0.54 per share. As of September 1, 2023, the aggregate market value of our outstanding Class A Common Stock held by non-affiliates, or public float, was approximately $127.4 million, based on 275,030,197 shares of outstanding Class A Common Stock, of which approximately 41.2 million shares were held by affiliates, and a price of $0.54 per share, which was the price at which our Class A Common Stock was last sold on the NYSE on September 1, 2023.

 

 

We are an “emerging growth company” under applicable federal securities laws and are subject to reduced public company reporting requirements.

 

INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES INVOLVES RISKS THAT ARE DESCRIBED IN THE “RISK FACTORS” SECTION BEGINNING ON PAGE 10 OF THIS PROSPECTUS AS WELL AS THE RISK FACTORS THAT ARE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THIS PROSPECTUS FROM OUR FILINGS WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY READ AND CONSIDER THOSE RISK FACTORS BEFORE INVESTING IN ANY OF OUR CLASS A COMMON STOCK.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the securities to be issued under this prospectus or determined if this prospectus is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is September 5, 2023.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Prospectus

 

		Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS		1
TRADEMARKS		2
MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA		2
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY		3
THE OFFERING		5
RISK FACTORS		7
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS		10
USE OF PROCEEDS		11
DILUTION		12
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION		14
LEGAL MATTERS		15
EXPERTS		15
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE		16

 

You should rely only on the information provided in this prospectus and the information incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any documents incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the applicable document. Since the date of this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed.

 

For investors outside the United States: We have not done anything that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. You are required to inform yourselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to this offering and the distribution of this prospectus.

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus and the accompanying base prospectus are part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), utilizing a “shelf” registration process. By using a shelf registration statement, we may offer shares of our Class A Common Stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $150,000,000. Under this prospectus, we may from time to time sell shares of our Class A Common Stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $50,000,000 at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of the offering. The $50,000,000 of shares of our Class A Common Stock that may be sold under this prospectus are included in the $150,000,000 of shares of Class A Common Stock that may be sold under the registration statement.

 

This prospectus relates to the offering of our Class A Common Stock. Before buying any of the Class A Common Stock that we are offering, we urge you to carefully read this prospectus, together with the information incorporated by reference as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation by Reference” in this prospectus. These documents contain important information that you should consider when making your investment decision.

 

We provide information to you about this offering of our Class A Common Stock in two separate documents that are bound together: (1) this prospectus, which describes the specific details regarding this offering; and (2) the accompanying base prospectus, which provides general information, some of which may not apply to this offering. Generally, when we refer to this “prospectus,” we are referring to both documents combined. If information in this prospectus is inconsistent with the accompanying base prospectus, you should rely on this prospectus. To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus, on the one hand, and the information contained in any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus, on the other hand, you should rely on the information in this prospectus. 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 in this prospectus—the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.

 

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Neither we nor the Sales Agent have authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We and the Sales Agent 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 the Sales Agent is not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of those respective documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

You should read this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus in their entirety before making an investment decision. The distribution of this prospectus and the offering of shares of our Class A Common Stock in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of shares of our Class A Common Stock and the distribution of this prospectus outside the United States. This prospectus does not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities offered by this prospectus by any person in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful for such person to make such an offer or solicitation.

 

This prospectus, the accompanying base prospectus and the information incorporated herein or therein by reference contains market data, industry statistics and other data that have been obtained or compiled from information made available by independent third parties. We have not independently verified the accuracy and completeness of such data.

 

 

TRADEMARKS

 

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain trademarks, service marks, copyrights and trade names of other companies, which are the property of their respective owners. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trademarks, copyrights, or trade names to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by any other companies. Solely for convenience, our trademarks and trade names referred to in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein may appear without the ® or ™ symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or the right of the applicable licensor to these trademarks and trade names.

 

MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA

 

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein include industry position and industry data and forecasts that we obtained or derived from internal company reports, independent third-party publications and other industry data. Some data are also based on good faith estimates, which are derived from internal company analyses or review of internal company reports as well as the independent sources referred to above.

 

Although we believe that the information on which we have based these estimates of industry position and industry data are generally reliable, the accuracy and completeness of this information is not guaranteed and we have not independently verified any of the data from third-party sources nor have we ascertained the underlying economic assumptions relied upon therein. Statements as to industry position are based on market data currently available. While we are not aware of any misstatements regarding the industry data presented herein, these estimates involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in this prospectus. These and other factors could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in these publications and reports.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully read and consider the risk factors incorporated by reference to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K, and all other information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and the accompanying base prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act, and any applicable free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering before acquiring any such securities. Our business, prospects, financial condition, or operating results could be harmed by any of these risks, as well as other risks not known to us or that we consider immaterial as of the date of this prospectus. The trading price of our Class A Common Stock could decline due to any of these risks, and as a result, you may lose all or part of your investment. This prospectus also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including the risks described below. See “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

 

Risks Related To This Offering and Our Class A Common Stock

 

We have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds from this offering and may invest or spend the proceeds in ways with which you do not agree and in ways that may not yield a return on your investment.

 

Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering, including for any of the purposes described in the section titled “Use of Proceeds,” as well as our existing cash, and you will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding such application. You will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to assess whether the proceeds are being used effectively. Our management might not apply the net proceeds or our existing cash in ways that ultimately increase the value of your investment. If we do not invest or apply the net proceeds from this offering or our existing cash in ways that enhance stockholder value, we may fail to achieve expected results, which could cause our stock price to decline. Pending their use, we may invest the net proceeds from this offering in short-term U.S. Treasury securities with low rates of return. These investments may not yield a favorable return to our stockholders.

 

If you purchase our Class A Common Stock in this offering, you may incur immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible book value of your shares.

 

If you invest in our Class A Common Stock, your ownership interest will be diluted to the extent the price per share you pay in this offering is higher than the net tangible book value per share of our Class A Common Stock immediately after this offering. Our net tangible book value of our Class A Common Stock as of June 30, 2023 was approximately $(172.4), or $(0.75) per share. Net tangible book value per share of our Class A Common Stock is total tangible assets less our total liabilities divided by the number of shares of our Class A Common Stock outstanding as of June 30, 2023  . On September 1, 2023, the last reported sale price of our Class A Common Stock was $0.54 per share. Because the sales of the shares offered hereby will be made directly into the market, the prices at which we sell these shares will vary and these variations may be significant. The offering price per share in this offering may exceed the net tangible book value per share of our Class A Common Stock outstanding prior to this offering, in which case investors will incur immediate and substantial dilution. Purchasers of the shares we sell, as well as our existing stockholders, will experience significant dilution if we sell shares at prices significantly below the price at which they invested. For a further description of the dilution that you may experience immediately after this offering, see the section titled “Dilution.”

 

Future sales or issuances of our Class A Common Stock in the public markets, or the perception of such sales, could depress the trading price of our Class A Common Stock.

 

The sale of a substantial number of shares of our Class A Common Stock or other equity-related securities in the public markets, or the perception that such sales could occur, could depress the market price of our Class A Common Stock and impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. We may sell large quantities of our Class A Common Stock at any time pursuant to this prospectus and/or in one or more separate offerings. We cannot predict the effect that future sales of Class A Common Stock or other equity-related securities would have on the market price of our Class A Common Stock.

 

 

The actual number of shares we will issue under the Sales Agreement, at any one time or in total, is uncertain.

 

Subject to certain limitations in the Sales Agreement entered into by us with the Sales Agent and compliance with applicable law, we have the discretion to deliver a placement notice to the Sales Agent at any time throughout the term of the Sales Agreement. The number of shares that are sold by the Sales Agent after delivering a placement notice will fluctuate based on the market price of our Class A Common Stock during the sales period and limits we set with the Sales Agent. Because the price per share of each share sold will fluctuate based on the market price of our Class A Common Stock during the sales period, it is not possible at this stage to predict the number of shares that will be ultimately issued or the resulting gross proceeds.

 

The Class A Common Stock offered hereby will be sold in “at the market offerings,” and investors who buy shares at different times will likely pay different prices.

 

Investors who purchase shares in this offering at different times will likely pay different prices, and accordingly may experience different levels of dilution and different outcomes in their investment results. We will have discretion, subject to market demand, to vary the timing, prices, and numbers of shares sold, and there is no minimum or maximum sales price. In addition, subject to the final determination by our board of directors or any restrictions we may place in any applicable placement notice, there is no minimum or maximum sales price for shares to be sold in this offering. Investors may experience a decline in the value of their shares as a result of share sales made at prices lower than the prices they paid.

 

Even if we sell all of the shares offered hereby, we may continue to seek external sources of financing to fund operations in the future.

 

Our revenue generating activities have not yet produced sufficient funds for profitable operations. Accordingly, while we may raise gross proceeds of up to a maximum of $50.0 million through the issuance of shares under the Sales Agreement, we may need to raise additional capital in the future to further scale our business and expand to additional markets. We may raise additional funds through the issuance of equity, equity-related or debt securities, or through obtaining credit from financial institutions. We cannot be certain that additional funds will be available on favorable terms when required, or at all. If we cannot raise additional funds when needed, our financial condition, results of operations, business and prospects could be materially and adversely affected. If we raise funds through the issuance of debt securities or through loan arrangements, the terms of such financings could require significant interest payments, contain covenants that restrict our business, or otherwise include unfavorable terms. In addition, to the extent we raise funds through the sale of additional equity securities, our stockholders would experience additional dilution.

 

We have never paid cash dividends on our capital stock, and we do not anticipate paying dividends in the foreseeable future.

 

We have never paid cash dividends on any of our capital stock and we currently intend to retain any future earnings to fund the growth of our business. Any determination to pay dividends in the future will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on our financial condition, operating results, capital requirements, general business conditions and other factors that the board may deem relevant. As a result, capital appreciation, if any, of our Class A Common Stock will be the sole source of gain from investing in and holding our Class A Common Stock for the foreseeable future.

 

 

Our failure to meet the continued listing requirements of the NYSE could result in a delisting of our Class A Common Stock.

 

Our Class A Common Stock is listed on the NYSE, which imposes, among other requirements, a minimum share price requirement. On March 28, 2023, we received a written notice from the NYSE that we were not in compliance with the continued listing standard set forth in Section 802.01C of the NYSE’s Listed Company Manual, as the average closing price of our Class A Common Stock was less than $1.00 per share over a consecutive 30 trading-day period. There was no immediate impact on the listing of our Class A Common Stock on the NYSE, subject to our compliance with the NYSE’s other continued listing requirements.

 

We timely responded to the NYSE with respect to our intent to cure the deficiency. We intend to consider available alternatives, including, but not limited to, a reverse stock split, which reverse stock split was approved at our annual meeting of stockholders held on June 8, 2023, if necessary, to regain compliance. Pursuant to Section 802.01C, we have a period of six months following the receipt of the written notice from the NYSE to regain compliance with the minimum share price requirement. We may regain compliance at any time during the six-month cure period if on the last trading day of any calendar month during the six-month cure period our Class A Common Stock has a closing share price of at least $1.00 and an average closing share price of at least $1.00 over the 30 trading-day period ending on the last trading day of that month. If we are unable to regain compliance with the $1.00 share price rule within this period, the NYSE may initiate procedures to suspend and delist our Class A Common Stock.

 

We are diligently working to evidence compliance with the minimum share price requirement for continued listing on the NYSE; however, there can be no assurance that we will be able to regain compliance with the minimum share price or other continued listing requirements.

 

If we fail to satisfy the NYSE’s continued listing standards, our Class A Common Stock will be subject to delisting. Delisting from the NYSE would likely have a negative effect on the liquidity and market price of our Class A Common Stock, reduce the number of investors willing to hold or acquire our Class A Common Stock, limit or reduce the amount of analyst coverage we receive, and impair your ability to sell or purchase our Class A Common Stock when you wish to do so. In addition, a delisting from the NYSE might negatively impact our reputation and, as a consequence, our business. Additionally, if we are delisted from the NYSE and we are not able to list our Class A Common Stock on another national exchange, we will not be eligible to use Form S-3 registration statements, which would delay our ability to raise funds in the future, limit the type of offerings of Class A Common Stock we could undertake, and increase the expenses of any offering.

 

In the event of a delisting of our Class A Common Stock, we can provide no assurance that any action taken by us to restore compliance with listing requirements would allow our securities to become listed again, stabilize the market price or improve the liquidity of our Class A Common Stock, prevent our Class A Common Stock from dropping below the NYSE minimum share price requirement or prevent future non-compliance with the NYSE’s listing standards. Additionally, if our Class A Common Stock is not listed on, or becomes delisted from, the NYSE for any reason, and is quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board, an inter-dealer automated quotation system for equity securities that is not a national securities exchange, the liquidity and price of our Class A Common Stock may be more limited than if we were quoted or listed on the NYSE or another national securities exchange. You may be unable to sell your Class A Common Stock unless a market can be established or sustained.

 

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. All statements contained in this prospectus, the accompanying base prospectus, and the documents incorporated by reference herein other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding our future results of operations, financial position, market size and opportunity, our business strategy and plans, the factors affecting our performance and our objectives for future operations, are forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as “plan,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “outlook,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “continue,” “could,” “may,” “might,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “should,” “would,” “will,” “seek,” “target,” and other similar words and expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.

 

The forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations, forecasts and assumptions of the management of Rubicon Technologies, Inc. (“Rubicon”), involve a number of judgments, risks and uncertainties and are inherently subject to changes in circumstances and their potential effects and speak only as of the date of such statements. There can be no assurance that future developments will be those that have been anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed, contemplated or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to the following:

 

●

Actual results may vary from expectations regarding (and the Company’s ability to meet expectations regarding) the Company’s strategies and future performance, including Rubicon’ future business plans or objectives and its ability to invest in growth initiatives.

 

●

The Company has a history of net losses and may not achieve or maintain profitability in the future.

 

●

The Company faces significant competition and expects to face increasing competition in many aspects of its business, which could cause its business, financial condition, and operating results to suffer.

 

●

If the Company fails to grow its business as anticipated, revenues and gross margin will be adversely affected.

 

●

The Company’s attempts to expand its products and services into new sectors and geographies may not be successful.

 

●

The Company’s stock price may be volatile or may decline regardless of its operating performance.

 

●

The Company’s operating results and financial condition may fluctuate on a quarterly and annual basis.

 

●

Failure to attract, integrate and retain additional personnel in the future could harm the Company’s business and negatively affect the Company’s ability to grow its business.

 

●

The loss of one or more key members of the Company’s management team or personnel could harm its business.

 

●

The Company’s actual results may be significantly different from projections, estimates, targets, or forecasts.

 

●

Other risks and uncertainties set forth under the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 10 of this prospectus.

 

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the assumptions made by the management of Rubicon prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in or contemplated by these forward-looking statements.

 

Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, Rubicon undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this Registration Statement or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We may, from time to time, issue and sell shares of our Class A Common Stock having aggregate gross proceeds of up to $50.0 million under this prospectus and the accompanying base prospectus. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition of 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 we will sell any shares under or fully utilize the Sales Agreement as a source of financing.

 

We currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, including working capital. In addition, we may use a portion of such net proceeds for acquisitions of complementary businesses, technologies or other assets, or to fund the repayment, refinancing or redemption of outstanding debt. However, we have no current understandings, agreements, or commitments for any material acquisitions at this time, and we have not allocated specific amounts of the net proceeds to be received by us from this offering for any of these purposes. As a result, management will retain broad discretion over the allocation of the net proceeds from this offering for its business use. Pending the use of the net proceeds, we may invest the proceeds in interest-bearing, investment-grade securities, certificates of deposit or government securities.

 

 

DILUTION

 

If you invest in our Class A Common Stock in this offering, your ownership interest will be diluted immediately to the extent of the difference between the public offering price per share and the as-adjusted net tangible book value per share of our Class A Common Stock after giving effect to this offering.

 

Our historical net tangible book value as of June 30, 2023 was $(172.4) million, or $(0.75) per share. Net tangible book value per share is determined by our total tangible assets, less total liabilities, divided by the number shares of our Class A Common Stock outstanding.

 

After giving effect to the assumed sale by us of our shares of Class A Common Stock having an aggregate offering price of $50,000,000 at an assumed public offering price of $0.54 per share of Class A Common Stock, which was the last reported sale price of our Class A Common Stock on the NYSE on September 1, 2023, and after deducting commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of June 30, 2023 would have been $(123.9) million, or $(0.38) per share. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $0.37 per share to existing stockholders and immediate dilution of $(0.92) per share   to investors purchasing our Class A Common Stock in this offering at the assumed public offering price. The following table illustrates this accretion on a per share basis:

 

Assumed offering price per share						$	0.54
Historical net tangible book value per share as of June 30, 2023		$	(0.75	)
(Decrease) increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to new investors purchasing shares of common stock in this offering		$	0.37
As adjusted net tangible book value per share as of June 30, 2023, after giving effect to this offering						$	(0.38)
(Accretion) dilution per share to investors purchasing our common stock in this offering						$	0.92

 

The number of shares of our Class A Common Stock outstanding is based on an aggregate of 229,818,370 shares of our Class A Common Stock outstanding as of June 30, 2023, and excludes:

 

●

30,016,851 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of public and private warrants outstanding as of June 30, 2023, with an exercise price of $11.50;

 

●

1,488,519 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable depending upon the performance of Class A Common Stock during the five years period from August 15, 2022 under that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated December 15, 2021;

 

●

$20.0 million in shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of a pre-funded warrant outstanding as of June 30, 2023, with an exercise price of $0.0001;

 

●

500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of an advisor warrant outstanding as of June 30, 2023, with an exercise price of $0.01;

 

●

16,972,870 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of term loan warrants outstanding as of June 30, 2023, with an exercise price of $0.01;

 

●

22,634,721 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of restricted stock units outstanding as of June 30, 2023;

 

●

306,802 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the settlement of deferred stock units outstanding as of June 30, 2023;

 

●

8,996,754 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of convertible debentures outstanding as of June 30, 2023;

 

 

●

$11.5 million of aggregate principal in shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of convertible debentures outstanding as of June 30, 2023;

 

●

35,402,821 Class B units outstanding as of June 30, 2023 and exchangeable into the equal number of shares Class A Common Stock; and

 

●

31,859,270 shares of Class A Common Stock reserved for future issuance under the 2022 Plan as of June 30, 2023, as well as any automatic increases in the number of shares of Class A Common Stock reserved for future issuance under this benefit plan.

 

The table above assumes for illustrative purposes that an aggregate of 92,592,593 shares of our Class A Common Stock are sold during the term of the Sales Agreement at a price of $0.54 per share, the last reported sale price of our Class A Common Stock on the NYSE on September 1, 2023, for aggregate gross proceeds of $50.0 million. The shares subject to the Sales Agreement, if sold, may be sold from time to time at various prices. An increase of $0.25 per share in the price at which the shares are sold from the assumed offering price of $0.54 per share shown in the table above, assuming all of our Class A Common Stock sold at that price during the term of the Sales Agreement to achieve the aggregate amount of $50.0 million in gross proceeds, would decrease our as adjusted net tangible book value per share to $(0.42) per share and would increase the dilution in net tangible book value per share to new investors in this offering to $(1.21) per share, after deducting commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. A decrease of $0.25 per share in the price at which the shares are sold from the assumed offering price of $0.54 per share shown in the table above, assuming all of our Class A Common Stock sold at that price during the term of the Sales Agreement to achieve the aggregate amount of $50.0 million in gross proceeds, would increase our as adjusted net tangible book value per share to $(0.31) per share  and would decrease the dilution in net tangible book value per share to new investors in this offering to $(0.60) per share, after deducting commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. This information is supplied for illustrative purposes only and assumes no exercise or conversion, as applicable, of other convertible securities outstanding as of June 30, 2023. For more information, see “Description of Capital Stock and Outstanding Warrants” in the accompanying base prospectus.

 

To the extent that outstanding convertible securities are exercised, restricted stock units are settled, new options, restricted stock units or restricted stock awards are issued under the 2022 Plan and subsequently exercised or settled or we issue additional shares of Class A Common Stock or securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, Class A Common Stock or substantially similar securities in the future, there will be further dilution to investors participating in this offering. 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 stockholders.

 

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We have entered into a Controlled Equity Offering℠ Sales Agreement, or the Sales Agreement, with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., or Cantor. Pursuant to this prospectus, we may offer and sell shares of our Class A Common Stock having an aggregate gross sales price of up to $50,000,000.00 from time to time through Cantor acting as Sales Agent. A copy of the Sales Agreement has been filed as an exhibit to our registration statement on Form S-3 of which this prospectus forms a part.

 

Upon delivery of a placement notice and subject to the terms and conditions of the Sales Agreement, Cantor may sell shares of our Class A Common Stock by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) promulgated under the Securities Act. We may instruct Cantor not to sell Class A Common Stock if the sales cannot be effected at or above the price designated by us from time to time. We or Cantor may suspend the offering of Class A Common Stock upon notice and subject to other conditions.

 

We will pay Cantor commissions, in cash, for its service in acting as agent in the sale of our Class A Common Stock. Cantor will be entitled to compensation at a commission rate equal to 3.0% of the sales price per share sold under the Sales Agreement. 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 have also agreed to reimburse Cantor for certain specified expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their legal counsel in an amount not to exceed (a) $75,000 in connection with the execution of the Sales Agreement, (b) $25,000 per calendar quarter thereafter pursuant to the terms of the Sales Agreement, and (c) $25,000 for each program “refresh” (filing of a new registration statement, prospectus or prospectus relating to the common stock and/or an amendment of the Sales Agreement) executed pursuant to the Sales Agreement. We estimate that the total expenses for the offering, excluding compensation and reimbursements payable to Cantor under the terms of the Sales Agreement, will be approximately $25,000.  

 

Settlement for sales of shares of our Class A Common Stock will occur on the second business day following the date on which any sales are made, or on some other date that is agreed upon by us and Cantor in connection with a particular transaction, in return for payment of the net proceeds to us. Sales of our Class A Common Stock as contemplated in this prospectus will be settled through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company or by such other means as we and Cantor may agree upon. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.

 

Cantor will use its commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with its sales and trading practices, to solicit offers to purchase the Class A Common Stock under the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Sales Agreement. In connection with the sale of the Class A Common Stock on our behalf, Cantor will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and the compensation of Cantor will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to Cantor against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

The offering of shares of our Class A Common Stock pursuant to the Sales Agreement will terminate upon the termination of the Sales Agreement as permitted therein. We and Cantor may each terminate the Sales Agreement at any time upon ten days’ prior notice.

 

Cantor and its affiliates may in the future provide various investment banking, commercial banking and other financial services for us and our affiliates, for which services they may in the future receive customary fees. To the extent required by Regulation M, Cantor will not engage in any market making activities involving our Class A Common Stock while the offering is ongoing under this prospectus.

 

This prospectus may be made available in electronic format on a website maintained by Cantor, and Cantor may distribute this prospectus electronically.

 

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

The validity of the securities offered hereby has been passed upon for us by Winston & Strawn LLP. Certain legal matters in connection with this offering will be passed upon for Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. by DLA Piper LLP (US).

 

EXPERTS

 

The financial statements of Rubicon as of and for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, incorporated by reference herein, have been audited by Cherry Bekaert LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report incorporated by reference herein, and are so incorporated upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

Where You Can Find More Information

 

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities offered hereby. This prospectus, which constitutes part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto. For further information with respect to the Company and its securities, reference is made to the registration statement and the exhibits and any schedules filed therewith. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or any other document referred to are not necessarily complete, and in each instance, we refer you to the copy of the contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. Each of these statements is qualified in all respects by this reference. You can read our SEC filings, including the registration statement, over the internet at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

We are subject to the information reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, and we are required to file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. These reports, proxy statements, and other information are available for inspection and copying at the SEC’s website referred to above. We also maintain a website at https://investors.rubicon.com, at which you may access these materials free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Information contained on or accessible through our website is not a part of this prospectus, and the inclusion of our website address in this prospectus is an inactive textual reference only.

 

Incorporation by Reference

 

The SEC rules allow us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus and the accompanying base prospectus, and subsequent information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede that information. Any statement contained in this prospectus or a previously filed document incorporated by reference will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus and the accompanying base prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or a subsequently filed document incorporated by reference modifies or replaces that statement.

 

This prospectus and the accompanying base prospectus incorporate by reference the documents set forth below that have previously been filed with the SEC:

 

●

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 23, 2023;

 

●

our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on May 22, 2023, and the quarter ended June 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on August 11, 2023;

 

●

our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 7, 2023, February 9, 2023, February 17, 2023, February 21, 2023, March 13, 2023, March 31, 2023, May 24, 2023, June 8, 2023, June 9, 2023, August 3, 2023, August 11, 2023 and August 21, 2023; and

 

●

The description of our capital stock set forth in the registration statement on Form 8-A registering our capital stock under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, which was filed with the SEC on August 15, 2022, including any amendments or reports filed for purposes of updating such description, including Exhibit 4.5 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.

 

All reports and other documents we subsequently file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of this offering, including all such documents we may file with the SEC after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement, but excluding any information furnished to, rather than filed with, the SEC, will also be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and the accompanying base prospectus and deemed to be a part thereof from the date of the filing of such reports and documents.

 

You may request a free copy of any documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the accompanying base prospectus by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

 

Rubicon Technologies, Inc.

335 Madison Avenue, 4^th Floor

New York, NY 10017

Attention: Corporate Secretary

Tel. (844) 479-1507

 

Exhibits to the filings will not be sent, however, unless those exhibits have been specifically incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the accompanying base prospectus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RUBICON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Up to $50,000,000

 

CLASS A COMMON STOCK

 

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

 

 

September 5, 2023.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14.

Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

 

The following table sets forth the estimated expenses (other than the actual registration fee and FINRA filing fee) to be borne by the registrant in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered hereby. All amounts are estimates except for the registration fee.

 

Expense		Estimated Amount
Securities and Exchange Commission Registration Fee		$	16,530
FINRA Filing Fee		$	23,000
Transfer Agent and Registrar Fees and Expenses			*
Printing Expenses			*
Legal Fees and Expenses			*
Accounting Fees and Expenses			*
Miscellaneous			*
Total			*

 

*

These fees cannot be estimated at this time as they are calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances.

 

Item 15.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

Section 145 of the DGCL permits a corporation to indemnify its directors and officers against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlements actually and reasonably incurred by them in connection with any action, suit or proceeding brought by third parties. The directors or officers must have acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reason to believe their conduct was unlawful. In a derivative action, an action only by or in the right of the corporation, indemnification may be made only for expenses actually and reasonably incurred by directors and officers in connection with the defense or settlement of an action or suit, and only with respect to a matter as to which they must have acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation. No indemnification may be made if such person must have been adjudged liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was brought must determine upon application that the defendant officers or directors are fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses despite such adjudication of liability. Our Charter and our Bylaws provide for indemnification by Rubicon of its directors, senior officers and employees to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

 

Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a corporation to provide in its charter that a director of the corporation must not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (1) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (2) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (3) for payments of unlawful dividends or unlawful stock purchases or redemptions or (4) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Our Charter provides for such limitation of liability.

 

We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and officers in which we have agreed to indemnify, defend and hold harmless, and also advance expenses as incurred, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, from damage arising from the fact that such person is or was an officer or director of our company or our subsidiaries.

 

 

The indemnification rights set forth above shall not be exclusive of any other right which an indemnified person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, our Charter, our Bylaws, any agreement, any vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

We maintain standard policies of insurance that provide coverage (1) to our directors and officers against loss rising from claims made by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful act and (2) to us with respect to indemnification payments that we may make to such directors and officers.

 

We have purchased and intend to maintain insurance on behalf of the registrant and any person who is or was a director or officer against any loss arising from any claim asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in that capacity, subject to certain exclusions and limits of the amount of coverage.

 

 

Item 16.

Exhibits and Financial Statements.

 

(a) Exhibits.

 

				Incorporated by Reference
Exhibit		Description		Schedule/ Form		File Number		Exhibits		Filing Date
1.1**		Form of Underwriting Agreement.
1.2		At the Market Offering Agreement.
2.1#		Merger Agreement, dated as of December 15, 2021, by and among Founder, Merger Sub, the Blocker Companies, the Blocker Merger Subs and Holdings LLC.		Form 8-K		001-40910		2.1		December 17, 2021
3.1		Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of Founder.		Form 8-K		001-40910		3.1		October 20, 2021
3.2		Certificate of Incorporation of Rubicon Technologies, Inc.		Form 8-K		001-40910		3.2		August 19, 2022
3.3		Bylaws of Rubicon Technologies, Inc.		Form 8-K		001-40910		3.3		August 19, 2022
4.3		Specimen Warrant Certificate of Founder.		Form S-1/A		333-258158		4.3		October 12, 2021
4.4		Warrant Agreement, dated October 14, 2021, by and between Founder and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent.		Form 8-K		001-40910		4.1		October 20, 2021
4.5		Amendment of Warrant Agreement, dated August 15, 2022, by and between Rubicon Technologies, Inc. and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent.		Form 8-K		001-40910		4.5		August 19, 2022
4.6		Specimen Class A Common Stock Certificate of Rubicon Technologies, Inc.		Form S-4/A		333-262465		4.5		June 24, 2022
4.7**		Certificate of designation, preferences and rights with respect to any preferred stock issued hereunder.
4.8		Form of Indenture with respect to Debt Securities.
4.9**		Form of Debt Security.
4.10**		Form of Warrant Agreement (Stock) (including form of Warrant Certificate).
4.11**		Form of Warrant Agreement (Debt) (including form of Warrant Certificate).
4.12**		Form of Rights Agreement.
4.13**		Form of Unit Agreement
5.1		Opinion of Winston & Strawn LLP

 

 

23.1		Consent of Grant Thornton LLP.		Form S-1		333-269646		23.1		February 8, 2023
23.2		Consent of Cherry Bekaert LLP.
23.3		Consent of Winston & Strawn LLP (Included as Exhibit 5.1).
24.1		Power of Attorney (included in the signature page hereof).
25.1+		Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of the Trustee under the Indenture.
101.INS		Inline XBRL Instance Document.
101.SCH		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.CAL		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.DEF		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
101.LAB		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
101.PRE		Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL).
107		Filing Fee Table

 

#	Schedules and exhibits to this Exhibit omitted pursuant to Regulation S-K Item 601(b)(2). A copy of any omitted schedule and/or exhibit will be furnished to the SEC upon request.
*	Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
**	To be filed by amendment.
+	To be filed in accordance with the requirements of Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

 

 

Item 17.

Undertakings.

 

The undersigned registrant, hereby undertakes:

 

(1)

To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

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 Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

iii.

To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in 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.

 

(4)

That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.

 

(5)

That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, 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.

 

(6)

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 section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 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.

 

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.

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of New York, State of New York, on September 5, 2023.

 

	Rubicon Technologies, Inc.
Dated: September 5, 2023	By:	/s/ Philip Rodoni
		Philip Rodoni
		Chief Executive Officer

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Kevin Schubert as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all further amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement (and any additional registration statement related hereto permitted by Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act (and all further amendments, including post-effective amendments, thereto)), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Name		Title		Date
/s/ Philip Rodoni		Chief Executive Officer and Director		September 5, 2023
Philip Rodoni		(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Kevin Schubert		President and Chief Financial Officer		September 5, 2023
Kevin Schubert		(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
/s/ Paula Dobriansky		Director		September 5, 2023
Paula Dobriansky
/s/ Brent Callinicos		Director		September 5, 2023
Brent Callinicos
/s/ Barry Caldwell		Director		September 5, 2023
Barry Caldwell
/s/ Coddy Johnson		Director		September 5, 2023
Coddy Johnson
/s/ Andres Chico		Chairman		September 5, 2023
Andres Chico
/s/ Paula Henderson		Director		September 5, 2023
Paula Henderson
/s/ Osman Ahmed		Director		September 5, 2023
Osman Ahmed

 

 

 

Exhibit 1.2

 

Execution Version

 

Rubicon Technologies, Inc.
Shares of Common Stock

(par value $0.0001 per share)

 

Controlled Equity Offering^SM

 

Sales Agreement

 

September 5, 2023

 

Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.

499 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10022

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Rubicon Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), confirms its agreement (this “Agreement”) with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (the “Agent”), as follows:

 

1.

Issuance and Sale of Shares. The Company agrees that, from time to time during the term of this Agreement, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, it may issue and sell to or through the Agent, as sales agent or principal, shares of Class A common stock (the “Placement Shares”) of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”); provided, however, that in no event shall the Company issue or sell to or through the Agent such number or dollar amount of Placement Shares that would (a) exceed the number or dollar amount of shares of Common Stock registered on the effective Registration Statement (defined below) pursuant to which the offering is being made, (b) exceed the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock (less shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange of any outstanding securities of the Company or otherwise reserved from the Company’s authorized capital stock), (c) exceed the number or dollar amount of shares of Common Stock permitted to be sold under Form S-3 (including General Instruction I.B.6 thereof, if applicable) or (d) exceed the number or dollar amount of shares of Common Stock for which the Company has filed a Prospectus Supplement (defined below) (the lesser of (a), (b), (c) and (d), the “Maximum Amount”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the parties hereto agree that compliance with the limitations set forth in this Section 1 on the amount of Placement Shares issued and sold under this Agreement shall be the sole responsibility of the Company and that the Agent shall have no obligation in connection with such compliance. The offer and sale of Placement Shares through the Agent will be effected pursuant to the Registration Statement (as defined below) filed by the Company and which will be declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), although nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as requiring the Company to use the Registration Statement to issue Common Stock.

 

 

The Company has filed or will file, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “Securities Act Regulations”), with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-3, including a base prospectus, relating to certain securities, including the Placement Shares to be issued from time to time by the Company, and which incorporates by reference documents that the Company has filed or will file in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations thereunder. The Company has prepared a prospectus or a prospectus supplement to the base prospectus included as part of the registration statement, which prospectus or prospectus supplement relates to the Placement Shares to be issued from time to time by the Company (the “Prospectus Supplement”). The Company will furnish to the Agent, for use by the Agent, copies of the prospectus included as part of such registration statement, as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, relating to the Placement Shares to be issued from time to time by the Company. Except where the context otherwise requires, such registration statement(s), including all documents filed as part thereof or incorporated by reference therein, and including any information contained in a Prospectus (as defined below) subsequently filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act Regulations or deemed to be a part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B of the Securities Act Regulations, and any one or more additional effective registration statements on Form S-3 from time to time that will contain a base prospectus and related prospectus or prospectus supplement, if applicable (which shall be a Prospectus Supplement), with respect to the Placement Shares, is herein called the “Registration Statement.” The base prospectus or base prospectuses, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, included in the Registration Statement, as it may be supplemented, if necessary, by the Prospectus Supplement, in the form in which such prospectus or prospectuses and/or Prospectus Supplement have most recently been filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act Regulations, together with the then issued Issuer Free Writing Prospectus(es) (as defined below), is herein called the “Prospectus.”

 

Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, any Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (defined below), and any amendments and supplements thereto, shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents, if any, incorporated by reference therein (the “Incorporated Documents”), including, unless the context otherwise requires, the documents, if any, filed as exhibits to such Incorporated Documents. Any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, any Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act on or after the most-recent effective date of the Registration Statement, or the date of the Prospectus Supplement, Prospectus or such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, and incorporated therein by reference. For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or to any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to include the most recent copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval system, or if applicable, the Interactive Data Electronic Application system when used by the Commission (collectively, “EDGAR”).

 

 

2.

Placements. Each time that the Company wishes to issue and sell Placement Shares hereunder (each, a “Placement”), it will notify the Agent by email notice (or other method mutually agreed to by the parties) of the number of Placement Shares to be issued, the time period during which sales are requested to be made, any limitation on the number of Placement Shares that may be sold in any one day and any minimum price below which sales may not be made (a “Placement Notice”), the form of which is attached hereto as Schedule 1. The Placement Notice shall originate from any of the individuals from the Company set forth on Schedule 3 (with a copy to each of the other individuals from the Company listed on such schedule), and shall be addressed to each of the individuals from the Agent set forth on Schedule 3, as such Schedule 3 may be amended from time to time. The Placement Notice shall be effective unless and until (i) the Agent declines to accept the terms contained therein for any reason, in its sole discretion, which declination must occur within two (2) Business Days of the receipt of the Placement Notice (ii) the entire amount of the Placement Shares thereunder have been sold, (iii) the Company suspends or terminates the Placement Notice or (iv) this Agreement has been terminated under the provisions of Section 12. The amount of any discount, commission or other compensation to be paid by the Company to the Agent in connection with the sale of the Placement Shares shall be calculated in accordance with the terms set forth in Schedule 2. It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that neither the Company nor the Agent will have any obligation whatsoever with respect to a Placement or any Placement Shares unless and until the Company delivers a Placement Notice to the Agent and the Agent does not decline such Placement Notice pursuant to the terms set forth above, and then only upon the terms specified therein and herein. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of a Placement Notice, the terms of the Placement Notice will control.

 

3.

Sale of Placement Shares by the Agent. Subject to the provisions of Section 5(a), the Agent, for the period specified in the Placement Notice, will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations and the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”), to sell the Placement Shares up to the amount specified in, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of, such Placement Notice. The Agent will provide written confirmation to the Company no later than the opening of the Trading Day (as defined below) immediately following the Trading Day on which it has made sales of Placement Shares hereunder setting forth the number of Placement Shares sold on such day, the compensation payable by the Company to the Agent pursuant to Section 2 with respect to such sales, and the Net Proceeds (as defined below) payable to the Company, with an itemization of the deductions made by the Agent (as set forth in Section 5(b)) from the gross proceeds that it receives from such sales. Subject to the terms of the Placement Notice, the Agent may sell Placement Shares by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act Regulations. “Trading Day” means any day on which Common Stock is traded on the Exchange.

 

4.

Suspension of Sales. The Company or the Agent may, upon notice to the other party in writing (including by email correspondence to each of the individuals of the other party set forth on Schedule 3, if receipt of such correspondence is actually acknowledged by any of the individuals to whom the notice is sent, other than via auto-reply) or by telephone (confirmed immediately by verifiable facsimile transmission or email correspondence to each of the individuals of the other party set forth on Schedule 3), suspend any sale of Placement Shares (a “Suspension”); provided, however, that such Suspension shall not affect or impair any party’s obligations with respect to any Placement Shares sold hereunder prior to the receipt of such notice. While a Suspension is in effect any obligation under Sections 7(l), 7(m), and 7(n) with respect to the delivery of certificates, opinions, or comfort letters to the Agent, shall be waived. Each of the parties agrees that no such notice under this Section 4 shall be effective against any other party unless it is made to one of the individuals named on Schedule 3 hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, during any period in which the Company is in possession of material non-public information, the Company and the Agent agree that (i) no sale of Placement Shares will take place, (ii) the Company shall not request the sale of any Placement Shares, and (iii) the Agent shall not be obligated to sell or offer to sell any Placement Shares.

 

 

5.

Sale and Delivery to the Agent; Settlement.

 

(a)

Sale of Placement Shares. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, upon the Agent’s acceptance of the terms of a Placement Notice, and unless the sale of the Placement Shares described therein has been declined, suspended, or otherwise terminated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Agent, for the period specified in the Placement Notice, will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable law and regulations to sell such Placement Shares up to the amount specified, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of such Placement Notice. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) there can be no assurance that the Agent will be successful in selling Placement Shares, (ii) the Agent will incur no liability or obligation to the Company or any other person or entity if it does not sell Placement Shares for any reason other than a failure by the Agent to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable law and regulations to sell such Placement Shares as required under this Agreement and (iii) the Agent shall be under no obligation to purchase Placement Shares on a principal basis pursuant to this Agreement, except as otherwise agreed by the Agent and the Company.

 

(b)

Settlement of Placement Shares. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Placement Notice, settlement for sales of Placement Shares will occur on the second (2nd) Trading Day (or such earlier day as is industry practice for regular-way trading) following the date on which such sales are made (each, a “Settlement Date”). The Agent shall notify the Company of each sale of Placement Shares no later than the opening of the Trading Day immediately following the Trading Day on which it has made sales of Placement Shares hereunder. The amount of proceeds to be delivered to the Company on a Settlement Date against receipt of the Placement Shares sold (the “Net Proceeds”) will be equal to the aggregate sales price received by the Agent, after deduction for (i) the Agent’s commission, discount or other compensation for such sales payable by the Company pursuant to Section 2 hereof, and (ii) any transaction fees imposed by any Governmental Authority (as defined below) in respect of such sales.

 

(c)

Delivery of Placement Shares. On or before each Settlement Date, the Company will, or will cause its transfer agent to, electronically transfer the Placement Shares being sold by crediting the Agent’s or its designee’s account (provided the Agent shall have given the Company written notice of such designee at least one Trading Day prior to the Settlement Date) at The Depository Trust Company through its Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian System or by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto which in all cases shall be freely tradable, transferable, registered shares in good deliverable form. On each Settlement Date, the Agent will deliver the related Net Proceeds in same day funds to an account designated by the Company on, or prior to, the Settlement Date. The Company agrees that if the Company, or its transfer agent (if applicable), defaults in its obligation to deliver Placement Shares on a Settlement Date, the Company agrees that in addition to and in no way limiting the rights and obligations set forth in Section 10(a) hereto, it will (i) hold the Agent harmless against any loss, claim, damage, or expense (including reasonable legal fees and expenses), as incurred, arising out of or in connection with such default by the Company or its transfer agent (if applicable) and (ii) pay to the Agent (without duplication) any commission, discount, or other compensation to which it would otherwise have been entitled absent such default.

 

 

(d)

Denominations; Registration. Certificates for the Placement Shares, if any, shall be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Agent may request in writing at least two (2) full Business Days (as defined below) before the applicable Settlement Date. The certificates for the Placement Shares, if any, will be made available by the Company for examination and packaging by the Agent in The City of New York not later than noon (New York time) on the Business Day prior to the applicable Settlement Date.

 

(e)

Limitations on Offering Size. Under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request the offer or sale of any Placement Shares if, after giving effect to the sale of such Placement Shares, the aggregate gross sales proceeds of Placement Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement would exceed the lesser of (A) together with all sales of Placement Shares under this Agreement, the Maximum Amount and (B) the amount authorized from time to time to be issued and sold under this Agreement by the Company’s board of directors, a duly authorized committee thereof or a duly authorized executive committee, and notified to the Agent in writing. Under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request the offer or sale of any Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement at a price lower than the minimum price authorized from time to time by the Company’s board of directors, a duly authorized committee thereof or a duly authorized executive committee. Further, under no circumstances shall the Company cause or permit the aggregate offering amount of Placement Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement to exceed the Maximum Amount.

 

6.

Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with the Agent that as of the date of this Agreement and as of each Applicable Time (as defined below):

 

(a)

Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Company and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement meet the requirements for and comply with the applicable conditions set forth in Form S-3 (including General Instructions I.A and I.B) under the Securities Act. The Registration Statement has been or will be filed with the Commission and will be declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act prior to the issuance of any Placement Notices by the Company. The Prospectus Supplement will name the Agent as the agent in the section entitled “Plan of Distribution.” The Company has not received, and has no notice of, any order of the Commission preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, or threatening or instituting proceedings for that purpose. The Registration Statement and the offer and sale of Placement Shares as contemplated hereby meet the requirements of Rule 415 under the Securities Act and comply in all material respects with said Rule. Any statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement have been so described or filed. Copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and any such amendments or supplements and all documents incorporated by reference therein that were filed with the Commission on or prior to the date of this Agreement have been delivered, or are available through EDGAR, to the Agent and its counsel. The Company has not distributed and, prior to the later to occur of each Settlement Date and completion of the distribution of the Placement Shares, will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering or sale of the Placement Shares other than the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to which the Agent has consented. The Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is currently listed on the Exchange under the trading symbol “RBT.” The Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act, delisting the Common Stock from the Exchange, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission or the Exchange is contemplating terminating such registration or listing. To the Company’s knowledge, it is in compliance with all applicable listing requirements of the Exchange.

 

 

(b)

No Misstatement or Omission. The Registration Statement, when it became or becomes effective, and the Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, on the date of such Prospectus or amendment or supplement, conformed and will conform in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act. At each Settlement Date, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as of such date, will conform in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act. The Registration Statement, when it became or becomes effective, did not, and will not, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus and any amendment and supplement thereto, on the date thereof and at each Applicable Time (defined below), did not or will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement did not, and any further documents filed and incorporated by reference therein will not, when filed with the Commission, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated in such document or necessary to make the statements in such document, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The foregoing shall not apply to statements in, or omissions from, any such document made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information furnished to the Company by the Agent in writing specifically for use in the preparation thereof, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Agent to the Company consists of “Agent Information” as defined below.

 

(c)

Conformity with the Securities Act and Exchange Act. The Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, and the documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, when such documents were or are filed with the Commission under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or became or become effective under the Securities Act, as the case may be, conformed or will conform in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable.

 

 

(d)

Financial Information. The consolidated financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, together with the related notes and schedules, present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company and the Subsidiaries (as defined below) as of the dates indicated and the consolidated results of operations, cash flows and changes in stockholders’ equity of the Company for the periods specified and have been prepared in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act and Exchange Act and in conformity with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved; the other financial and statistical data with respect to the Company and the Subsidiaries (as defined below) contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, are accurately and fairly presented and prepared on a basis consistent with the financial statements and books and records of the Company; there are no financial statements (historical or pro forma) that are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, or the Prospectus that are not included or incorporated by reference as required; the Company and the Subsidiaries (as defined below) do not have any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations), not described in the Registration Statement (excluding the exhibits thereto), and the Prospectus; and all disclosures contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, to the extent applicable. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

 

(e)

Conformity with EDGAR Filing. The Prospectus delivered to the Agent for use in connection with the sale of the Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement will be identical to the versions of the Prospectus created to be transmitted to the Commission for filing via EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

 

(f)

Organization. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are duly organized, validly existing as a corporation and in good standing under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of organization. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are duly licensed or qualified as a foreign corporation for transaction of business and in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which their respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct of their respective businesses requires such license or qualification, and have all corporate power and authority necessary to own or hold their respective properties and to conduct their respective businesses as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing or have such power or authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on or affecting the assets, business, operations, earnings, properties, condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or prevent or materially interfere with consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (a “Material Adverse Effect”).

 

 

(g)

Subsidiaries. The subsidiaries set forth on Schedule 4 (collectively, the “Subsidiaries”), are the Company’s only significant subsidiaries (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Commission). Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus, the Company owns, directly or indirectly, all of the equity interests of the Subsidiaries free and clear of any lien, charge, security interest, encumbrance, right of first refusal or other restriction, and all the equity interests of the Subsidiaries are validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive and similar rights. No Subsidiary is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such Subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such Subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such Subsidiary’s property or assets to the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company.

 

(h)

No Violation or Default. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents; (ii) in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are subject; or (iii) in violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any Governmental Authority, except, in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such violation or default that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. To the Company’s knowledge, no other party under any material contract or other agreement to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is a party is in default in any respect thereunder where such default would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(i)

No Material Adverse Change. Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses, if any (including any document deemed incorporated by reference therein), there has not been (i) any Material Adverse Effect or the occurrence of any development that the Company reasonably expects will result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) any transaction which is material to the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (iii) any obligation or liability, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations), incurred by the Company or any Subsidiary, which is material to the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (iv) any material change in the capital stock or outstanding long-term indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (v) any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made on the capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary, other than in each case above in the ordinary course of business or as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement or Prospectus (including any document deemed incorporated by reference therein).

 

(j)

Capitalization. The issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and, other than as disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, are not subject to any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or similar rights. The Company has an authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as of the dates referred to therein (other than the grant of additional options under the Company’s existing stock option plans, or changes in the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company due to the issuance of shares upon the exercise or conversion of securities exercisable for, or convertible into, Common Stock outstanding on the date hereof) and such authorized capital stock conforms to the description thereof set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The description of the securities of the Company in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus is complete and accurate in all material respects. Except as disclosed in or contemplated by the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as of the date referred to therein, the Company does not have outstanding any options to purchase, or any rights or warrants to subscribe for, or any securities or obligations convertible into, or exchangeable for, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell, any shares of capital stock or other securities.

 

 

(k)

Authorization; Enforceability. The Company has full legal right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and perform the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles.

 

(l)

Authorization of Placement Shares. The Placement Shares, when issued and delivered pursuant to the terms approved by the board of directors of the Company or a duly authorized committee thereof, or a duly authorized executive committee, against payment therefor as provided herein, will be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of any pledge, lien, encumbrance, security interest or other claim, including any statutory or contractual preemptive rights, resale rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights, and will be registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act. The Placement Shares, when issued, will conform to the description thereof set forth in or incorporated into the Prospectus.

 

(m)

No Consents Required. No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any Governmental Authority is required for the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the issuance and sale by the Company of the Placement Shares, except for such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications as may be required under applicable state securities laws or by the by-laws and rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) or the Exchange in connection with the sale of the Placement Shares by the Agent.

 

(n)

No Preferential Rights. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (i) no person, as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act (each, a “Person”), has the right, contractual or otherwise, to cause the Company to issue or sell to such Person any Common Stock or shares of any other capital stock or other securities of the Company, (ii) no Person has any preemptive rights, resale rights, rights of first refusal, rights of co-sale, or any other rights (whether pursuant to a “poison pill” provision or otherwise) to purchase any Common Stock or shares of any other capital stock or other securities of the Company, (iii) no Person has the right to act as an underwriter or as a financial advisor to the Company in connection with the offer and sale of the Placement Shares, and (iv) no Person has the right, contractual or otherwise, to require the Company to register under the Securities Act any Placement Shares or shares of any other capital stock or other securities of the Company, or to include any such shares or other securities in the Registration Statement or the offering contemplated thereby, whether as a result of the filing or effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the sale of the Placement Shares as contemplated thereby or otherwise.

 

 

(o)

Independent Public Accounting Firm. Cherry Bekaert LLP (the “Accountant”), whose report on the consolidated financial statements of the Company is filed with the Commission as part of the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, is and, during the periods covered by its report, was an independent registered public accounting firm within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). To the Company’s knowledge, the Accountant is not in violation of the auditor independence requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) with respect to the Company.

 

(p)

Enforceability of Agreements. All agreements between the Company and third parties expressly referenced in the Prospectus are legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent that (i) enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles and (ii) the indemnification provisions of certain agreements may be limited by federal or state securities laws or public policy considerations in respect thereof.

 

(q)

No Litigation. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, there are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any Governmental Authority pending, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any audits or investigations by or before any Governmental Authority to which the Company or a Subsidiary is a party or to which any property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is the subject that, individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect and, to the Company’s knowledge, no such actions, suits, proceedings, audits or investigations are threatened or contemplated by any Governmental Authority or threatened by others; and (i) there are no current or pending audits or investigations, actions, suits or proceedings by or before any Governmental Authority that are required under the Securities Act to be described in the Prospectus that are not so described; and (ii) there are no contracts or other documents that are required under the Securities Act to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not so filed.

 

(r)

Consents and Permits. The Company and each Subsidiary possess such valid and current certificates, authorizations or permits issued by the appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct their respective businesses, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received, or has any reason to believe that it will receive, any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of, or non-compliance with, any such certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, could result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(s)

[Reserved].

 

 

(t)

Intellectual Property. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company and its Subsidiaries own, possess, license or have other rights to use all foreign and domestic patents, patent applications, trade and service marks, trade and service mark registrations, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets, technology, Internet domain names, know-how and other intellectual property (collectively, the “Intellectual Property”), necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses as now conducted except to the extent that the failure to own, possess, license or otherwise hold adequate rights to use such Intellectual Property would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (i) there are no rights of third parties to any such Intellectual Property owned by the Company and its Subsidiaries; (ii) to the Company’s knowledge, there is no infringement by third parties of any such Intellectual Property; (iii) there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ rights in or to any such Intellectual Property, and the Company is unaware of any facts which could form a reasonable basis for any such action, suit, proceeding or claim; (iv) there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity or scope of any such Intellectual Property; (v) there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Company and its Subsidiaries infringe or otherwise violate any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary rights of others; (vi) to the Company’s knowledge, there is no third-party U.S. patent or published U.S. patent application which contains claims for which an Interference Proceeding (as defined in 35 U.S.C. § 135) has been commenced against any patent or patent application described in the Prospectus as being owned by or licensed to the Company; and (vii) the Company and its Subsidiaries have complied with the terms of each agreement pursuant to which Intellectual Property has been licensed to the Company or such Subsidiary, and all such agreements are in full force and effect, except, in the case of any of clauses (i)-(vii) above, for any such infringement by third parties or any such pending or threatened suit, action, proceeding or claim as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(u)

[Reserved].

 

(v)

Market Capitalization. At the time the Registration Statement was or will be originally declared effective, and at the time the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K was filed with the Commission, the Company met or will meet the then applicable requirements for the use of Form S-3 under the Securities Act, including, but not limited to, General Instruction I.B.1 of Form S-3. The aggregate market value of the outstanding voting and non-voting common equity (as defined in Securities Act Rule 405) of the Company held by persons other than affiliates of the Company (pursuant to Securities Act Rule 144, those that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, control, or are controlled by, or are under common control with, the Company) (the “Non-Affiliate Shares”), was equal to or greater than $75 million (calculated by multiplying (x) the highest price at which the common equity of the Company closed on the Exchange within 60 days of the date of this Agreement times (y) the number of Non-Affiliate Shares). The Company is not a shell company (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) and has not been a shell company for at least 12 calendar months previously and if it has been a shell company at any time previously, has filed current Form 10 information (as defined in Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3) with the Commission at least 12 calendar months previously reflecting its status as an entity that is not a shell company.

 

(w)

FINRA Matters. The information provided to the Agent by the Company, its counsel, and its officers and directors for purposes of the Agent’s compliance with applicable FINRA rules in connection with the offering of the Shares is true, complete, and correct and compliant with FINRA’s rules.

 

 

(x)

No Material Defaults. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has defaulted on any installment on indebtedness for borrowed money or on any rental on one or more long-term leases, which defaults, individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has not filed a report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since the filing of its last Annual Report on Form 10-K, indicating that it (i) has failed to pay any dividend or sinking fund installment on preferred stock or (ii) has defaulted on any installment on indebtedness for borrowed money or on any rental on one or more long-term leases, which defaults, individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(y)

Certain Market Activities. Neither the Company, nor any of the Subsidiaries, nor any of their respective directors, officers or controlling persons has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to, that has constituted, or would reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Placement Shares.

 

(z)

Broker/Dealer Relationships. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries (i) is required to register as a “broker” or “dealer” in accordance with the provisions of the Exchange Act or (ii) directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is a “person associated with a member” or “associated person of a member” (within the meaning set forth in the FINRA Manual).

 

(aa)

No Reliance. The Company has not relied upon the Agent or legal counsel for the Agent for any legal, tax or accounting advice in connection with the offering and sale of the Placement Shares.

 

(bb)

Taxes. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns which have been required to be filed and paid all taxes shown thereon through the date hereof, to the extent that such taxes have become due and are not being contested in good faith, except where the failure to so file or pay would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as otherwise disclosed in or contemplated by the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, no tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which has had, or would have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has no knowledge of any federal, state or other governmental tax deficiency, penalty or assessment which has been or might be asserted or threatened against it which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(cc)

Title to Real and Personal Property. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, the Company and its Subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all items of real property owned by them, good and valid title to all personal property described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus as being owned by them, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and claims, except those matters that (i) do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Any real or personal property described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus as being leased by the Company and any of its Subsidiaries is held by them under valid, existing and enforceable leases, except those that (A) do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (B) would not be reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each of the properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries complies with all applicable codes, laws and regulations (including, without limitation, building and zoning codes, laws and regulations and laws relating to access to such properties), except if and to the extent disclosed in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or except for such failures to comply that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to interfere in any material respect with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its Subsidiaries or otherwise have a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Company or its subsidiaries has received from any Governmental Authorities any notice of any condemnation of, or zoning change affecting, the properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and the Company knows of no such condemnation or zoning change which is threatened, except for such that would not reasonably be expected to interfere in any material respect with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its Subsidiaries or otherwise have a Material Adverse Effect, individually or in the aggregate.

 

 

(dd)

Environmental Laws. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, the Company and its Subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with any and all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules, regulations, decisions and orders relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (collectively, “Environmental Laws”); (ii) have received and are in compliance with all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; and (iii) have not received notice of any actual or potential liability for the investigation or remediation of any disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, except, in the case of any of clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above, for any such failure to comply or failure to receive required permits, licenses, other approvals or liability as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(ee)

Disclosure Controls. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries maintain systems of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective and the Company is not aware of any material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting (other than as set forth in the Prospectus). Since the date of the latest audited financial statements of the Company included in the Prospectus, there has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (other than as set forth in the Prospectus). The Company has established disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15) for the Company and designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is made known to the certifying officers by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as the case may be, is being prepared. The Company’s certifying officers have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year most recently ended (such date, the “Evaluation Date”). The Company presented in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year most recently ended the conclusions of the certifying officers about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on their evaluations as of the Evaluation Date and the disclosure controls and procedures are effective. Since the Evaluation Date, there have been no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls (as such term is defined in Item 307(b) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act) or, to the Company’s knowledge, in other factors that could significantly affect the Company’s internal controls.

 

 

(ff)

Sarbanes-Oxley. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply in all material respects with any applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Each of the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer of the Company (or each former principal executive officer of the Company and each former principal financial officer of the Company as applicable) has made all certifications required by Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act with respect to all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by it or furnished by it to the Commission. For purposes of the preceding sentence, “principal executive officer” and “principal financial officer” shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

(gg)

Finder’s Fees. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has incurred any liability for any finder’s fees, brokerage commissions or similar payments in connection with the transactions herein contemplated, except as may otherwise exist with respect to the Agent pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(hh)

Labor Disputes. No labor disturbance by or dispute with employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is threatened which would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(ii)

Investment Company Act. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is or, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Placement Shares, will be an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company,” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).

 

(jj)

Operations. The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial record keeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions to which the Company or its Subsidiaries are subject, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Authority (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”); and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any Governmental Authority involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

 

(kk)

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements. There are no transactions, arrangements and other relationships between and/or among the Company, and/or any of its affiliates and any unconsolidated entity, including, but not limited to, any structured finance, special purpose or limited purpose entity (each, an “Off-Balance Sheet Transaction”) that could reasonably be expected to affect materially the Company’s liquidity or the availability of or requirements for its capital resources, including those Off-Balance Sheet Transactions described in the Commission’s Statement about Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations (Release Nos. 33-8056; 34-45321; FR-61), required to be described in the Prospectus which have not been described as required.

 

(ll)

Underwriter Agreements. The Company is not a party to any agreement with an agent or underwriter for any other “at the market” or continuous equity transaction.

 

(mm)

ERISA. To the knowledge of the Company, each material employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), that is maintained, administered or contributed to by the Company or any of its affiliates for employees or former employees of the Company and any of its Subsidiaries has been maintained in material compliance with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”); no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred which would result in a material liability to the Company with respect to any such plan excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption; and for each such plan that is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, no “accumulated funding deficiency” as defined in Section 412 of the Code has been incurred, whether or not waived, and the fair market value of the assets of each such plan (excluding for these purposes accrued but unpaid contributions) exceeds the present value of all benefits accrued under such plan determined using reasonable actuarial assumptions.

 

(nn)

Forward-Looking Statements. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) (a “Forward-Looking Statement”) contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.

 

(oo)

Agent Purchases. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Agent has informed the Company that the Agent may, to the extent permitted under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, purchase and sell Common Stock for its own account while this Agreement is in effect, provided, that the Company shall not be deemed to have authorized or consented to any such purchases or sales by the Agent.

 

(pp)

Margin Rules. Neither the issuance, sale and delivery of the Placement Shares nor the application of the proceeds thereof by the Company as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus will violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any other regulation of such Board of Governors.

 

(qq)

Insurance. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries carry, or are covered by, insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as the Company and each of its Subsidiaries reasonably believe are adequate for the conduct of their properties and as is customary for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries.

 

 

(rr)

No Improper Practices. (i) Neither the Company nor the Subsidiaries, nor any director, officer, or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any agent, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary has, in the past five years, made any unlawful contributions to any candidate for any political office (or failed fully to disclose any contribution in violation of applicable law) or made any contribution or other payment to any official of, or candidate for, any federal, state, municipal, or foreign office or other person charged with similar public or quasi-public duty in violation of any applicable law or of the character required to be disclosed in the Prospectus; (ii) no relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any Subsidiary or any affiliate of any of them, on the one hand, and the directors, officers and stockholders of the Company or any Subsidiary, on the other hand, that is required by the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that is not so described; (iii) no relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any Subsidiary or any affiliate of them, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, or stockholders of the Company or any Subsidiary, on the other hand, that is required by the rules of FINRA to be described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that is not so described; (iv) except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no material outstanding loans or advances or material guarantees of indebtedness by the Company or any Subsidiary to or for the benefit of any of their respective officers or directors or any of the members of the families of any of them; (v) the Company has not offered, or caused any placement agent to offer, Common Stock to any person with the intent to influence unlawfully (A) a customer or supplier of the Company or any Subsidiary to alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with the Company or any Subsidiary or (B) a trade journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective products or services; and, (vi) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary nor any director, officer or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any agent, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary has (A) violated or is in violation of any applicable provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law (collectively, “Anti-Corruption Laws”), (B) promised, offered, provided, attempted to provide or authorized the provision of anything of value, directly or indirectly, to any person for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business, influencing any act or decision of the recipient, or securing any improper advantage; or (C) made any payment of funds of the Company or any Subsidiary or received or retained any funds in violation of any Anti-Corruption Laws.

 

(ss)

Status Under the Securities Act. The Company was not and is not an ineligible issuer as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act at the times specified in Rules 164 and 433 under the Securities Act in connection with the offering of the Placement Shares.

 

(tt)

No Misstatement or Omission in an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and as of each Applicable Time (as defined in Section 23 below), did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, including any incorporated document deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Agent specifically for use therein.

 

 

(uu)

No Conflicts. Neither the execution of this Agreement, nor the issuance, offering or sale of the Placement Shares, nor the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated herein and therein, nor the compliance by the Company with the terms and provisions hereof and thereof will conflict with, or will result in a breach of, any of the terms and provisions of, or has constituted or will constitute a default under, or has resulted in or will result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to the terms of any contract or other agreement to which the Company may be bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company is subject, except (i) such conflicts, breaches or defaults as may have been waived and (ii) such conflicts, breaches and defaults that would not have a Material Adverse Effect; nor will such action result (x) in any violation of the provisions of the organizational or governing documents of the Company, or (y) in any material violation of the provisions of any statute or any order, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Company.

 

(vv)

Sanctions. (i) The Company represents that, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Entity”) or any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or representative of the Entity, is a government, individual, or entity (in this paragraph (vv), “Person”) that is, or is owned or controlled by a Person that is:

 

(A) the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authorities, including, without limitation, designation on OFAC’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List or OFAC’s Foreign Sanctions Evaders List (as amended, collectively, “Sanctions”), nor

 

(B) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions that broadly prohibit dealings with that country or territory (including, without limitation, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic and the Crimea Region of the Ukraine) (the “Sanctioned Countries”).

 

(ii) The Entity represents and covenants that it will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person:

 

(A) to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Person or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions or is a Sanctioned Country; or

 

(B) in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise).

 

(iii) The Entity represents and covenants that, except as detailed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, for the past 5 years, it has not engaged in, is not now engaging in, and will not engage in, any dealings or transactions with any Person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of Sanctions or is or was a Sanctioned Country.

 

 

(ww)

Stock Transfer Taxes. On each Settlement Date, all stock transfer or other taxes (other than income taxes) which are required to be paid in connection with the sale and transfer of the Placement Shares to be sold hereunder will be, or will have been, fully paid or provided for by the Company and all laws imposing such taxes will be or will have been fully complied with.

 

(xx)

Compliance with Laws. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and statutes (including all environmental laws and regulations) in the jurisdictions in which it carries on business; the Company has not received a notice of non-compliance, nor knows of, nor has reasonable grounds to know of, any facts that could give rise to a notice of non-compliance with any such laws, regulations and statutes, and is not aware of any pending change or contemplated change to any applicable law or regulation or governmental position; in each case that would materially adversely affect the business of the Company or the business or legal environment under which the Company operates.

 

(yy)

Statistical and Market-Related Data. The statistical, demographic and market-related data included in the Registration Statement and Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable and accurate or represent the Company’s good faith estimates that are made on the basis of data derived from such sources.

 

(zz)

Cybersecurity. The Company and its subsidiaries’ information technology assets and equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, software, websites, applications, and databases (collectively, “IT Systems”) are adequate for, and operate and perform in all material respects as required in connection with the operation of the business of the Company as currently conducted, free and clear of all material bugs, errors, defects, Trojan horses, time bombs, malware and other corruptants. The Company and its subsidiaries have implemented and maintained commercially reasonable physical, technical and administrative controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards to maintain and protect their material confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all IT Systems and data, including all “Personal Data” (defined below) and all sensitive, confidential or regulated data (“Confidential Data”) used in connection with their businesses. “Personal Data” means (i) a natural person’s name, street address, telephone number, e-mail address, photograph, social security number or tax identification number, driver’s license number, passport number, credit card number, bank information, or customer or account number; (ii) any information which would qualify as “personally identifying information” under the Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended; (iii) “personal data” as defined by the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) (EU 2016/679); (iv) any information which would qualify as “protected health information” under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (collectively, “HIPAA”); (v) any “personal information” as defined by the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”); and (vi) any other piece of information that allows the identification of such natural person, or his or her family, or permits the collection or analysis of any data related to an identified person’s health or sexual orientation. There have been no breaches, violations, outages or unauthorized uses of or accesses to same, except for those that have been remedied without material cost or liability or the duty to notify any other person, nor any incidents under internal review or investigations relating to the same. The Company and its subsidiaries are presently in material compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems, Confidential Data, and Personal Data and to the protection of such IT Systems, Confidential Data, and Personal Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification.

 

 

(aaa)

Compliance with Data Privacy Laws. The Company and its subsidiaries are, and at all prior times were, in material compliance with all applicable state and federal data privacy and security laws and regulations, including without limitation HIPAA, CCPA, and GDPR (collectively, the “Privacy Laws”). To ensure compliance with the Privacy Laws, the Company has in place, complies with, and takes appropriate steps to ensure compliance in all material respects with their policies and procedures relating to data privacy and security and the collection, storage, use, processing, disclosure, handling, and analysis of Personal Data and Confidential Data (the “Policies”). The Company has at all times made all disclosures to users or customers required by applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements, and none of such disclosures made or contained in any Policy have been inaccurate or in violation of any applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements in any material respect. The Company further certifies that neither it nor any subsidiary: (i) has received notice of any actual or potential liability under or relating to, or actual or potential violation of, any of the Privacy Laws, and has no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any such notice; (ii) is currently conducting or paying for, in whole or in part, any investigation, remediation, or other corrective action pursuant to any Privacy Law; or (iii) is a party to any order, decree, or agreement that imposes any obligation or liability under any Privacy Law.

 

(bbb)

Emerging Growth Company Status. From the time of the initial filing of the Company’s first registration statement with the Commission through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”).

 

Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company and delivered to the Agent or to counsel for the Agent pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company, as applicable, to the Agent as to the matters set forth therein.

 

 

7.

Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees with the Agent that:

 

(a)

Registration Statement Amendments. After the date of this Agreement and during any period in which a Prospectus relating to any Placement Shares is required to be delivered by the Agent under the Securities Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act or similar rule), (i) the Company will notify the Agent promptly of the time when any subsequent amendment to the Registration Statement, other than documents incorporated by reference, has been filed with the Commission and/or has become effective or any subsequent supplement to the Prospectus has been filed and of any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information, (ii) the Company will prepare and file with the Commission, promptly upon the Agent’s request, any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that, in the Agent’s reasonable opinion, may be necessary or advisable in connection with the distribution of the Placement Shares by the Agent (provided, however, that the failure of the Agent to make such request shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect the Agent’s right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement and provided, further, that the only remedy the Agent shall have with respect to the failure to make such filing shall be to cease making sales under this Agreement until such amendment or supplement is filed); (iii) the Company will not file any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares or a security convertible into the Placement Shares unless a copy thereof has been submitted to the Agent at least three (3) Business Days before the filing and the Agent has not objected thereto (provided, however, that the failure of the Agent to make such objection shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect the Agent’s right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement and provided, further, that the only remedy the Agent shall have with respect to the failure by the Company to obtain such consent shall be to cease making sales under this Agreement) and the Company will furnish to the Agent at the time of filing thereof a copy of any document that upon filing is deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement or Prospectus, except for those documents available via EDGAR; and (iv) the Company will cause each amendment or supplement to the Prospectus to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act or, in the case of any document to be incorporated therein by reference, to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the Exchange Act, within the time period prescribed (the determination to file or not file any amendment or supplement with the Commission under this Section 7(a), based on the Company’s reasonable opinion or reasonable objections, shall be made exclusively by the Company).

 

(b)

Notice of Commission Stop Orders. The Company will advise the Agent, promptly after it receives notice or obtains knowledge thereof, of the issuance or threatened issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, of the suspension of the qualification of the Placement Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose; and it will promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such a stop order should be issued. The Company will advise the Agent promptly after it receives any request by the Commission for any amendments to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplements to the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or for additional information related to the offering of the Placement Shares or for additional information related to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.

 

 

(c)

Delivery of Prospectus; Subsequent Changes. During any period in which a Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares is required to be delivered by the Agent under the Securities Act with respect to the offer and sale of the Placement Shares, (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act or similar rule), the Company will comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act, as from time to time in force, and to file on or before their respective due dates all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, 15(d) or any other provision of or under the Exchange Act. If the Company has omitted any information from the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act, it will use its best efforts to comply with the provisions of and make all requisite filings with the Commission pursuant to said Rule 430B and to notify the Agent promptly of all such filings. If during such period any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then existing, not misleading, or if during such period it is necessary to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus to comply with the Securities Act, the Company will promptly notify the Agent to suspend the offering of Placement Shares during such period and the Company will promptly amend or supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus (at the expense of the Company) so as to correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance.

 

(d)

Listing of Placement Shares. Prior to the date of the first Placement Notice, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Placement Shares to be listed on the Exchange.

 

(e)

Delivery of Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Company will furnish to the Agent and its counsel (at the expense of the Company) copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference therein) and all amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that are filed with the Commission during any period in which a Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares is required to be delivered under the Securities Act (including all documents filed with the Commission during such period that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein), in each case as soon as reasonably practicable and in such quantities as the Agent may from time to time reasonably request and, at the Agent’s request, will also furnish copies of the Prospectus to each exchange or market on which sales of the Placement Shares may be made; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to furnish any document (other than the Prospectus) to the Agent to the extent such document is available on EDGAR.

 

(f)

Earnings Statement. The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 15 months after the end of the Company’s current fiscal quarter, an earnings statement covering a 12-month period that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) and Rule 158 of the Securities Act.

 

(g)

Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the Net Proceeds as described in the Prospectus in the section entitled “Use of Proceeds.”

 

 

(h)

Notice of Other Sales. Without the prior written consent of the Agent, the Company will not, directly or indirectly, offer to sell, sell, contract to sell, grant any option to sell or otherwise dispose of any Common Stock (other than the Placement Shares offered pursuant to this Agreement) or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, warrants or any rights to purchase or acquire, Common Stock during the period beginning on the fifth (5th) Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which any Placement Notice is delivered to Agent hereunder and ending on the fifth (5th) Trading Day immediately following the final Settlement Date with respect to Placement Shares sold pursuant to such Placement Notice (or, if the Placement Notice has been terminated or suspended prior to the sale of all Placement Shares covered by a Placement Notice, the date of such suspension or termination); and will not directly or indirectly in any other “at the market” or continuous equity transaction offer to sell, sell, contract to sell, grant any option to sell or otherwise dispose of any Common Stock (other than the Placement Shares offered pursuant to this Agreement) or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, warrants or any rights to purchase or acquire, Common Stock prior to the sixtieth (60th) day immediately following the termination of this Agreement; provided, however, that such restrictions will not be required in connection with the Company’s issuance or sale of (i) Common Stock, options to purchase Common Stock or Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options, pursuant to any employee or director stock option or benefits plan, stock ownership plan or dividend reinvestment plan (but not Common Stock subject to a waiver to exceed plan limits in its dividend reinvestment plan) of the Company whether now in effect or hereafter implemented, (ii) Common Stock issuable upon conversion of securities or the exercise of warrants, options or other rights in effect or outstanding, and disclosed in filings by the Company available on EDGAR or otherwise in writing to the Agent and (iii) Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock as consideration for mergers, acquisitions, other business combinations or strategic alliances occurring after the date of this Agreement which are not issued for capital raising purposes.

 

(i)

Change of Circumstances. The Company will, at any time during the pendency of a Placement Notice, advise the Agent promptly after it shall have received notice or obtained knowledge thereof, of any information or fact that would alter or affect in any material respect any opinion, certificate, letter or other document required to be provided to the Agent pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(j)

Due Diligence Cooperation. The Company will cooperate with any reasonable due diligence review conducted by the Agent or its representatives in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, providing information and making available documents and senior corporate officers, during regular business hours and at the Company’s principal offices, as the Agent may reasonably request.

 

(k)

Required Filings Relating to Placement of Placement Shares. The Company shall disclose, in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and in its Annual Report on Form 10-K to be filed by the Company with the Commission from time to time, the number of the Placement Shares sold through the Agent under this Agreement, and the net proceeds to the Company from the sale of the Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement during the relevant quarter or, in the case of an Annual Report on Form 10-K, during the fiscal year covered by such Annual Report and the fourth quarter of such fiscal year. The Company agrees that on such dates as the Securities Act shall require, the Company will (i) file a prospectus supplement with the Commission under the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (each and every filing date under Rule 424(b), a “Filing Date”), which prospectus supplement will set forth, within the relevant period, the amount of Placement Shares sold through the Agent, the Net Proceeds to the Company and the compensation payable by the Company to the Agent with respect to such Placement Shares, and (ii) deliver such number of copies of each such prospectus supplement to each exchange or market on which such sales were effected as may be required by the rules or regulations of such exchange or market.

 

 

(l)

Representation Dates; Certificate. (1) Prior to the date of the first Placement Notice and (2) each time the Company:

 

(i) files the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares or amends or supplements (other than a prospectus supplement relating solely to an offering of securities other than the Placement Shares) the Registration Statement or the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares by means of a post-effective amendment, sticker, or supplement but not by means of incorporation of documents by reference into the Registration Statement or the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares;

 

(ii) files an Annual Report on Form 10-K under the Exchange Act (including any Annual Report on Form 10-K/A containing amended financial information or a material amendment to the previously filed Annual Report on Form 10-K);

 

(iii) files its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act; or

 

(iv) files a Current Report on Form 8-K containing amended financial information (other than information “furnished” pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Current Report on Form 8-K or to provide disclosure pursuant to Item 8.01 of Current Report on Form 8-K relating to the reclassification of certain properties as discontinued operations in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144) under the Exchange Act (each date of filing of one or more of the documents referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) shall be a “Representation Date”);

 

the Company shall furnish the Agent (but in the case of clause (iv) above only if the Agent reasonably determines that the information contained in such Current Report on Form 8-K is material) with a certificate dated the Representation Date, in the form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and its counsel, substantially similar to the form previously provided to the Agent and its counsel, modified, as necessary, to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented. The requirement to provide a certificate under this Section 7(l) shall be waived for any Representation Date occurring at a time a Suspension is in effect, which waiver shall continue until the earlier to occur of the date the Company delivers instructions for the sale of Placement Shares hereunder (which for such calendar quarter shall be considered a Representation Date) and the next occurring Representation Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company subsequently decides to sell Placement Shares following a Representation Date when a Suspension was in effect and did not provide the Agent with a certificate under this Section 7(l), then before the Company delivers the instructions for the sale of Placement Shares or the Agent sells any Placement Shares pursuant to such instructions, the Company shall provide the Agent with a certificate in conformity with this Section 7(l) dated as of the date that the instructions for the sale of Placement Shares are issued.

 

(m)

Legal Opinion. (1) Prior to the date of the first Placement Notice and (2) within five (5) Trading Days of each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 7(l) for which no waiver is applicable and excluding the date of this Agreement, the Company shall cause to be furnished to the Agent a written opinion and negative assurance letter of Winston & Strawn LLP (“Company Counsel”), or other counsel satisfactory to the Agent, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and its counsel, substantially similar to the form previously provided to the Agent and its counsel, modified, as necessary, to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented; provided, that in lieu of such opinions for subsequent periodic filings under the Exchange Act, counsel may furnish the Agent with a letter (a “Reliance Letter”) to the effect that the Agent may rely on a prior opinion delivered under this Section 7(m) to the same extent as if it were dated the date of such letter (except that statements in such prior opinion shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented as of the date of the Reliance Letter).

 

 

(n)

Comfort Letter. (1) Prior to the date of the first Placement Notice and (2) within five (5) Trading Days of each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 7(l) for which no waiver is applicable and excluding the date of this Agreement, the Company shall cause its independent registered public accounting firm to furnish the Agent letters (the “Comfort Letters”), dated the date the Comfort Letter is delivered, which shall meet the requirements set forth in this Section 7(n); provided, that if requested by the Agent, the Company shall cause a Comfort Letter to be furnished to the Agent within ten (10) Trading Days of the date of occurrence of any material transaction or event requiring the filing of a Current Report on Form 8-K containing financial information (including the restatement of the Company’s financial statements). The Comfort Letter from the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm shall be in a form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, (i) confirming that they are an independent registered public accounting firm within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”), (ii) stating, as of such date, the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings (the first such letter, the “Initial Comfort Letter”) and (iii) updating the Initial Comfort Letter with any information that would have been included in the Initial Comfort Letter had it been given on such date and modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended and supplemented to the date of such letter.

 

(o)

Market Activities; Compliance with Regulation M. The Company will not, directly or indirectly, (i) take any action designed to cause or result in, or that constitutes or would reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of Common Stock or (ii) sell, bid for, or purchase Common Stock in violation of Regulation M, or pay anyone any compensation for soliciting purchases of the Placement Shares other than the Agent.

 

(p)

Investment Company Act. The Company will conduct its affairs in such a manner so as to reasonably ensure that neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries will be or become, at any time prior to the termination of this Agreement, required to register as an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act.

 

(q)

No Offer to Sell. Other than an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus approved in advance by the Company and the Agent in its capacity as agent hereunder, neither the Agent nor the Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Agent in its capacity as such) will make, use, prepare, authorize, approve or refer to any written communication (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act), required to be filed with the Commission, that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy Placement Shares hereunder.

 

 

(r)

Blue Sky and Other Qualifications. The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts, in cooperation with the Agent, to qualify the Placement Shares for offering and sale, or to obtain an exemption for the Placement Shares to be offered and sold, under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Agent may designate and to maintain such qualifications and exemptions in effect for so long as required for the distribution of the Placement Shares (but in no event for less than one year from the date of this Agreement); provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject. In each jurisdiction in which the Placement Shares have been so qualified or exempt, the Company will file such statements and reports as may be required by the laws of such jurisdiction to continue such qualification or exemption, as the case may be, in effect for so long as required for the distribution of the Placement Shares (but in no event for less than one year from the date of this Agreement).

 

(s)

Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Company and the Subsidiaries will maintain and keep accurate books and records reflecting their assets and maintain internal accounting controls in a manner designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP and including those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company, (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP, (iii) that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with management’s and the Company’s directors’ authorization, and (iv) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on its financial statements. The Company and the Subsidiaries will maintain such controls and other procedures, including, without limitation, those required by Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the applicable regulations thereunder that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to ensure that material information relating to the Company or the Subsidiaries is made known to them by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which such periodic reports are being prepared.

 

(t)

Secretary’s Certificate; Further Documentation. Prior to the date of the first Placement Notice, the Company shall deliver to the Agent a certificate of the Secretary of the Company and attested to by an executive officer of the Company, dated as of such date, certifying as to (i) the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, (ii) the By-laws of the Company, (iii) the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the issuance of the Placement Shares and (iv) the incumbency of the officers duly authorized to execute this Agreement and the other documents contemplated by this Agreement. Within five (5) Trading Days of each Representation Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Agent such further information, certificates and documents as the Agent may reasonably request.

 

 

(u)

Emerging Growth Company Status. The Company will promptly notify the Agent if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time during the term of this Agreement.

 

8.

Payment of Expenses. The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, including any fees required by the Commission, and the printing or electronic delivery of the Prospectus as originally filed and of each amendment and supplement thereto, in such number as the Agent shall deem necessary, (ii) the printing and delivery to the Agent of this Agreement and such other documents as may be required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery of the Placement Shares, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates, if any, for the Placement Shares to the Agent, including any stock or other transfer taxes and any capital duties, stamp duties or other duties or taxes payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Placement Shares to the Agent, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the counsel, accountants and other advisors to the Company, (v) the fees and expenses of Agent including but not limited to the fees and expenses of the counsel to the Agent, payable upon the execution of this Agreement, (a) in an amount not to exceed $75,000 in connection with the execution of this Agreement, (b) in an amount not to exceed $25,000 per calendar quarter thereafter payable in connection with each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 7(l) for which no waiver is applicable and excluding the date of this Agreement, and (c) in an amount not to exceed $25,000 for each program “refresh” (filing of a new registration statement, prospectus or prospectus supplement relating to the Placement Shares and/or an amendment of this Agreement) executed pursuant to this Agreement, (vi) the qualification or exemption of the Placement Shares under state securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 7(r) hereof, including filing fees, but excluding fees of the Agent’s counsel, (vii) the printing and delivery to the Agent of copies of any Permitted Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto in such number as the Agent shall deem necessary, (viii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Agent of copies of the blue sky survey, (ix) the fees and expenses of the transfer agent and registrar for the Common Stock, (x) the filing and other fees incident to any review by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Placement Shares including the fees of the Agent’s counsel (subject to the cap, set forth in clause (v) above), and (xi) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Placement Shares on the Exchange. The Company agrees to pay the fees and expenses of counsel to the Agent set forth in clause (v) above by wire transfer of immediately available funds directly to such counsel upon presentation of an invoice containing the requisite payment information prepared by such counsel.

 

9.

Conditions to the Agent’s Obligations. The obligations of the Agent hereunder with respect to a Placement will be subject to the continuing accuracy and completeness of the representations and warranties made by the Company herein, to the due performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, to the completion by the Agent of a due diligence review satisfactory to it in its reasonable judgment, and to the continuing satisfaction (or waiver by the Agent in its sole discretion) of the following additional conditions:

 

 

(a)

Registration Statement Effective. The Registration Statement shall have become effective and shall be available for the (i) resale of all Placement Shares issued to the Agent and not yet sold by the Agent and (ii) sale of all Placement Shares contemplated to be issued by any Placement Notice.

 

(b)

No Material Notices. None of the following events shall have occurred and be continuing: (i) receipt by the Company of any request for additional information from the Commission or any other federal or state Governmental Authority during the period of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the response to which would require any post-effective amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus; (ii) the issuance by the Commission or any other federal or state Governmental Authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; (iii) receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Placement Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; or (iv) the occurrence of any event that makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and, that in the case of the Prospectus, it will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

(c)

No Misstatement or Material Omission. The Agent shall not have advised the Company that the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, contains an untrue statement of fact that in the Agent’s reasonable opinion is material, or omits to state a fact that in the Agent’s reasonable opinion is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

 

(d)

Material Changes. Except as contemplated in the Prospectus, or disclosed in the Company’s reports filed with the Commission, there shall not have been any material adverse change in the authorized capital stock of the Company or any Material Adverse Effect or any development that would cause a Material Adverse Effect, or a downgrading in or withdrawal of the rating assigned to any of the Company’s securities (other than asset backed securities) by any rating organization or a public announcement by any rating organization that it has under surveillance or review its rating of any of the Company’s securities (other than asset backed securities), the effect of which, in the case of any such action by a rating organization described above, in the reasonable judgment of the Agent (without relieving the Company of any obligation or liability it may otherwise have), is so material as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering of the Placement Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

 

(e)

Legal Opinions. The Agent shall have received the opinions and negative assurance letters of Company Counsel required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(m) on or before the date on which such delivery of such opinions and negative assurance letters, as applicable, are required pursuant to Section 7(m).

 

 

(f)

Comfort Letter. The Agent shall have received the Comfort Letter required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(n) on or before the date on which such delivery of such Comfort Letter is required pursuant to Section 7(n).

 

(g)

Representation Certificate. The Agent shall have received the certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(l) on or before the date on which delivery of such certificate is required pursuant to Section 7(l).

 

(h)

No Suspension. Trading in the Common Stock shall not have been suspended on the Exchange and the Common Stock shall not have been delisted from the Exchange.

 

(i)

Other Materials. On each date on which the Company is required to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 7(l), the Company shall have furnished to the Agent such appropriate further information, opinions, certificates, letters and other documents as the Agent may reasonably request. All such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents will be in compliance with the provisions hereof.

 

(j)

Securities Act Filings Made. All filings with the Commission required by Rule 424 under the Securities Act to have been filed prior to the issuance of any Placement Notice hereunder shall have been made within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 424.

 

(k)

Approval for Listing. The Placement Shares shall either have been (i) approved for listing on the Exchange, subject only to notice of issuance, or (ii) the Company shall have filed a supplemental listing application with respect to the Placement Shares on the Exchange at, or prior to, the issuance of any Placement Notice and the Exchange shall have reviewed such application and not provided any objections thereto.

 

(l)

FINRA. If applicable, FINRA shall have raised no objection to the terms of this offering and the amount of compensation allowable or payable to the Agent as described in the Prospectus.

 

(m)

No Termination Event. There shall not have occurred any event that would permit the Agent to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 12(a).

 

10.

Indemnification and Contribution.

 

(a)

Company Indemnification. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Agent, its affiliates and their respective partners, members, directors, officers, employees and agents and each person, if any, who controls the Agent or any affiliate within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act as follows:

 

 

(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, joint or several, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any related Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, joint or several, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any Governmental Authority, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 10(d) below) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company, which consent shall not unreasonably be delayed or withheld; and

 

(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any Governmental Authority, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission (whether or not a party), to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above,

 

provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made solely in reliance upon and in conformity with the Agent Information (as defined below).

 

(b)

Agent Indemnification. The Agent agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors and each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 10(a), as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendments thereto), the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the Agent and furnished to the Company in writing by the Agent expressly for use therein. The Company hereby acknowledges that the only information that the Agent has furnished to the Company expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) are the statements set forth in the seventh and eighth paragraphs under the caption “Plan of Distribution” in the Prospectus Supplement (the “Agent Information”).

 

 

(c)

Procedure. Any party that proposes to assert the right to be indemnified under this Section 10 will, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim is to be made against an indemnifying party or parties under this Section 10, notify each such indemnifying party of the commencement of such action, enclosing a copy of all papers served, but the omission so to notify such indemnifying party will not relieve the indemnifying party from (i) any liability that it might have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 10 and (ii) any liability that it may have to any indemnified party under the foregoing provision of this Section 10 unless, and only to the extent that, such omission results in the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses by the indemnifying party. If any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of its commencement, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in and, to the extent that it elects by delivering written notice to the indemnified party promptly after receiving notice of the commencement of the action from the indemnified party, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense of the action, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense, the indemnifying party will not be liable to the indemnified party for any other legal expenses except as provided below and except for the reasonable costs of investigation subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense. The indemnified party will have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action, but the fees, expenses and other charges of such counsel will be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (1) the employment of counsel by the indemnified party has been authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (2) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based on advice of counsel) that there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, (3) a conflict or potential conflict exists (based on advice of counsel to the indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party will not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party) or (4) the indemnifying party has not in fact employed counsel to assume the defense of such action or counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, in each case, within a reasonable time after receiving notice of the commencement of the action; in each of which cases the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel will be at the expense of the indemnifying party or parties. It is understood that the indemnifying party or parties shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of more than one separate firm (plus local counsel) admitted to practice in such jurisdiction at any one time for all such indemnified party or parties. All such fees, disbursements and other charges will be reimbursed by the indemnifying party promptly as they are incurred. An indemnifying party will not, in any event, be liable for any settlement of any action or claim effected without its written consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of each indemnified party, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding relating to the matters contemplated by this Section 10 (whether or not any indemnified party is a party thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (1) includes an express and unconditional release of each indemnified party, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (2) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

 

(d)

Settlement Without Consent if Failure to Reimburse. If an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for reasonable fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 10(a)(ii) effected without its written consent if (1) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (2) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (3) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.

 

 

(e)

Contribution. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in the foregoing paragraphs of this Section 10 is applicable in accordance with its terms but for any reason is held to be unavailable or insufficient from the Company or the Agent, the Company and the Agent will contribute to the total losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages (including any investigative, legal and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claim asserted) to which the Company and the Agent may be subject in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Agent on the other hand. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Agent on the other hand shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the sale of the Placement Shares (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total compensation received by the Agent from the sale of Placement Shares on behalf of the Company. If, but only if, the allocation provided by the foregoing sentence is not permitted by applicable law, the allocation of contribution shall be made in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in the foregoing sentence but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Agent, on the other hand, with respect to the statements or omission that resulted in such loss, claim, liability, expense or damage, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations with respect to such offering. Such relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Agent, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Agent agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 10(e) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, liability, expense, or damage, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section 10(e) shall be deemed to include, for the purpose of this Section 10(e), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim to the extent consistent with Section 10(c) hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 10(e), the Agent shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the commissions received by it under this Agreement and no person found guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 10(e), any person who controls a party to this Agreement within the meaning of the Securities Act, any affiliates of the Agent and any officers, directors, partners, employees or agents of the Agent or any of its affiliates, will have the same rights to contribution as that party, and each director of the Company and each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement will have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the provisions hereof. Any party entitled to contribution, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made under this Section 10(e), will notify any such party or parties from whom contribution may be sought, but the omission to so notify will not relieve that party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from any other obligation it or they may have under this Section 10(e) except to the extent that the failure to so notify such other party materially prejudiced the substantive rights or defenses of the party from whom contribution is sought. Except for a settlement entered into pursuant to the last sentence of Section 10(c) hereof, no party will be liable for contribution with respect to any action or claim settled without its written consent if such consent is required pursuant to Section 10(c) hereof.

 

 

11.

Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery. The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in Section 10 of this Agreement and all representations and warranties of the Company herein or in certificates delivered pursuant hereto shall survive, as of their respective dates, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Agent, any controlling persons, or the Company (or any of their respective officers, directors, employees or controlling persons), (ii) delivery and acceptance of the Placement Shares and payment therefor or (iii) any termination of this Agreement.

 

12.

Termination.

 

(a)

The Agent may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Company, as hereinafter specified at any time (1) if there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the date as of which information is given in the Prospectus, any change, or any development or event involving a prospective change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the business, properties, earnings, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, which individually or in the aggregate, in the sole judgment of the Agent is material and adverse and makes it impractical or inadvisable to market the Placement Shares or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Placement Shares, (2) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the international financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Agent, impracticable or inadvisable to market the Placement Shares or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Placement Shares, (3) if trading in the Common Stock has been suspended or limited by the Commission or the Exchange, or if trading generally on the Exchange has been suspended or limited, or minimum prices for trading have been fixed on the Exchange, (4) if any suspension of trading of any securities of the Company on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market shall have occurred and be continuing, (5) if a major disruption of securities settlements or clearance services in the United States shall have occurred and be continuing, or (6) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either U.S. Federal or New York authorities. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 8 (Payment of Expenses), Section 10 (Indemnification and Contribution), Section 11 (Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery), Section 17 (Governing Law and Time; Waiver of Jury Trial) and Section 18 (Consent to Jurisdiction) hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination. If the Agent elects to terminate this Agreement as provided in this Section 12(a), the Agent shall provide the required notice as specified in Section 13 (Notices).

 

 

(b)

The Company shall have the right, by giving ten (10) days’ notice as hereinafter specified to terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time after the date of this Agreement. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 8, Section 10, Section 11, Section 17 and Section 18 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

 

(c)

The Agent shall have the right, by giving ten (10) days’ notice as hereinafter specified to terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time after the date of this Agreement. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 8, Section 10, Section 11, Section 17 and Section 18 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

 

(d)

This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant to Sections 12(a), (b), or (c) above or otherwise by mutual agreement of the parties; provided, however, that any such termination by mutual agreement shall in all cases be deemed to provide that Section 8, Section 10, Section 11, Section 17 and Section 18 shall remain in full force and effect.

 

(e)

Any termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination; provided, however, that such termination shall not be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by the Agent or the Company, as the case may be. If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date for any sale of Placement Shares, such Placement Shares shall settle in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

 

13.

Notices. All notices or other communications required or permitted to be given by any party to any other party pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing, unless otherwise specified, and if sent to the Agent, shall be delivered to:

 

Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.

499 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10022

Attention: Capital Markets

Facsimile: (212) 307-3730

 

and:

 

Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.

499 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10022

Attention: General Counsel

Email: legal-IBD@cantor.com

 

with a copy to:

 

DLA Piper LLP (US)

1251 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10022

Attention: Stephen P. Alicanti, Esq.

Email: Stephen.Alicanti@us.dlapiper.com

 

 

and if to the Company, shall be delivered to:

 

Rubicon Technologies, Inc.

335 Madison Avenue, 4th Floor

New York, NY 10017

Attention: Philip Rodoni, Chief Executive Officer

Email: phil.rodoni@rubicon.com

 

with a copy to:

 

Winston & Strawn LLP

800 Capitol Street, Suite 2400

Houston, TX 77002

Attention: Michael J. Blankenship, Esq.

Email: MBlankenship@winston.com

 

Each party to this Agreement may change such address for notices by sending to the parties to this Agreement written notice of a new address for such purpose. Each such notice or other communication shall be deemed given (i) when delivered personally or by verifiable facsimile transmission (with an original to follow) on or before 4:30 p.m., New York City time, on a Business Day or, if such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day, (ii) by Electronic Notice, as set forth below, (iii) on the next Business Day after timely delivery to a nationally-recognized overnight courier and (iv) on the Business Day actually received if deposited in the U.S. mail (certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid). For purposes of this Agreement, “Business Day” shall mean any day on which the Exchange and commercial banks in the City of New York are open for business.

 

An electronic communication (“Electronic Notice”) shall be deemed written notice for purposes of this Section 13 if sent to the electronic mail address specified by the receiving party under separate cover. Electronic Notice shall be deemed received at the time the party sending Electronic Notice receives verification of receipt by the receiving party. Any party receiving Electronic Notice may request and shall be entitled to receive the notice on paper, in a nonelectronic form (“Nonelectronic Notice”) which shall be sent to the requesting party within ten (10) days of receipt of the written request for Nonelectronic Notice.

 

14.

Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and the Agent and their respective successors and the parties referred to in Section 10 hereof. References to any of the parties contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the successors and permitted assigns of such party. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and permitted assigns any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement. Neither party may assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party; provided, however, that the Agent may assign its rights and obligations hereunder to an affiliate thereof without obtaining the Company’s consent.

 

 

15.

Adjustments for Stock Splits. The parties acknowledge and agree that all share-related numbers contained in this Agreement shall be adjusted to take into account any stock split, stock dividend or similar event effected with respect to the Placement Shares.

 

16.

Entire Agreement; Amendment; Severability; Waiver. This Agreement (including all schedules and exhibits attached hereto and Placement Notices issued pursuant hereto) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all other prior and contemporaneous agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof. Neither this Agreement nor any term hereof may be amended except pursuant to a written instrument executed by the Company and the Agent. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable as written by a court of competent jurisdiction, then such provision shall be given full force and effect to the fullest possible extent that it is valid, legal and enforceable, and the remainder of the terms and provisions herein shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable term or provision was not contained herein, but only to the extent that giving effect to such provision and the remainder of the terms and provisions hereof shall be in accordance with the intent of the parties as reflected in this Agreement. No implied waiver by a party shall arise in the absence of a waiver in writing signed by such party. No failure or delay in exercising any right, power, or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any right, power, or privilege hereunder.

 

17.

GOVERNING LAW AND TIME; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS. SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

18.

CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS SITTING IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, AND HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, AND AGREES NOT TO ASSERT IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING, ANY CLAIM THAT IT IS NOT PERSONALLY SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY SUCH COURT, THAT SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM OR THAT THE VENUE OF SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS IMPROPER. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF PROCESS AND CONSENTS TO PROCESS BEING SERVED IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY MAILING A COPY THEREOF (CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED) TO SUCH PARTY AT THE ADDRESS IN EFFECT FOR NOTICES TO IT UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND AGREES THAT SUCH SERVICE SHALL CONSTITUTE GOOD AND SUFFICIENT SERVICE OF PROCESS AND NOTICE THEREOF. NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN SHALL BE DEEMED TO LIMIT IN ANY WAY ANY RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW.

 

 

19.

Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed Agreement by one party to the other may be made by facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

 

20.

Construction. The section and exhibit headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof. References herein to any law, statute, ordinance, code, regulation, rule or other requirement of any Governmental Authority shall be deemed to refer to such law, statute, ordinance, code, regulation, rule or other requirement of any Governmental Authority as amended, reenacted, supplemented or superseded in whole or in part and in effect from time to time and also to all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

21.

Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company represents, warrants and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Agent, and the Agent represents, warrants and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Company, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Placement Shares that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405, required to be filed with the Commission. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Agent or by the Company, as the case may be, is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company represents and warrants that it has treated and agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping. For the purposes of clarity, the parties hereto agree that all free writing prospectuses, if any, listed in Exhibit 21 hereto are Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses.

 

22.

Absence of Fiduciary Relationship. The Company acknowledges and agrees that:

 

(a)

the Agent is acting solely as agent in connection with the public offering of the Placement Shares and in connection with each transaction contemplated by this Agreement and the process leading to such transactions, and no fiduciary or advisory relationship between the Company or any of its respective affiliates, stockholders (or other equity holders), creditors or employees or any other party, on the one hand, and the Agent, on the other hand, has been or will be created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of whether or not the Agent has advised or is advising the Company on other matters, and the Agent has no obligation to the Company with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement;

 

 

(b)

it is capable of evaluating and understanding, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

(c)

neither the Agent nor its affiliates have provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and it has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate;

 

(d)

it is aware that the Agent and its affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and the Agent and its affiliates have no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Company by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship or otherwise; and

 

(e)

it waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against the Agent or its affiliates for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the sale of Placement Shares under this Agreement and agrees that the Agent and its affiliates shall not have any liability (whether direct or indirect, in contract, tort or otherwise) to it in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on its behalf or in right of it or the Company, employees or creditors of Company.

 

23.

Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below:

 

“Applicable Time” means (i) each Representation Date, (ii) the time of each sale of any Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement and (iii) each Settlement Date.

 

“Governmental Authority” means (i) any federal, provincial, state, local, municipal, national or international government or governmental authority, regulatory or administrative agency, governmental commission, department, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, court, tribunal, arbitrator or arbitral body (public or private); (ii) any self-regulatory organization; or (iii) any political subdivision of any of the foregoing.

 

“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, relating to the Placement Shares that (1) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (2) is a “road show” that is a “written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i) whether or not required to be filed with the Commission, or (3) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Placement Shares or of the offering that does not reflect the final terms, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g) under the Securities Act Regulations.

 

“Rule 164,” “Rule 172,” “Rule 405,” “Rule 415,” “Rule 424,” “Rule 424(b),” “Rule 430B,” and “Rule 433” refer to such rules under the Securities Act Regulations.

 

 

All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information that is “contained,” “included” or “stated” in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (and all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be.

 

All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR; all references in this Agreement to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (other than any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses that, pursuant to Rule 433, are not required to be filed with the Commission) shall be deemed to include the copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR; and all references in this Agreement to “supplements” to the Prospectus shall include, without limitation, any supplements, “wrappers” or similar materials prepared in connection with any offering, sale or private placement of any Placement Shares by the Agent outside of the United States.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Company and the Agent, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this Agreement shall constitute a binding agreement between the Company and the Agent.

 

	Very truly yours,
	RUBICON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
	By:
		Name:	Philip Rodoni
		Title:	Chief Executive Officer

 

	ACCEPTED as of the date first-above written:
	CANTOR FITZGERALD & CO.
	By:
		Name:
		Title:

 

 

SCHEDULE 1

 

 

Form of Placement Notice

 

 

From:

Rubicon Technologies, Inc.

 

To:

Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. Attention: [●]

 

Subject:

Placement Notice

 

Date:

[●], 20[●]

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Sales Agreement between Rubicon Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (the “Agent”), dated September 5, 2023, the Company hereby requests that the Agent sell up to [●] of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, at a minimum market price of $[●] per share, during the time period beginning [month, day, time] and ending [month, day, time].

 

 

SCHEDULE 2

 

 

Compensation

 

 

The Company shall pay to the Agent in cash, upon each sale of Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement, an amount equal to 3.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds from each sale of Placement Shares.

 

 

SCHEDULE 3

 

 

Notice Parties

 

 

The Company

 

Philip Rodoni: phil.rodoni@rubicon.com

 

Kevin Schubert: Kevin.Schubert@rubicon.com

 

With copies to:

 

Winston & Strawn LLP: MBlankenship@winston.com

 

The Agent

 

Sameer Vasudev (svasudev@cantor.com)

 

With copies to:

 

CFCEO@cantor.com

 

 

SCHEDULE 4

 

 

Subsidiaries

 

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 21.1 of the Company’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

 

Form of Representation Date Certificate Pursuant to Section 7(l)

 

The undersigned, the duly qualified and elected [●], of Rubicon Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), does hereby certify in such capacity and on behalf of the Company, pursuant to Section 7(l) of the Sales Agreement, dated September 5, 2023 (the “Sales Agreement”), between the Company and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., that to the best of the knowledge of the undersigned:

 

(i) The representations and warranties of the Company in Section 6 of the Sales Agreement are true and correct on and as of the date hereof with the same force and effect as if expressly made on and as of the date hereof, except for those representations and warranties that speak solely as of a specific date and which were true and correct as of such date; provided, however, that such representations and warranties also shall be qualified by the disclosure included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and Prospectus; and

 

(ii) The Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied pursuant to the Sales Agreement at or prior to the date hereof.

 

Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Sales Agreement.

 

	RUBICON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
	By:
	Name:
	Title:

 

Date: [●]

 

 

Exhibit 21

 

Permitted Free Writing Prospectus

 

None.

 

 

Exhibit 4.8

 

 

 

 

 

RUBICON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.     and     [  ], as Trustee     Indenture     Dated as of [  ]     Debt Securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

CROSS REFERENCE SHEET*

 

Between

 

Provisions of Trust Indenture Act (as defined herein) and Indenture, dated as of [___________], between RUBICON TECHNOLOGIES, INC. and [___________], as Trustee:

 

SECTION OF THE ACT		SECTION OF INDENTURE
310(a)(1) and (2)		6.9
310(a)(3) and (4)		Inapplicable
310(b)		6.8 and 6.10(a), (b) and (d)
310(c)		Inapplicable
311(a)		6.14
311(b)		6.14
311(c)		Inapplicable
312(a)		4.1 and 4.2
312(b)		4.2
312(c)		4.2
313(a)		4.3
313(b)(1)		Inapplicable
313(b)(2)		4.3
313(c)		4.3, 5.11, 6.10, 6.11, 8.2 and 12.2
313(d)		4.3
314(a)		3.5 and 4.2
314(b)		Inapplicable
314(c)(1) and (2)		11.5
314(c)(3)		Inapplicable
314(d)		Inapplicable
314(e)		11.5
314(f)		Inapplicable
315(a), (c) and (d)		6.1
315(b)		5.11
315(e)		5.12
316(a)(1)		5.9 and 5.10
316(a)(2)		Not required
316(a) (last sentence)		7.4
316(b)		5.7
317(a)		5.2
317(b)		3.4(a) and (b)
318(a)		11.7

 

*

This Cross Reference Sheet is not part of the Indenture.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

					PAGE
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS					1
	Section 1.1		CERTAIN TERMS DEFINED		1
ARTICLE II SECURITIES					6
	Section 2.1		FORMS GENERALLY		6
	Section 2.2		FORM OF TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION		7
	Section 2.3		AMOUNT UNLIMITED; ISSUABLE IN SERIES		7
	Section 2.4		AUTHENTICATION AND DELIVERY OF SECURITIES		10
	Section 2.5		EXECUTION OF SECURITIES		12
	Section 2.6		CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION		12
	Section 2.7		DENOMINATION AND DATE OF SECURITIES; PAYMENT OF INTEREST		13
	Section 2.8		REGISTRATION, TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE		13
	Section 2.9		MUTILATED, DEFACED, DESTROYED, LOST AND STOLEN SECURITIES		16
	Section 2.10		CANCELLATION OF SECURITIES; DISPOSAL THEREOF		17
	Section 2.11		TEMPORARY SECURITIES		17
	Section 2.12		CUSIP NUMBERS		18
ARTICLE III COVENANTS OF THE ISSUER					18
	Section 3.1		PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST		18
	Section 3.2		OFFICES FOR PAYMENTS, ETC		18
	Section 3.3		APPOINTMENT TO FILL A VACANCY IN OFFICE OF TRUSTEE		19
	Section 3.4		PAYING AGENTS		19
	Section 3.5		COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES		20
	Section 3.6		CORPORATE EXISTENCE		20
	Section 3.7		CALCULATION OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT		20
ARTICLE IV SECURITYHOLDER LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE ISSUER AND THE TRUSTEE					21
	Section 4.1		ISSUER TO FURNISH TRUSTEE INFORMATION AS TO NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF SECURITYHOLDERS		21
	Section 4.2		REPORTS BY THE ISSUER		21
	Section 4.3		REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE		21

 

 

ARTICLE V REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT					22
	Section 5.1		EVENT OF DEFAULT DEFINED, ACCELERATION OF MATURITY; WAIVER OF DEFAULT		22
	Section 5.2		COLLECTION OF INDEBTEDNESS BY TRUSTEE; TRUSTEE MAY PROVE DEBT		24
	Section 5.3		APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS		26
	Section 5.4		SUITS FOR ENFORCEMENT		27
	Section 5.5		RESTORATION OF RIGHTS ON ABANDONMENT OF PROCEEDINGS		27
	Section 5.6		LIMITATIONS ON SUITS BY SECURITY HOLDERS		27
	Section 5.7		UNCONDITIONAL RIGHT OF SECURITYHOLDERS TO INSTITUTE CERTAIN SUITS		28
	Section 5.8		POWERS AND REMEDIES CUMULATIVE; DELAY OR OMISSION NOT WAIVER OF DEFAULT		28
	Section 5.9		CONTROL BY HOLDERS OF SECURITIES		28
	Section 5.10		WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS		29
	Section 5.11		TRUSTEE TO GIVE NOTICE OF DEFAULT, BUT MAY WITHHOLD IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES		29
	Section 5.12		RIGHT OF COURT TO REQUIRE FILING OF UNDERTAKING TO PAY COSTS		29
ARTICLE VI CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE					30
	Section 6.1		DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEE; DURING DEFAULT; PRIOR TO DEFAULT		30
	Section 6.2		CERTAIN RIGHTS OF THE TRUSTEE		31
	Section 6.3		TRUSTEE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS, DISPOSITION OF SECURITIES OR APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS THEREOF		33
	Section 6.4		TRUSTEE AND AGENTS MAY HOLD SECURITIES; COLLECTIONS, ETC		33
	Section 6.5		MONEYS HELD BY TRUSTEE		33
	Section 6.6		COMPENSATION AND INDEMNIFICATION OF TRUSTEE AND ITS PRIOR CLAIM		34
	Section 6.7		RIGHT OF TRUSTEE TO RELY ON OFFICERS’ CERTIFICATE, ETC		34
	Section 6.8		INDENTURES NOT CREATING POTENTIAL CONFLICTING INTERESTS FOR THE TRUSTEE		34
	Section 6.9		QUALIFICATION OF TRUSTEE: CONFLICTING INTERESTS		35
	Section 6.10		PERSONS ELIGIBLE FOR APPOINTMENT AS TRUSTEE		35
	Section 6.11		RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE		35
	Section 6.12		ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT BY SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE		36
	Section 6.13		MERGER, CONVERSION, CONSOLIDATION OR SUCCESSION TO BUSINESS OF TRUSTEE		37
	Section 6.14		PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST THE ISSUER		38
	Section 6.15		APPOINTMENT OF AUTHENTICATING AGENT		38

 

 

ARTICLE VII CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS					39
	Section 7.1		EVIDENCE OF ACTION TAKEN BY SECURITYHOLDERS		39
	Section 7.2		PROOF OF EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS AND OF HOLDING OF SECURITIES		39
	Section 7.3		HOLDERS TO BE TREATED AS OWNERS		39
	Section 7.4		SECURITIES OWNED BY ISSUER DEEMED NOT OUTSTANDING		40
	Section 7.5		RIGHT OF REVOCATION OF ACTION TAKEN		40
ARTICLE VIII SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES					41
	Section 8.1		SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITHOUT CONSENT OF SECURITYHOLDERS		41
	Section 8.2		SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITH CONSENT OF SECURITYHOLDERS		43
	Section 8.3		EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE		44
	Section 8.4		DOCUMENTS TO BE GIVEN TO TRUSTEE		44
	Section 8.5		NOTATION ON SECURITIES IN RESPECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES		44
ARTICLE IX CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE					45
	Section 9.1		ISSUER MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC., ONLY ON CERTAIN TERMS		45
	Section 9.2		SUCCESSOR PERSON SUBSTITUTED		45
	Section 9.3		OPINION OF COUNSEL TO BE GIVEN TO TRUSTEE		45
ARTICLE X SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS					46
	Section 10.1		SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE		46
	Section 10.2		APPLICATION BY TRUSTEE OF FUNDS DEPOSITED FOR PAYMENT OF SECURITIES		50
	Section 10.3		REPAYMENT OF MONEYS HELD BY PAYING AGENT		50
	Section 10.4		RETURN OF MONEYS HELD BY TRUSTEE AND PAYING AGENT UNCLAIMED FOR TWO YEARS		50
	Section 10.5		INDEMNITY FOR U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS		50
	Section 10.6		EFFECT ON SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS		51

 

 

ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS					51
	Section 11.1		INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS OF ISSUER EXEMPT FROM INDIVIDUAL LIABILITY		51
	Section 11.2		PROVISIONS OF INDENTURE FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT OF PARTIES AND HOLDERS OF SECURITIES		51
	Section 11.3		SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS OF ISSUER BOUND BY INDENTURE		52
	Section 11.4		NOTICES AND DEMANDS ON ISSUER, TRUSTEE AND HOLDERS OF SECURITIES		52
	Section 11.5		OFFICERS’ CERTIFICATES AND OPINIONS OF COUNSEL; STATEMENTS TO BE CONTAINED THEREIN		53
	Section 11.6		PAYMENTS DUE ON SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS AND HOLIDAYS		54
	Section 11.7		CONFLICT OF ANY PROVISION OF INDENTURE WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT		54
	Section 11.8		NEW YORK LAW TO GOVERN; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL		54
	Section 11.9		COUNTERPARTS		55
	Section 11.10		EFFECT OF HEADINGS		55
	Section 11.11		SECURITIES IN A FOREIGN CURRENCY		55
	Section 11.12		JUDGMENT CURRENCY		56
	Section 11.13		AGREEMENT TO SUBORDINATE		56
	Section 11.14		FORCE MAJEURE		56
	Section 11.15		U.S.A. PATRIOT ACT		56
ARTICLE XII REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUNDS					57
	Section 12.1		APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE		57
	Section 12.2		NOTICE OF REDEMPTION; PARTIAL REDEMPTIONS		57
	Section 12.3		PAYMENT OF SECURITIES CALLED FOR REDEMPTION		58
	Section 12.4		EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN SECURITIES FROM ELIGIBILITY FOR SELECTION FOR REDEMPTION		59
	Section 12.5		MANDATORY AND OPTIONAL SINKING FUNDS		59

 

 

THIS INDENTURE, dated as of [  ], by and between RUBICON TECHNOLOGIES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), and [  ], as trustee (the “Trustee”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, the Issuer has duly authorized the issue from time to time of its unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness to be issued in one or more series (the “Securities”) up to such principal amount or amounts as may from time to time be authorized in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

 

WHEREAS, the Issuer has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide, among other things, for the authentication, delivery and administration of the Securities; and

 

WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid and legally binding indenture and agreement according to its terms have been done;

 

NOW, THEREFORE:

 

In consideration of the premises and the purchases of the Securities by the holders thereof, the Issuer and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and proportionate benefit of the holders from time to time of the Securities as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1 CERTAIN TERMS Defined

 

The following terms (except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise clearly requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section. All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”), or the definitions of which in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), are referred to in the Trust Indenture Act, including terms defined therein by reference to the Securities Act (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires), shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in the Trust Indenture Act and in the Securities Act as in effect from time to time. All accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and the term “generally accepted accounting principles” means such accounting principles as are generally accepted at the time of any computation unless a different time shall be specified with respect to such series of Securities as provided for in Section 2.3. The words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision. The terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular.

 

“Affiliate” has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of the Securities Act or any successor provision.

 

 

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

 

“Authenticating Agent” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.15.

 

“Board of Directors” means either the Board of Directors of the Issuer or any committee of such Board duly authorized to act on its behalf.

 

“Board Resolution” means a copy of one or more resolutions, certified by the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Issuer to have been duly adopted or consented to by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Business Day” means, with respect to any Security, a day that is not a day on which banking institutions in the city (or in any of the cities, if more than one) in which amounts are payable, as specified in the form of such Security, are authorized or required by any applicable law or regulation to be closed.

 

“Capital Stock” means, with respect to any corporation, any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase (other than convertible or exchangeable indebtedness that is not itself otherwise capital stock), warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests (however designated) in stock issued by that corporation.

 

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or if at any time after the execution and delivery 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 on such date.

 

“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Trustee shall, at any particular time, be principally administered, which office is, as of the date of this Indenture, located at [  ].

 

“covenant defeasance” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.1(C).

 

“Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable or issued in the form of one or more Registered Global Securities, the Person designated as Depositary by the Issuer pursuant to Section 2.3 until a successor Depositary shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Depositary” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Depositary hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Depositary” as used with respect to the Securities of any such series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Registered Global Securities of that series.

 

“Dollar” or “$” means the coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

 

“Equity Interests” means Capital Stock or partnership, participation or membership interests and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock or partnership, participation or membership interests (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock or partnership, participation or membership interests).

 

 

“Event of Default” means any event or condition specified as such in Section 5.1.

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

“Fair Value” when used with respect to any Voting Equity Interests of the Issuer means the fair value as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Issuer.

 

“Foreign Currency” means any coin, currency, currency unit or composite currency, including, without limitation, the euro, issued by the government of one or more countries, other than the United States of America or by any internationally recognized union, confederation or association of such governments.

 

“Holder,” “Holder of Securities,” “Securityholder” or any other similar terms mean the person in whose name a Security is registered in the security register kept by the Issuer for that purpose in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed and delivered or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented or both, and shall include the forms and terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated hereunder, provided, that, if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under this instrument, “Indenture” shall mean, with respect to one or more series of Securities for which such person is trustee, this instrument as originally executed and delivered or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented or both, and shall include the forms and terms of those particular series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established as contemplated hereunder, exclusive, however, of any provisions or terms which relate solely to other series of Securities for which such person is not Trustee, regardless of when such terms or provisions were adopted.

 

“IRS” means the Internal Revenue Service of the United States Department of the Treasury, or any successor entity.

 

“Issuer” means (except as otherwise provided in Article IX) Rubicon Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and, subject to Article IX, its successors and assigns.

 

“Issuer Order” means a written statement, request or order of the Issuer signed in its name by the president, any vice president or the treasurer of the Issuer.

 

“Judgment Currency” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.12.

 

“Non-U.S. Person” means any person that is not a “U.S. person” as such term is defined in Rule 902 of the Securities Act.

 

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion in writing signed by legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee and who may be an employee of or counsel to the Issuer.

 

 

“Original Issue Date” of any Security (or portion thereof) means the earlier of (a) the date of such Security or (b) the date of any Security (or portion thereof) for which such Security was issued (directly or indirectly) on registration of transfer, exchange or substitution.

 

“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 5.1.

 

“Outstanding” (except as otherwise provided in Section 7.4), when used with reference to Securities, means, subject to the provisions of Section 7.4, as of any particular time, all Securities authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except:

 

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

 

(b) Securities, or portions thereof, for the payment or redemption of which moneys or U.S. Government Obligations (as provided for in Section 10.1) in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent (other than the Issuer) or shall have been set aside, segregated and held in trust by the Issuer for the Holders of such Securities (if the Issuer shall act as its own paying agent), provided, that if such Securities, or portions thereof, are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as herein provided, or provisions reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; and

 

(c) Securities which shall have been paid or in substitution for which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.9 (except with respect to any such Security as to which proof reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee is presented that such Security is held by a person in whose hands such Security is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuer).

 

In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of any or all series have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.1.

 

“Periodic Offering” means an offering of Securities of a series from time to time, the specific terms of which Securities, including, without limitation, the rate or rates of interest, if any, thereon, the stated maturity or maturities thereof and the redemption provisions, if any, with respect thereto, are to be determined by the Issuer or its agents upon the issuance of such Securities.

 

“Person” means any individual, corporation, business trust, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

“principal,” whenever used with reference to the Securities or any Security or any portion thereof, shall be deemed to include “and premium, if any,” provided, however, that such inclusion of premium, if any, shall under no circumstances result in the double counting of such premium for the purpose of any calculation required hereunder.

 

 

“record date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.7.

 

“Registered Global Security” means a Security evidencing all or a part of a series of Registered Securities, issued to the Depositary or a nominee thereof for such series in accordance with Section 2.4, and bearing the legend prescribed in Section 2.4 and any other legend required by the Depositary for such series.

 

“Registered Security” means any Security registered on the books of the Registrar.

 

“Registrar” means the Person designated by the Issuer as “Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided, who shall initially be the Trustee. “Registrar” shall also mean or include each Person who is then a registrar hereunder, and, if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Registrar” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the registrar with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

“Required Currency” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.12.

 

“Responsible Officer” when used with respect to the Trustee means any vice president (whether or not designated by numbers or words added before or after the title “Vice President”), any assistant vice president, any trust officer, or assistant trust officer, or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by the persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and, in each case, who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

 

“Security” or “Securities” (except as otherwise provided in Section 7.4) has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture, or, as the case may be, Securities that have been authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

“Senior Indebtedness,” when used with respect to the Subordinated Securities of any series, shall have the meaning established pursuant to Subsection 2.3(9) with respect to the Subordinated Securities of such series.

 

“Senior Securities” means Securities other than Subordinated Securities.

 

“Subordinated Securities” means Securities that by the terms established pursuant to Subsection 2.3(9) are subordinated in right of payment to Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer.

 

“Subordination Provisions,” when used with respect to the Subordinated Securities of any series, shall have the meaning established pursuant to Subsection 2.3(9) with respect to the Subordinated Securities of such series.

 

 

“Subsidiary,” with respect to any Person, means (i) a corporation a majority of whose Voting Equity Interests is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person, by such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, (ii) any other Person (other than a corporation) in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination thereof has at least majority ownership interest, or (iii) a partnership in which such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at the time, a general partner.

 

“Trustee” means the Person identified as “Trustee” in the first paragraph hereof and, subject to the provisions of Article VI, shall also include any successor trustee. “Trustee” shall also 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 the Securities of such series.

 

“U.S. Government Obligations” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.1(A).

 

“Voting Equity Interests” means Equity Interests which at the time are entitled to vote in the election of, as applicable, directors, members or partners generally; provided, that, for the purposes hereof, Equity Interests that carry only the right to vote conditionally on the happening of an event shall not be considered Voting Equity Interests whether or not such event shall have happened.

 

“Yield to Maturity” means the yield to maturity on a series of securities, calculated at the time of issuance of such series, or, if applicable, at the most recent redetermination of interest on such series, and calculated in accordance with accepted financial practice.

 

ARTICLE II
SECURITIES

 

Section 2.1 FORMS GENERALLY

 

The Securities of each series shall be substantially in such form (not inconsistent with this Indenture) as shall be established by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions (as set forth in a Board Resolution or, to the extent established pursuant to but not set forth in a Board Resolution, an Officers’ Certificate detailing 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 imprinted or otherwise reproduced thereon such legend or legends or endorsements, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, as may be required to comply with any law or with any rules or regulations pursuant thereto, or with any rules of any securities exchange or to conform to general usage, all as may be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

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

 

 

Section 2.2 FORM OF TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

The Trustee’s certificate of authentication on all Securities shall be in substantially the following form:

 

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

 

	[  ], as Trustee
	By
		Authorized Signatory
	Dated:	”

 

If at any time there shall be an Authenticating Agent appointed with respect to any series of Securities, then the Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication to be borne by the Securities of each such series shall be substantially as follows:

 

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

 

	as Authenticating Agent
	By
		Authorized Signatory
	Dated:	”

 

Section 2.3 AMOUNT UNLIMITED; ISSUABLE IN SERIES

 

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

 

The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions (and to the extent established pursuant to but not set forth in a Board Resolution, in an Officers’ Certificate detailing such establishment) or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the initial issuance of Securities of any series,

 

(1) the designation of the Securities of the series, including CUSIP numbers, which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from the Securities of all other series, and which may be part of a series of Securities previously issued;

 

(2) 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 2.8, 2.9, 2.11, 8.5 or 12.3);

 

 

(3) if other than Dollars, the Foreign Currency or Foreign Currencies in which the Securities of the series are denominated;

 

(4) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable or the method of determination thereof;

 

(5) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, on which such interest shall be payable, the terms and conditions of any deferral of interest and the additional interest, if any, thereon, the right, if any, of the Issuer to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of the extensions and the date or dates on which a record shall be taken for the determination of Holders to whom interest is payable and/or the method by which such rate or rates or date or dates shall be determined;

 

(6) the place or places where and the manner in which, the principal of and any interest on Securities of the series shall be payable, if other than as provided in Section 3.2;

 

(7) the right, if any, of the Issuer to redeem Securities, in whole or in part, at its option and the period or periods within which, or the date or dates on which, the price or prices at which and any terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be so redeemed, pursuant to any sinking fund or otherwise;

 

(8) the obligation, if any, of the Issuer to redeem, purchase or repay Securities of the series pursuant to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof and the price or prices at which and the period or periods within which or the date or dates on which, and any terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

(9) if the Securities of such series are Subordinated Securities, the terms pursuant to which the Securities of such series will be made subordinate in right of payment to Senior Indebtedness and the definition of such Senior Indebtedness with respect to such series (in the absence of an express statement to the effect that the Securities of such series are subordinate in right of payment to all such Senior Indebtedness, the Securities of such series shall not be subordinate to Senior Indebtedness and shall not constitute Subordinated Securities); and, in the event that the Securities of such series are Subordinated Securities, such Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, as the case may be, establishing the terms of such series shall expressly state which articles, sections or other provisions thereof constitute the “Subordination Provisions” with respect to the Securities of such series;

 

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

 

(11) the percentage of the principal amount at which the Securities will be issued, and, if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof and the terms and conditions of any acceleration;

 

(12) if other than the coin, currency or currencies in which the Securities of the series are denominated, the coin, currency or currencies in which payment of the principal of or interest on the Securities of such series shall be payable, including composite currencies or currency units;

 

 

(13) if the principal of or interest on the Securities of the series are to be payable, at the election of the Issuer or a Holder thereof, in a coin or currency other than that in which the Securities are denominated, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made;

 

(14) if the amount of payments of principal of and interest on the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index or formula based on a coin, currency, composite currency or currency unit other than that in which the Securities of the series are denominated, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

 

(15) whether and under what circumstances the Issuer will pay additional amounts on the Securities of the series held by a person who is not a U.S. person in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge withheld or deducted and, if so, whether the Issuer will have the option to redeem the Securities of the series rather than pay such additional amounts;

 

(16) if the Securities of the series are to be issuable in definitive form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a temporary Security of such series) only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions, the form and terms of such certificates, documents or conditions;

 

(17) any trustees, depositaries, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars of any other agents with respect to the Securities of such series;

 

(18) any deletion from, modification of or addition to the Events of Default or covenants with respect to the Securities of such series;

 

(19) if the Securities of the series are to be convertible into or exchangeable for any other security or property of the Issuer, including, without limitation, securities of another Person held by the Issuer or its Affiliates and, if so, the terms thereof; and

 

(20) any other terms of the series.

 

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical, except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate referred to above or as set forth in any indenture supplemental hereto. The Issuer may, without the consent of the Holders, issue additional Securities of the same series in the future ranking equally with, and otherwise similar in all respects to, the Securities of such series, except for any differences in the issue price and, if applicable, the initial interest accrual date and interest payment date; provided that if the additional debt Securities are not fungible with the debt securities of the series previously offered or sold for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the additional debt securities will have a separate CUSIP or other identifying number as the Securities of the applicable series.

 

All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time without consent of any Holder, consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so provided by or pursuant to such Board Resolution, such Officers’ Certificate or in any indenture supplemental hereto.

 

 

Under the Indenture, the Securities of any series and any additional Securities of such series the Issuer may issue in the future will be treated as a single series for all purposes under the Indenture, including for purposes of determining whether the required percentage of the Holders of record of the Securities of such series has given approval or consent to an amendment or waiver or joined in directing the Trustee to take certain actions on behalf of all Holders of the Securities of such series.

 

Section 2.4 AUTHENTICATION AND DELIVERY OF SECURITIES

 

The Issuer may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Issuer to the Trustee for authentication together with the applicable documents referred to below in this Section 2.4, and the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver such Securities to or upon the written order of the Issuer (contained in the Issuer Order referred to below in this Section) or deliver pursuant to such procedures acceptable to the Trustee and to such recipients as may be specified from time to time by an Issuer Order. The maturity date, original issue date, interest rate and any other terms of the Securities of such series shall be determined by or pursuant to such Issuer Order and Sections 2.1, 2.3 and this Section 2.4. In authenticating such Securities and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be provided with (in the case of subparagraphs (2), (3) and (4) below only at or before the time of the first request of the Issuer to the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series) and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, the following enumerated documents unless and until such documents have been superseded or revoked:

 

(1) an Issuer Order requesting such authentication and setting forth delivery instructions if the Securities are not to be delivered to the Issuer, provided that, with respect to Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, (a) such Issuer Order may be delivered by the Issuer to the Trustee prior to the delivery to the Trustee of such Securities for authentication and delivery, (b) the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Securities of such series for original issue from time to time, in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the aggregate principal amount established for such series, pursuant to an Issuer Order or pursuant to procedures acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified from time to time by an Issuer Order and (c) the maturity date or dates, original issue date or dates, interest rate or rates and any other terms of Securities of such series shall be determined by an Issuer Order or pursuant to such procedures;

 

(2) any Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate and/or executed supplemental indenture referred to in Sections 2.1 and 2.3 by or pursuant to which the forms and terms of the Securities were established;

 

(3) an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the form or forms and terms of the Securities, stating that the form or forms and terms of the Securities have been established pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.3 and comply with this Indenture, and covering such other matters as the Trustee may reasonably request; and

 

(4) Either one or more Opinions of Counsel, or, at the option of the Issuer, a letter addressed to the Trustee permitting it to rely on one or more Opinions of Counsel, substantially to the effect that:

 

 

(a) the form or forms of the Securities have been duly authorized and established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

(b) in the case of an underwritten offering, the terms of the Securities have been duly authorized and established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture, and, in the case of an offering that is not underwritten, certain terms of the Securities have been established pursuant to a Board Resolution, an Officers’ Certificate or a supplemental indenture in accordance with this Indenture, and when such other terms as are to be established pursuant to procedures set forth in an Issuer Order shall have been established, all such terms will have been duly authorized by the Issuer and will have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

(c) if the terms of the Securities have been established pursuant to a supplemental indenture, such supplemental indenture, when executed by the Issuer and the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, and subject to any exemptions, assumptions and qualifications specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will be a valid and binding obligation of the Issuer, enforceable in accordance with its terms except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, liquidation, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) rights of acceleration, if any, and (iii) the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability, and such counsel need express no opinion with regard to the enforceability of Section 6.6 or of a judgment denominated in a currency other than Dollars;

 

(d) such Securities, when executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and delivered to and duly paid for by the purchasers thereof, and subject to any exemptions, assumptions and qualifications specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture, and will be valid and binding obligations of the Issuer, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, liquidation, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) rights of acceleration, if any, and (iii) the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability, and such counsel need express no opinion with regard to the enforceability of Section 6.6 or of a judgment denominated in a currency other than Dollars; and

 

(e) all conditions precedent to the issuance and authorization of the Securities have been complied with.

 

Any counsel may state that such opinions are limited to matters arising under the laws of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Such counsel may rely upon opinions of other counsel (copies of which shall be delivered to the Trustee) reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, in which case the opinion shall state that such counsel believes it and the Trustee are entitled so to rely. Such counsel may also state that, insofar as such opinion involves factual matters, it has relied, to the extent he deems proper, upon certificates of officers of the Issuer and its subsidiaries and certificates of public officials.

 

 

The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Securities under this section if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken by the Issuer or if the Trustee in good faith shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to existing Holders or would affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities, this Indenture or otherwise.

 

If the Issuer shall establish pursuant to Section 2.3 that the Securities of a series are to be issued in the form of one or more Registered Global Securities, then the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section and the Issuer Order with respect to such series, authenticate and deliver one or more Registered Global Securities that (i) shall represent and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of all of the Securities of such series issued and not yet cancelled, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Registered Global Security or Securities or the nominee of such Depositary, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or delivered or held pursuant to such Depositary’s instructions and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: “UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SECURITIES IN DEFINITIVE REGISTERED FORM, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO THE NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.”

 

Each Depositary designated pursuant to Section 2.3 must, at the time of its designation and at all times while it serves as Depositary, be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and any other applicable statute or regulation.

 

Section 2.5 EXECUTION OF SECURITIES

 

The Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Issuer by the chief executive officer or the chief financial officer of the Issuer, which may, but need not, be attested. Such signatures may be the manual or facsimile signatures of the present or any future such officers. Typographical and other minor errors or defects in any such signature shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any Security that has been duly authenticated and delivered by the Trustee.

 

In case any officer of the Issuer who shall have signed any of the Securities shall cease to be such officer before the Security so signed shall be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or disposed of by the Issuer, such Security nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the person who signed such Security had not ceased to be such officer of the Issuer; and any Security may be signed on behalf of the Issuer by such persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Security, shall be the proper officers of the Issuer, although at the date of the execution and delivery of this Indenture any such person was not such an officer.

 

Section 2.6 CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

Only such Securities as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form hereinbefore recited, executed by the Trustee by the manual signature of one of its authorized signatories, shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. The execution of such certificate by the Trustee upon any Security executed by the Issuer shall be conclusive evidence that the Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the Holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

 

 

Section 2.7 DENOMINATION AND DATE OF SECURITIES; PAYMENT OF INTEREST

 

The Securities of each series shall be issuable as Registered Securities in denominations established as contemplated by Section 2.3 or, with respect to the Registered Securities of any series, if not so established, in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Securities of each series shall be numbered, lettered or otherwise distinguished in such manner or in accordance with such plan as the officers of the Issuer executing the same may determine with the approval of the Trustee, as evidenced by the execution and authentication thereof.

 

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Securities of each series shall bear interest, if any, from the date, and such interest shall be payable on the dates, established as contemplated by Section 2.3.

 

The person in whose name any Registered Security of any series is registered at the close of business on any record date applicable to a particular series with respect to any interest payment date for such series shall be entitled to receive the interest, if any, payable on such interest payment date notwithstanding any transfer or exchange of such Registered Security subsequent to the record date and prior to such interest payment date, except if and to the extent the Issuer shall default in the payment of the interest due on such interest payment date for such series, in which case such defaulted interest shall be paid to the persons in whose names Outstanding Registered Securities for such series are registered at the close of business on a subsequent record date (which shall be not less than five Business Days prior to the date of payment of such defaulted interest) established by notice sent by or on behalf of the Issuer to the Holders of Registered Securities not less than 15 days preceding such subsequent record date. The term “record date” as used with respect to any interest payment date (except a date for payment of defaulted interest) for the Securities of any series shall mean the date specified as such in the terms of the Registered Securities of such series established as contemplated by Section 2.3, or, if no such date is so established, if such interest payment date is the first day of a calendar month, the fifteenth day of the preceding calendar month or, if such interest payment date is the fifteenth day of a calendar month, the first day of such calendar month, whether or not such record date is a Business Day.

 

Section 2.8 REGISTRATION, TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE

 

The Issuer will keep at each office or agency to be maintained for the purpose as provided in Section 3.2 for each series of Securities a register or registers in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as the Issuer may prescribe, it will provide for the registration of Registered Securities of such series and the registration of transfer of Registered Securities of such series. Such register shall be in written form in the English language or in any other form capable of being converted into such form within a reasonable time. At all reasonable times such register or registers shall be open for inspection by the Trustee.

 

 

Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of any Registered Security of any series at any such office or agency to be maintained for the purpose as provided in Section 3.2, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Registered Security or Registered Securities of the same series, maturity date, interest rate and original issue date in authorized denominations for a like aggregate principal amount.

 

At the option of the Holder thereof, Registered Securities of any series (other than a Registered Global Security, except as set forth below) may be exchanged for a Registered Security or Registered Securities of such series having authorized denominations and an equal aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of such Registered Securities to be exchanged at the agency of the Issuer that shall be maintained for such purpose in accordance with Section 3.2 and upon payment, if the Issuer shall so require, of the charges hereinafter provided. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive. All Securities surrendered upon any exchange or transfer provided for in this Indenture shall be promptly cancelled and disposed of by the Trustee in accordance with its regular procedures, and, upon the written request of any officer of the Issuer, the Trustee shall deliver a certificate of cancellation and disposition thereof to the Issuer.

 

All Registered Securities presented for registration of transfer, exchange, redemption or payment shall (if so required by the Issuer or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Issuer and the Trustee duly executed, by the Holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

 

The Issuer or the Registrar may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any exchange or registration of transfer of Securities. No service charge shall be made for any such transaction.

 

Neither the Issuer nor the Registrar shall be required to exchange or register a transfer of (a) any Securities of any series for a period of 15 days preceding the first sending of notice of redemption of Securities of such series to be redeemed and ending at the close of business on the day such notice of redemption is sent or (b) any Securities selected, called or being called for redemption, in whole or in part, except, in the case of any Security to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not so to be redeemed.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.8, except for exchanges in whole or in part for Securities in definitive registered form, a Registered Global Security representing all or a portion of the Securities of a series may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary for such series to a nominee of such Depositary or by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by such Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary for such series or a nominee of such successor Depositary.

 

 

If at any time the Depositary for any Registered Securities of a series represented by one or more Registered Global Securities notifies the Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Registered Securities or if at any time the Depositary for such Registered Securities shall no longer be eligible under Section 2.4, the Issuer shall appoint a successor Depositary eligible under Section 2.4 with respect to such Registered Securities. If a successor Depositary eligible under Section 2.4 for such Registered Securities is not appointed by the Issuer within 90 days after the Issuer receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Issuer’s election pursuant to Section 2.3 that such Registered Securities be represented by one or more Registered Global Securities shall no longer be effective and the Issuer will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officers’ Certificate for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver, Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in any authorized denominations, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Registered Global Security or Securities representing such Registered Securities in exchange for such Registered Global Security or Securities.

 

The Issuer may at any time and in its sole discretion determine that the Registered Securities of any series issued in the form of one or more Registered Global Securities shall no longer be represented by a Registered Global Security or Securities. In such event the Issuer will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of any Officers’ Certificate for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver, Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in any authorized denominations, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Registered Global Security or Securities representing such Registered Securities, in exchange for such Registered Global Security or Securities.

 

If specified by the Issuer pursuant to Section 2.3 with respect to Securities represented by a Registered Global Security, the Depositary for such Registered Global Security may surrender such Registered Global Security in exchange in whole or in part for Securities of the same series in definitive registered form on such terms as are acceptable to the Issuer and such Depositary. Thereupon, the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge,

 

(i) to the Person specified by such Depositary a new Registered Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations as requested by such Person, in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person’s beneficial interest in the Registered Global Security; and

 

(ii) to such Depositary a new Registered Global Security in a denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Registered Global Security and the aggregate principal amount of Registered Securities authenticated and delivered pursuant to clause (i) above.

 

Upon the exchange of a Registered Global Security for Securities in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, such Registered Global Security shall be cancelled by the Trustee or an agent of the Issuer or the Trustee. Securities in definitive registered form without coupons issued in exchange for a Registered Global Security pursuant to this Section 2.8 shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Registered Global Security, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee or an agent of the Issuer or the Trustee. The Trustee or such agent shall deliver such Securities to or as directed by the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.

 

 

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

 

Neither the Issuer nor the Trustee shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary. All Securities issued in definitive registered form, as described herein, shall be in “registered form” for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or among Depositary participants or beneficial owners of interests in any Registered Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

 

Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by the Depository.

 

Section 2.9 MUTILATED, DEFACED, DESTROYED, LOST AND STOLEN SECURITIES

 

In case any temporary or definitive Security shall be mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen, the Issuer in its discretion may execute and, upon the written request of any officer of the Issuer, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a new Security of the same series, maturity date, interest rate and original issue date, bearing a number or other distinguishing symbol not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated or defaced Security, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Security so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case, the applicant for a substitute Security shall furnish to the Issuer and to the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee such security or indemnity as required by them to indemnify and defend and to save each of them harmless and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to their reasonable satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Security and of the ownership thereof, and in the case of mutilation or defacement shall surrender the Security to the Trustee or such agent.

 

Upon the issuance of any substitute Security, the Issuer or the Registrar 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 the Trustee) or its agent connected therewith. In case any Security which has matured or is about to mature or has been called for redemption in full shall become mutilated or defaced or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Issuer may, instead of issuing a substitute Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated or defaced Security), if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Issuer and to the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee such security or indemnity as any of them may require to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Issuer and the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee evidence to their reasonable satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Security and of the ownership thereof.

 

 

Every substitute Security of any series issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section by virtue of the fact that any such Security is destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Issuer, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone and shall be entitled to all the benefits of (but shall be subject to all the limitations of rights set forth in) this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of such series duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. All Securities shall be held and owned upon the express condition that, to the extent permitted by law, the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, defaced or destroyed, lost or stolen Securities and shall preclude any and all other rights or remedies notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.

 

Section 2.10 CANCELLATION OF SECURITIES; DISPOSAL THEREOF

 

All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange, or for credit against any payment in respect of a sinking or analogous fund, if any, if surrendered to the Issuer or any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee or any agent of the Trustee, shall be delivered to the Trustee or its agent for cancellation or, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be cancelled by it; and no Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. The Trustee or its agent shall dispose of cancelled Securities held by it in accordance with its regular procedures and deliver a certificate of disposition to the Issuer upon the Issuer’s request in writing. If the Issuer or its agent shall acquire any of the Securities, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the same are delivered to the Trustee or its agent for cancellation.

 

Section 2.11 TEMPORARY SECURITIES

 

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities for any series, the Issuer may execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver temporary Securities for such series (printed, lithographed, typewritten or otherwise reproduced, in each case in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee). Temporary Securities of any series shall be issuable as Registered Securities without coupons of any authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the definitive Securities of such series but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be determined by the Issuer with the concurrence of the Trustee as evidenced by the execution and authentication thereof. Temporary Securities may contain such references to any provisions of this Indenture as may be appropriate. Every temporary Security shall be executed by the Issuer and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with like effect, as the definitive Securities. Without unreasonable delay the Issuer shall execute and shall furnish definitive Securities of such series and thereupon temporary Registered Securities of such series may be surrendered in exchange therefor without charge at each office or agency to be maintained by the Issuer for that purpose pursuant to Section 3.2 and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange for such temporary Securities of such series an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series having authorized denominations. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of any series shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series, unless otherwise established pursuant to Section 2.3.

 

 

Section 2.12 CUSIP NUMBERS

 

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

 

ARTICLE III
COVENANTS OF THE ISSUER

 

Section 3.1 PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST

 

The Issuer covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of, and interest on, if any, each of the Securities of such series (together with any additional amounts payable pursuant to the terms of such Securities) at the place or places, at the respective time or times and in the manner provided in such Securities and in this Indenture. The interest, if any, on Registered Securities (together with any additional amounts payable pursuant to the terms of such Securities) shall be payable only to or upon the written order of the Holders thereof and, at the option of the Issuer, may be paid by wire transfer or by mailing checks for such interest payable to or upon the written order of such Holders at their last addresses as they appear on the Securities register of the Issuer.

 

Section 3.2 OFFICES FOR PAYMENTS, ETC

 

So long as any Registered Securities are authorized for issuance pursuant to this Indenture or are outstanding hereunder, the Issuer will maintain in [  ] an office or agency where the Registered Securities of each series may be presented for payment, where the Securities of each series may be presented for exchange as is provided in this Indenture and, if applicable, pursuant to Section 2.3 and where the Registered Securities of each series may be presented for registration of transfer as in this Indenture provided.

 

The Issuer will give to the Trustee written notice of the location of each such office or agency and of any change of location thereof. In case the Issuer shall fail to maintain any agency required by this Section to be located in [  ], or shall fail to give such notice of the location or for any change in the location of any of the above agencies, presentations and demands may be made and notices may be served at the designated office of the Trustee.

 

 

The Issuer may from time to time designate one or more additional offices or agencies in the continental United States where the Securities of a series may be presented for payment, where the Securities of that series may be presented for exchange as provided in this Indenture and pursuant to Section 2.3 and where the Registered Securities of that series may be presented for registration of transfer as in this Indenture provided, and the Issuer may from time to time rescind any such designation, as the Issuer may deem desirable or expedient; provided, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Issuer of its obligations to maintain the agencies provided for in this Section. The Issuer shall give to the Trustee prompt written notice of any such designation or rescission thereof.

 

Section 3.3 APPOINTMENT TO FILL A VACANCY IN OFFICE OF TRUSTEE

 

The Issuer, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 6.10, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee with respect to each series of Securities hereunder.

 

Section 3.4 PAYING AGENTS

 

Whenever the Issuer shall appoint a paying agent other than the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series, it will cause such paying agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section,

 

(a) that it will hold all sums received by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of or interest on the Securities of such series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Issuer or by any other obligor on the Securities of such series) in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series or of the Trustee;

 

(b) that it will give the Trustee written notice of any failure by the Issuer (or by any other obligor on the Securities of such series) to make any payment of the principal of or interest on the Securities of such series when the same shall be due and payable; and

 

(c) that it will pay any such sums so held in trust by it to the Trustee upon the Trustee’s written request at any time during the continuance of the failure referred to in the foregoing clause (b).

 

The Issuer will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of or interest on the Securities of such series, deposit with the paying agent a sum sufficient to pay such principal or interest so becoming due, and (unless such paying agent is the Trustee) the Issuer will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure to take such action.

 

If the Issuer shall act as its own paying agent with respect to the Securities of any series, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of or interest on the Securities of such series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series a sum sufficient to pay such principal or interest so becoming due. The Issuer will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any failure to take such action.

 

 

Anything in this Section to the contrary notwithstanding, but subject to Section 10.1, the Issuer may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge with respect to one or more or all series of Securities hereunder, or for any other reason, pay or cause to be paid to the Trustee all sums held in trust for any such series by the Issuer or any paying agent hereunder, as required by this Section, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the trusts herein contained.

 

Anything in this Section to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section is subject to the provisions of Sections 10.3 and 10.4.

 

Section 3.5 COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES

 

The Issuer will furnish to the Trustee on or before the date that is 120 days following the end of each fiscal year (beginning with the fiscal year ended [  ]) an officer’s certificate (which need not comply with Section 11.5) from the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Issuer stating that in the course of the performance by the signer of his or her duties as an officer of the Issuer he or she would normally have knowledge of any default or non-compliance by the Issuer in the performance of any covenants or conditions contained in this Indenture, stating whether or not he or she has knowledge of any such default or non-compliance (without regard to notice requirements or grace periods) and, if so, describing each such default or non-compliance of which the signer has knowledge and the nature thereof.

 

The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee, as soon as possible and in any event within five days after the Issuer becomes aware of the occurrence of any Event of Default or an event which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the details of such Event of Default or default and the action which the Issuer proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

Section 3.6 CORPORATE EXISTENCE

 

Subject to Article IX, the Issuer will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries; provided, that the Issuer shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, if, in the judgment of the Issuer, the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole and the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Securityholders.

 

Section 3.7 CALCULATION OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT

 

The Issuer shall file with the Trustee promptly at the end of each calendar year (i) a written notice specifying the amount of original issue discount (including daily rates and accrual periods) accrued on Outstanding Securities as of the end of such year and (ii) such other specific information relating to such original issue discount as may then be relevant under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

 

ARTICLE IV
SECURITYHOLDER LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE
ISSUER AND THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 4.1 ISSUER TO FURNISH TRUSTEE INFORMATION AS TO NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF SECURITYHOLDERS

 

If and so long as the Trustee shall not be the Registrar for the Securities of any series, the Issuer and any other obligor on the Securities will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee a list in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of the Registered Securities of such series pursuant to Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act:

 

(a) semi-annually not more than 5 days after each record date for the payment of interest on such Registered Securities, as hereinabove specified, as of such record date and on dates to be determined pursuant to Section 2.3 for non-interest bearing Registered Securities in each year; and

 

(b) at such other times as the Trustee may reasonably request in writing, within 30 days after receipt by the Issuer of any such request as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such information is furnished.

 

Section 4.2 REPORTS BY THE ISSUER

 

The Issuer covenants to file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Issuer is required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents, and other reports that the Issuer may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act or pursuant to Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuer’s compliance with any covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

 

Section 4.3 REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE

 

(a) The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto. If required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall, within 60 days after each May 15 following the date of the initial issuance of Securities under this Indenture deliver to Holders a brief report, dated as of such May 15, which complies with the provisions of such Section 313(a).

 

(b) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange, if any, upon which the Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Issuer. The Issuer will promptly notify the Trustee in writing when the Securities are listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.

 

 

ARTICLE V
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT

 

Section 5.1 EVENT OF DEFAULT DEFINED, ACCELERATION OF MATURITY; WAIVER OF DEFAULT

 

“Event of Default” with respect to Securities of any series, wherever used herein, means any one of the following events which shall have occurred and be continuing (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 installment of interest upon any of the Securities of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; provided that, a valid extension of an interest payment period by the Issuer in accordance with the terms of such Securities shall not constitute a failure to pay interest;

 

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

 

(c) failure on the part of the Issuer duly to observe or perform any other of the covenants or agreements on the part of the Issuer in the Securities of such series or contained in this Indenture (other than a covenant or agreement included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of a series of Securities other than such series) for a period of [  ] days after the date on which written notice specifying such failure, stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder and demanding that the Issuer remedy the same, shall have been given by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the Issuer by the Trustee, or to the Issuer and the Trustee by the holders of at least [  ]% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of the series to which such covenant or agreement relates;

 

(d) a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the Issuer in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of the Issuer for any substantial part of its property or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days;

 

(e) the Issuer shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or consent to the appointment or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of the Issuer or for any substantial part of its or their property, or make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or

 

 

(f) any other Event of Default provided in the supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate under which such series of Securities is established.

 

If an Event of Default described in clause (a), (b), (c) or (f) occurs with respect to a series of Securities and is continuing, then, and in each and every such case, except for any series of Securities the principal of which shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than [  ]% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each such affected series then Outstanding hereunder (each such series voting as a separate class) by notice in writing to the Issuer (and to the Trustee if given by Securityholders), may declare the entire principal (or, if the Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) of all Securities of such series, and the interest accrued thereon, if any, to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration, the same shall become immediately due and payable.

 

If an Event of Default described in clause (d) or (e) above occurs and is continuing, then the principal amount of all the Securities then Outstanding, and the interest accrued thereon, if any, shall become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.

 

The foregoing provisions are subject to the condition that if, at any time after the principal (or, if the Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal as may be specified in the terms thereof) of the Securities of any series (or of all the Securities, as the case may be) shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided,

 

(B) the Issuer shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay

 

(i) all matured installments of interest upon all the Securities of such series (or all the Securities, as the case may be);

 

(ii) the principal of any and all Securities of such series (or of all the Securities, as the case may be) which shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration;

 

(iii) interest upon such principal and, to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law, on overdue installments of interest, at the same rate as the rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) specified in the Securities of such series (or at the respective rates of interest or Yields to Maturity of all the Securities, as the case may be) to the date of such payment or deposit;

 

(iv) all amounts payable to the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.6; and

 

 

(C) all Events of Default under the Indenture, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities which shall have become due by acceleration, shall have been cured, waived or otherwise remedied as provided herein, then and in every such case the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of all the Securities of such series voting as a separate class (or of all the Securities, as the case may be, voting as a single class), then Outstanding, by written notice to the Issuer and to the Trustee, may waive all defaults with respect to such series (or with respect to all the Securities, as the case may be) and rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences, but no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or shall impair any right consequent thereon.

 

For all purposes under this Indenture, if a portion of the principal of any Original Issue Discount Securities shall have been accelerated and declared due and payable pursuant to the provisions hereof, then, from and after such declaration, unless such declaration has been rescinded and annulled, the principal amount of such Original Issue Discount Securities shall be deemed, for all purposes hereunder, to be such portion of the principal thereof as shall be due and payable as a result of such acceleration, and payment of such portion of the principal thereof as shall be due and payable as a result of such acceleration, together with interest, if any, thereon and all other amounts owing thereunder, shall constitute payment in full of such Original Issue Discount Securities.

 

Section 5.2 COLLECTION OF INDEBTEDNESS BY TRUSTEE; TRUSTEE MAY PROVE DEBT

 

The Issuer covenants that (a) in case default shall be made in the payment of any installment of interest on any of the Securities of any series when such interest shall have become due and payable, and such default shall have continued for a period of 30 days, or (b) in case default shall be made in the payment of all or any part of the principal of any of the Securities of any series when the same shall have become due and payable, whether upon maturity of the Securities of such series or upon any redemption or by declaration or otherwise, then upon demand of the Trustee, the Issuer will pay to the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series the whole amount that then shall have become due and payable on all Securities of such series, for principal and interest, as the case may be (with interest to the date of such payment upon the overdue principal and, to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law, on overdue installments of interest at the same rate as the rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) specified in the Securities of such series); and in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, and such other amount due the Trustee under Section 6.6 in respect of Securities of such series.

 

Until such demand is made by the Trustee, the Issuer may pay the principal of and interest on the Securities of any series to the registered Holders, whether or not the Securities of such series be overdue.

 

In case the Issuer shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceedings to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Issuer or other obligor upon the Securities and collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Issuer or other obligor upon the Securities, wherever situated, all the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable.

 

 

In case there shall be pending proceedings relative to the Issuer or any other obligor upon the Securities under Title 11 of the United States Code or any other applicable Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, or in case a receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official shall have been appointed for or taken possession of the Issuer or its property or such other obligor, or in case of any other comparable judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer or other obligor upon the Securities, or to the creditors or property of the Issuer or such other obligor, 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 pursuant to the provisions of this Section, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise:

 

(a) to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal and interest (or, if the Securities of any series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities of any series, and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for amounts payable to the Trustee under Section 6.6) and of the Securityholders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer or other obligor upon the Securities, or to the creditors or property of the Issuer or such other obligor; and

 

(b) unless prohibited by applicable law and regulations, to vote on behalf of the holders of the Securities of any series in any election of a receiver, assignee, trustee or a standby trustee in arrangement, reorganization, liquidation or other bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, custodian or other person performing similar functions in respect of any such proceedings; and

 

(c) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute all amounts received with respect to the claims of the Securityholders and of the Trustee on their behalf; and any trustee, receiver, or liquidator, custodian or other similar official performing similar functions in respect of any such proceedings is hereby authorized by each of the Securityholders to make payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of payments directly to the Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee its costs and expenses of collection and all other amounts due to it pursuant to Section 6.6.

 

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or vote for or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities of any series or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder in any such proceeding, except as aforesaid in clause (b).

 

All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Securities of any series, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities of such series or the production thereof in any trial or other proceedings relative thereto, and any such action or proceedings instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall be awarded to the Trustee for ratable distribution to the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such action was taken, after payment of all sums due to the Trustee under Section 6.6 in respect of such Securities.

 

 

In any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and also any proceedings involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to which the Trustee shall be a party) the Trustee shall be held to represent all the Holders of the Securities in respect to which such action was taken, and it shall not be necessary to make any Holders of such Securities parties to any such proceedings.

 

Section 5.3 APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS

 

Any moneys collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article in respect of any series shall be applied in the following order at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such moneys on account of principal or interest, upon presentation of the several Securities in respect of which moneys have been collected and stamping (or otherwise noting) thereon the payment, or issuing Securities of such series in reduced principal amounts in exchange for the presented Securities of like series if only partially paid, or upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

 

FIRST: To the payment of costs and expenses applicable to such series of Securities in respect of which moneys have been collected, including all amounts due to the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee pursuant to this Indenture in respect to such series of Securities;

 

SECOND: If the Securities of such series are Subordinated Securities, to the payment of amounts then due and unpaid to the holders of Senior Indebtedness with respect to such series, to the extent required pursuant to the Subordination Provisions established with respect to the Securities of such series pursuant to Section 2.3(9).

 

THIRD: In case the principal of the Securities of such series in respect of which moneys have been collected shall not have become and be then due and payable, to the payment of interest on the Securities of such series in default in the order of the maturity of the installments on such interest, with interest (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee and is permitted by applicable law) upon the overdue installments of interest at the same rate as the rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) specified in such Securities, such payments to be made ratably to the persons entitled thereto, without discrimination or preference;

 

FOURTH: In case the principal of the Securities of such series in respect of which moneys have been collected shall have become and shall be then due and payable, to the payment of the whole amount then owing and unpaid upon all the Securities of such series for principal and interest, with interest upon the overdue principal, and (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee and is permitted by applicable law) upon the overdue installations of interest at the same rate as the rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) specified in the Securities of such series; and in case such moneys shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amount so due and unpaid upon the Securities of such series, then to the payment of such principal and interest or Yield to Maturity, without preference or priority of principal over interest or Yield to Maturity, or of interest or Yield to Maturity over principal, or of any installment of interest over any other installment of interest or of any Security of such series over any other Security of such series, ratably to the aggregate of such principal and accrued and unpaid interest or Yield to Maturity; and

 

FIFTH: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Issuer or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.

 

 

Section 5.4 SUITS FOR ENFORCEMENT

 

In case an Event of Default has occurred, has not been waived and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.

 

Section 5.5 RESTORATION OF RIGHTS ON ABANDONMENT OF PROCEEDINGS

 

In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Issuer and the Trustee shall be restored respectively to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Issuer, the Trustee and the Securityholders shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken.

 

Section 5.6 LIMITATIONS ON SUITS BY SECURITY HOLDERS

 

No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any action or proceeding at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise upon or under or with respect to this Indenture or such Security, or for the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official or for any other remedy hereunder or thereunder, unless (a) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such Holder previously shall have given to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series and of the continuance thereof, as hereinbefore provided, (b) the Holders of not less than [  ]% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such affected series then Outstanding (treated as a single class) shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action or proceedings in its own name as Trustee hereunder and shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby, (c) the Trustee for [  ] days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity shall have failed to institute any such action or proceeding, and (d) no direction inconsistent with such written request shall have been given to the Trustee pursuant to Section 5.9; it being understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by the taker and Holder of every Security with every other taker and Holder and the Trustee, that no one or more Holders of Securities of any series shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture or any Security to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other such taker or Holder of Securities, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such taker or Holder or to enforce any right under this Indenture or any Security, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all Holders of Securities of the applicable series. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section, each and every Securityholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.

 

 

Section 5.7 UNCONDITIONAL RIGHT OF SECURITYHOLDERS TO INSTITUTE CERTAIN SUITS

 

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture and any provision of any Security, the right of any Holder of any Security to receive payment of the principal of and interest on such Security on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security or the applicable redemption dates provided for in such Security, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

 

Section 5.8 POWERS AND REMEDIES CUMULATIVE; DELAY OR OMISSION NOT WAIVER OF DEFAULT

 

Except as provided in Section 5.6, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities 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.

 

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of Securities to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every power and remedy given by this Indenture, any Security or law to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or, subject to Section 5.6, by the Holders of Securities.

 

Section 5.9 CONTROL BY HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series affected (with each such series voting as a separate class) at the time Outstanding 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 by this Indenture; provided, that such direction shall not be otherwise than in accordance with law and the provisions of this Indenture; and provided, further, that (subject to the provisions of Section 6.1) the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if (a) the Trustee, being advised by counsel, shall determine that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken; (b) if the Trustee shall determine in good faith that the action or proceedings so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability; or (c) if the Trustee in good faith shall so determine that the actions or forbearances specified in or pursuant to such direction would be unduly prejudicial to the interests of Holders of the Securities of all affected series not joining in the giving of said direction, it being understood that (subject to Section 6.1) the Trustee shall have no duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances are unduly prejudicial to such Holders.

 

Nothing in this Indenture shall impair the right of the Trustee in its discretion to take any action deemed proper by the Trustee and which is not inconsistent with such direction or directions by Securityholders.

 

 

Section 5.10 WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS

 

Prior to the declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the Securities of any series as provided in Section 5.1, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series at the time Outstanding (voting as a single class) may on behalf of the Holders of all such Securities waive any past default or Event of Default described in Section 5.1 and its consequences, except a default in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Security affected. In the case of any such waiver, the Issuer, the Trustee and the Holders of all such Securities shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively, and 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 5.11 TRUSTEE TO GIVE NOTICE OF DEFAULT, BUT MAY WITHHOLD IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES

 

The Trustee shall, within ninety (90) days after the occurrence of a default with respect to the Securities of any series, give written notice of all defaults with respect to that series known to a Responsible Officer to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, unless such defaults shall have been cured before the sending of such notice (the term “default” for the purpose of this Section being hereby defined to mean any event or condition which is, or with notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default); provided, that, except in the case of default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any of the Securities of such series the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as it in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Securityholders of such series.

 

Section 5.12 RIGHT OF COURT TO REQUIRE FILING OF UNDERTAKING TO PAY COSTS

 

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, 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, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder or group of Securityholders of any series holding in the aggregate more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series, or, in the case of any suit relating to or arising under clause (c) or (f) of Section 5.1 (if the suit relates to Securities of more than one but less than all series), 10% in aggregate principal amount of Securities then Outstanding and affected thereby, or in the case of any suit relating to or arising under clause (c) or (f) (if the suit under clause (c) or (f) relates to all the Securities then Outstanding), or (d) or (e) of Section 5.1, 10% in aggregate principal amount of all Securities then Outstanding, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security on or after the due date expressed in such Security or any date fixed for redemption.

 

 

ARTICLE VI
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 6.1 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEE; DURING DEFAULT; PRIOR TO DEFAULT

 

Prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a particular series and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred with respect to such series, the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture with respect to such series of Securities. In case an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series has occurred and has not been cured or waived and is known to a Responsible Officer, the Trustee shall exercise with respect to such series of Securities such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture with respect to such series of Securities, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.

 

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

 

(a) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default known to a Responsible Officer with respect to the Securities of any series and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default with respect to such series which may have occurred:

 

(i) the duties and obligations of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

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

 

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

 

 

(c) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders pursuant to Section 5.9 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.

 

None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if there shall be reasonable ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

The provisions of this Section 6.1 are in furtherance of and subject to Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Section 6.2 CERTAIN RIGHTS OF THE TRUSTEE

 

In furtherance of and subject to the Trust Indenture Act, and subject to Section 6.1:

 

(a) the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, Officers’ Certificate or any other certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, coupon, security 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 Issuer mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate or Issuer Order (unless other evidence in respect thereof is specifically prescribed herein or in the terms established in respect of any series); and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Issuer;

 

(c) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection, and any advice or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon in accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;

 

(d) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the trusts or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Securityholders pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred therein or thereby;

 

 

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

 

(f) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default hereunder and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default, 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, consent, order, approval, appraisal, bond, debenture, note, coupon, security, or other paper or document unless (i) requested in writing so to do by the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all series affected then Outstanding (treated as one class) or (ii) otherwise provided in the terms of any series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.3; provided, that, if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against such expenses or liabilities as a condition to proceeding; the reasonable expenses of every such investigation shall be paid by the Issuer or, if paid by the Trustee or any predecessor trustee, shall be repaid by the Issuer upon demand;

 

(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 not regularly in its employ and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any negligence or willful misconduct on the part of any such agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;

 

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

 

(i) the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder;

 

(j) the Trustee may request that the Issuer 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, which certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officers’ Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded;

 

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

 

 

(l) the Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder;

 

(m) the Trustee shall not have any duty to calculate or verify any calculations; and

 

(n) the permissive rights or powers of the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any actions enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty of the Trustee.

 

Section 6.3 TRUSTEE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS, DISPOSITION OF SECURITIES OR APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS THEREOF

 

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

 

Section 6.4 TRUSTEE AND AGENTS MAY HOLD SECURITIES; COLLECTIONS, ETC.

 

The Trustee or any agent of the Issuer or of the Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee or such agent and may otherwise deal with the Issuer and receive, collect, hold and retain collections from the Issuer with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee or such agent.

 

Section 6.5 MONEYS HELD BY TRUSTEE

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 10.4 hereof, all moneys received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of law. Neither the Trustee nor any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee shall be under any liability for interest on any moneys received by it hereunder.

 

 

Section 6.6 COMPENSATION AND INDEMNIFICATION OF TRUSTEE AND ITS PRIOR CLAIM

 

The Issuer covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, such compensation as the Issuer and the Trustee shall agree in writing (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust), and the Issuer covenants and agrees to pay or reimburse the Trustee and each predecessor trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by or on behalf of it in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all agents and other persons not regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its own negligence or willful misconduct. The Issuer also covenants to indemnify each of the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee and their agents for, and to hold them harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability or expense, including taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the income of the Trustee), arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Issuer, or any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, or in connection with enforcing the provisions of this Section, except to the extent that such loss, damage, claim, liability or expense is determined to have been caused by its own negligence or willful misconduct. When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(d) or Section 5.1(e), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law. The obligations of the Issuer under this Section to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and each predecessor trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee and each predecessor trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder and shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee. Such additional indebtedness shall be a senior claim to that of the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of particular Securities, and the Securities are hereby subordinated to such senior claim.

 

Section 6.7 RIGHT OF TRUSTEE TO RELY ON OFFICERS’ CERTIFICATE, ETC.

 

Subject to Sections 6.1 and 6.2, whenever in the administration of the trusts of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering or omitting any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee, and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

 

Section 6.8 INDENTURES NOT CREATING POTENTIAL CONFLICTING INTERESTS FOR THE TRUSTEE

 

The following indentures are hereby specifically described for the purposes of Section 310(b)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act: this Indenture with respect to series of Securities that are of an equal priority.

 

 

Section 6.9 QUALIFICATION OF TRUSTEE: CONFLICTING INTERESTS

 

The Trustee shall comply with Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Section 6.10 PERSONS ELIGIBLE FOR APPOINTMENT AS TRUSTEE

 

The Trustee for each series of Securities hereunder shall at all times be a corporation or banking association organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, and which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and is subject to supervision or examination by Federal, state or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 6.11.

 

The provisions of this Section 6.10 are in furtherance of and subject to Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Section 6.11 RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE

 

(a) The Trustee, or any trustee or trustees hereafter appointed, may at any time resign with respect to one or more or all series of Securities by giving written notice of resignation to the Issuer and by sending notice of such resignation to the Holders of then Outstanding Registered Securities of each series affected in accordance with Applicable Procedures. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor trustee or trustees with respect to the applicable series by written instrument in duplicate, executed by authority of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor trustee or trustees. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed with respect to any series and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the sending of such notice of resignation, the resigning trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction at the expense of the Issuer for the appointment of a successor trustee, or any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security or Securities of the applicable series for at least six months may, subject to the provisions of Section 5.12, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.

 

(b) In case at any time any of the following shall occur:

 

(i) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to any series of Securities after written request therefor by the Issuer or by any Securityholder;

 

(ii) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.10 and Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Issuer or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security or Securities of such series for at least six months; or

 

 

(iii) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting with respect to any series of Securities, or shall be adjudged bankrupt or insolvent, or a receiver or liquidator 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, the Issuer may remove the Trustee with respect to the applicable series of Securities and appoint a successor trustee for such series by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors of the Issuer, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor trustee, or, subject to the provisions of Section 315(e) of the Trust Indenture Act, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security or Securities of such series for at least six months may on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to such series. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and so prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee.

 

(c) The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee with respect to Securities of such series and appoint a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of such series by delivering to the Trustee so removed, to the successor trustee so appointed and to the Issuer the evidence provided for in Section 7.1 of the action in that regard taken by the Securityholders by notice in writing not less than 30 days prior to the effective date of such removal.

 

(d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee with respect to any series and any appointment of a successor trustee with respect to such series pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section 6.11 shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section 6.12.

 

Section 6.12 ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT BY SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE

 

Any successor trustee appointed as provided in Section 6.11 shall execute and deliver to the Issuer and to its predecessor trustee an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the predecessor trustee with respect to all or any applicable series shall become effective and such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all rights, powers, duties and obligations with respect to such series of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as trustee for such series hereunder; but, nevertheless, on the written request of the Issuer or of the successor trustee, upon payment of its charges then unpaid, the trustee ceasing to act shall, subject to Section 10.4, pay over to the successor trustee all moneys at the time held by it hereunder and shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor trustee all such rights, powers, duties and obligations. Upon request of any such successor trustee, the Issuer shall execute any and all instruments in writing for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor trustee all such rights and powers. Any trustee ceasing to act shall, nevertheless, retain a prior claim upon all property or funds held or collected by such trustee to secure any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.6.

 

 

If a successor trustee is appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Issuer, the predecessor trustee and each successor trustee with respect to the Securities of any applicable series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto which shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the predecessor trustee with respect to the Securities of any series as to which the predecessor trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the predecessor trustee, and 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 under separate indentures.

 

No successor trustee with respect to any series of Securities shall accept appointment as provided in this Section 6.12 unless at the time of such acceptance such successor trustee shall be qualified under Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act and eligible under the provisions of Section 6.10.

 

Upon acceptance of appointment by any successor trustee as provided in this Section 6.12, the Issuer shall give notice thereof to the Holders by sending such notice to such Holders in accordance with Applicable Procedures. If the acceptance of appointment is substantially contemporaneous with the resignation, then the notice called for by the preceding sentence may be combined with the notice called for by Section 6.11. If the Issuer fails to give such notice within ten days after acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be given at the expense of the Issuer. The resigning Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability for any action or inaction of a successor Trustee.

 

Section 6.13 MERGER, CONVERSION, CONSOLIDATION OR SUCCESSION TO BUSINESS OF TRUSTEE

 

Any corporation or banking association into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation or banking association resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation or banking association succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided, that such corporation or banking association shall be qualified under Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act and eligible under the provisions of Section 6.10, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding.

 

In case at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Securities of any series shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee and deliver such Securities so authenticated; and, in case at that time any of the Securities of any series shall not have been authenticated, any such successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor Trustee; and in all such cases such certificate of authentication shall have the full force which under this Indenture or the Securities of such series it is provided that the certificate of authentication of the Trustee shall have; provided, that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee or to authenticate Securities of any series in the name of any predecessor trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.

 

 

Section 6.14 PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST THE ISSUER

 

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

 

Section 6.15 APPOINTMENT OF AUTHENTICATING AGENT

 

As long as any Securities of a series remain Outstanding, the Trustee may, by an instrument in writing, appoint with the approval of the Issuer an authenticating agent (the “Authenticating Agent”) which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities, including Securities issued upon exchange, registration of transfer, partial redemption or pursuant to Section 2.9. Securities of each such series authenticated by such Authenticating Agent shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee. Whenever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities of any series by the Trustee or to 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 for such series and a Certificate of Authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by such Authenticating Agent. Such Authenticating Agent shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any State, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 (determined as provided in Section 6.10 with respect to the Trustee) and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or state authority.

 

Any corporation into which any 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 any Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency business of any Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be the Authenticating Agent with respect to all series of Securities for which it served as Authenticating Agent without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or such Authenticating Agent. Any Authenticating Agent may at any time, and if it shall cease to be eligible shall, resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Issuer.

 

Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.15 with respect to one or more series of Securities, the Trustee shall upon receipt of an Issuer Order appoint a successor Authenticating Agent, and the Issuer shall provide notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 11.4. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all rights, powers, duties and responsibilities of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as Authenticating Agent. The Issuer agrees to pay to the Authenticating Agent for such series from time to time reasonable compensation. The Authenticating Agent for the Securities of any series shall have no responsibility or liability for any action taken by it as such at the direction of the Trustee.

 

Sections 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.6 and 7.3 shall be applicable to any Authenticating Agent.

 

 

ARTICLE VII
CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

 

Section 7.1 EVIDENCE OF ACTION TAKEN BY SECURITYHOLDERS

 

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by a specified percentage in principal amount of the Securityholders of any or all series may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such specified percentage of Securityholders in person or by 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. Proof of execution of any instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Sections 6.1 and 6.2) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Issuer, if made in the manner provided in this Article.

 

Section 7.2 PROOF OF EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS AND OF HOLDING OF SECURITIES

 

Subject to Sections 6.1 and 6.2, the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder or his agent or proxy may be proved in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee. The holding of Registered Securities shall be proved by the Security register or by a certificate of the Registrar thereof.

 

Section 7.3 HOLDERS TO BE TREATED AS OWNERS

 

The Issuer, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee shall deem and treat the person in whose name any Security shall be registered upon the Security register and books of the Registrar for such series as the absolute owner of such Security (whether or not such Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of and, subject to the provisions of this Indenture, interest on such Security and for all other purposes; and neither the Issuer nor the Trustee nor any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

 

Section 7.4 SECURITIES OWNED BY ISSUER DEEMED NOT OUTSTANDING

 

In determining whether the Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Outstanding Securities of any or all series have concurred in any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action by Securityholders under this Indenture, Securities which are owned by the Issuer or any other obligor on the Securities with respect to which such determination is being made or by any person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Issuer or any other obligor on the Securities with respect to which such determination is being made shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination, except that for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such action only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Issuer or any other obligor upon the Securities or any person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Issuer or any other obligor on the Securities. In case of a dispute as to such right, the advice of counsel shall be full protection in respect of any decision made by the Trustee in accordance with such advice. Upon request of the Trustee, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee promptly an Officers’ Certificate listing and identifying all Securities, if any, known by the Issuer to be owned or held by or for the account of any of the above-described persons; and, subject to Sections 6.1 and 6.2, the Trustee shall be entitled to accept such Officers’ Certificate as conclusive evidence of the facts therein set forth and of the fact that all Securities not listed therein are Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination.

 

Section 7.5 RIGHT OF REVOCATION OF ACTION TAKEN

 

At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 7.1, of the taking of any action by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any or all series, as the case may be, specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any Holder of a Security the serial number of which is shown by the evidence to be included among the serial numbers of the Securities the Holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice at the Corporate Trust Office and upon proof of holding as provided in this Article, revoke such action so far as concerns such Security. Except as aforesaid, any such action taken by the Holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of such Security and of any Securities issued in exchange or substitution therefor or on registration of transfer thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon any such Security. Any action taken by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any or all series, as the case may be, specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding upon the Issuer, the Trustee and the Holders of all the Securities affected by such action.

 

 

ARTICLE VIII
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

Section 8.1 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITHOUT CONSENT OF SECURITYHOLDERS

 

The Issuer, when authorized by a Board Resolution (which resolution may provide general terms or parameters for such action and may provide that the specific terms of such action may be determined in accordance with or pursuant to an Issuer Order), and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for one or more of the following purposes:

 

(a) to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge to the Trustee as security for the Securities of one or more series any property or assets;

 

(b) to evidence the succession of another corporation to the Issuer, or successive successions, and the assumption by the successor corporation of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Issuer pursuant to Article IX;

 

(c) to add to the covenants of the Issuer such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions as the Issuer and the Trustee shall consider to be for the protection of the Holders of Securities, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a default in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in this Indenture as herein set forth; provided, that in respect of any such additional covenant, restriction, condition or provision such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such an Event of Default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such an Event of Default or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series to waive such an Event of Default;

 

(d) 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);

 

(e) to add one or more guarantees for the benefit of Holders of the Securities;

 

(f) subject to any limitations established pursuant to Section 2.3, to provide for the issuance of additional Securities of any series;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

(j) to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Section 10.1; provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series or any other series of Securities in any material respect;

 

(k) 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;

 

(l) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary or desirable in accordance with any amendments to the Trust Indenture Act, provided that such action does not adversely affect the rights or interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect;

 

(m) to cure any ambiguity, defect, omission or inconsistency or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture which may be ambiguous, defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture, or to make any other provisions as the Issuer may deem necessary or desirable, provided, that no such action shall adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect;

 

(n) to establish the forms or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 2.1 and 2.3;

 

(o) 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 6.12; and

 

(p) to add to, change or eliminate any other provision under this Indenture; provided that such addition, change or elimination pursuant to this clause (p) shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect.

 

The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Issuer in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer, assignment, mortgage or pledge of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental indenture which adversely affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section may be executed without the consent of the Holders of any of the Securities at the time Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 8.2.

 

 

Section 8.2 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITH CONSENT OF SECURITYHOLDERS

 

(A) Except as set forth in paragraph (C) below, with the consent (evidenced as provided in Article VII) of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of all series of Senior Securities affected by such supplemental indenture (voting as one class), the Issuer, when authorized by a Board Resolution (which resolution may provide general terms or parameters for such action and may provide that the specific terms of such action may be determined in accordance with or pursuant to an Issuer Order), and the Trustee may, from time to time and at any time, enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as in force and effect at the date of execution thereof) for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each such series.

 

(B) Except as set forth in paragraph (C) below, with the consent (evidenced as provided in Article VII) of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of all series of Subordinated Securities affected by such supplemental indenture (voting as one class), the Issuer, when authorized by a Board Resolution (which resolution may provide general terms or parameters for such action and may provide that the specific terms of such action may be determined in accordance with or pursuant to an Issuer Order), and the Trustee may, from time to time and at any time, enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as in force and effect at the date of execution thereof) for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each such series.

 

(C) No such supplemental indenture shall (i) extend the final maturity of any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or premium thereon, if any, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any amount payable on redemption thereof, or make the principal thereof (including any amount in respect of original issue discount), or premium thereon, if any, or interest thereon payable in any coin or currency other than that provided in the Securities or in accordance with the terms thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon an acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.1 or the amount thereof provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 5.2, or in the case of Subordinated Securities of any series, modify any of the Subordination Provisions or the definition of “Senior Indebtedness” relating to such series in a manner adverse to the holders of such Subordinated Securities, or alter the provisions of Section 11.11 or 11.12 or impair or affect the right of any Securityholder to institute suit for the payment thereof when due or, if the Securities provide therefor, any right of repayment at the option of the Securityholder, or modify any provision of this Section 8.2(C), except to provide that certain provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived, in each case without the consent of the Holder of each Security so affected, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Securities of any series, the consent of the Holders of which is required for any such supplemental indenture, without the consent of the Holders of each Security so affected.

 

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

 

 

Upon the request of the Issuer, accompanied by a copy of a resolution of the Board of Directors (which resolution may provide general terms or parameters for such action and may provide that the specific terms of such action may be determined in accordance with or pursuant to an Issuer Order) certified by the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Issuer authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of the Holders of the Securities as aforesaid and other documents, if any, required by Section 8.4, the Trustee shall join with the Issuer in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental indenture.

 

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

 

Promptly after the execution by the Issuer and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Issuer or, at the Issuer’s written request and expense, the Trustee shall send the Issuer’s notice thereof to the Holders of then Outstanding Registered Securities in accordance with Applicable Procedures. Any failure of the Issuer to give such notice or cause such notice to be given, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

 

Section 8.3 EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions hereof, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Issuer and the Holders of Securities of each series affected thereby shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

 

Section 8.4 DOCUMENTS TO BE GIVEN TO TRUSTEE

 

The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 6.1 and 6.2, shall be provided with an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article VIII complies with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and is the valid and binding obligation of the Issuer, enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions.

 

Section 8.5 NOTATION ON SECURITIES IN RESPECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article may bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee for such series as to any matter provided for by such supplemental indenture or as to any action taken by Securityholders. If the Issuer shall so determine, subject to compliance with Section 2.4, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared by the Issuer, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Securities of such series then Outstanding. Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue such new Securities shall not affect the validity and effect of such supplemental indenture.

 

 

ARTICLE IX
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE

 

Section 9.1 ISSUER MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC., ONLY ON CERTAIN TERMS

 

The Issuer shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, and the Issuer shall not permit any other Person to consolidate with or merge into the Issuer, unless:

 

(a) either the Issuer shall be the continuing corporation, or the successor corporation or Person (if other than the Issuer) formed by such consolidation or into which the Issuer is merged or to which the properties and assets of the Issuer substantially as an entirety are transferred or leased is a Person organized or formed under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia, and if such entity is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the Securities is a corporation organized or existing under any such laws, and such successor corporation or Person, including such co-obligor, if any, shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Issuer under the Securities and this Indenture; and

 

(b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and treating any indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Issuer or a Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the Issuer or such Subsidiary at the time of 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 have happened and be continuing.

 

Section 9.2 SUCCESSOR PERSON SUBSTITUTED

 

The successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Issuer is merged or to which such transfer or lease is made shall succeed to and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Issuer under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Issuer herein, and thereafter (except in the case of a lease or transfer to another Person) the predecessor shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under the Indenture and the Securities and, in the event of such lease or transfer, any such predecessor may be dissolved and liquidated.

 

Section 9.3 OPINION OF COUNSEL TO BE GIVEN TO TRUSTEE

 

The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 6.1 and 6.2, shall be provided with an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such consolidation, merger, lease or transfer, and any such assumption, complies with the provisions of this Article IX.

 

 

ARTICLE X
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS

 

Section 10.1 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

 

(A) If at any time (i) the Issuer shall have paid or caused to be paid the principal of and interest on all the Securities of any series Outstanding hereunder (other than Securities of such series which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.9) as and when the same shall have become due and payable, or (ii) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities of any series theretofore authenticated (other than any Securities of such series which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.9) or (iii) in the case of any series of Securities where the exact amount (including the currency of payment) of principal of and interest due on which can be determined at the time of making the deposit referred to in clause (b) below, (a) all the Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and (b) the Issuer shall have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust the entire amount in (i) cash (other than moneys repaid by the Trustee or any paying agent to the Issuer in accordance with Section 10.4), (ii) in the case of any series of Securities the payments on which may only be made in Dollars, direct obligations of the United States of America, backed by its full faith and credit (“U.S. Government Obligations”), maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as will insure the availability of cash sufficient in the opinion or based on the report of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, investment bank or appraisal firm to pay at such maturity or upon such redemption, as the case may be, or (iii) a combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion or based on the report of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, investment bank or appraisal firm expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay (x) the principal and interest on all Securities of such series on each date that such principal or interest is due and payable and (y) any mandatory sinking fund payments on the dates on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Securities of such series; provided, that in the case of any redemption at a price or premium to be calculated based off the Treasury rate or similar rate, the amount deposited with the Trustee shall be sufficient for purposes of this Indenture to the extent that such amount is equal to the price or premium calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption, with any deficit on the date of redemption only required to be deposited with the Trustee on or prior to the date of redemption; and if, in any such case, the Issuer shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Issuer with respect to the Securities of such series, then this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except as to (i) rights of registration of transfer and exchange of Securities of such Series pursuant to Section 2.8, (ii) substitution of mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities, (iii) rights of holders of Securities to receive payments of principal thereof and interest thereon, upon the original stated due dates therefor (but not upon acceleration), and remaining rights of the Holders to receive mandatory sinking fund payments, if any, (iv) any optional redemption rights of such series of Securities to the extent to be exercised to make such call for redemption within one year, (v) the rights, obligations, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder, including those under Section 6.6, (vi) the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series as beneficiaries hereof with respect to the property so deposited with the Trustee payable to all or any of them, and (vii) the obligations of the Issuer under Section 3.2) and the Trustee, on demand of the Issuer accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel and at the cost and expense of the Issuer, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging such satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture; provided, that the rights of Holders of the Securities to receive amounts in respect of principal of and interest on the Securities held by them shall not be delayed longer than required by then-applicable mandatory rules or policies of any securities exchange upon which the Securities are listed. The Issuer agrees to reimburse the Trustee for any costs or expenses thereafter reasonably and properly incurred and to compensate the Trustee for any services thereafter reasonably and properly rendered by the Trustee in connection with this Indenture or the Securities of such series.

 

 

(B) The following provisions shall apply to the Securities of each series unless specifically otherwise provided in a Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or indenture supplemental hereto provided pursuant to Section 2.3. In addition to discharge of the Indenture pursuant to the next preceding paragraph, in the case of any series of Securities the exact amounts (including the currency of payment) of principal of and interest due on which can be determined at the time of making the deposit referred to in clause (a) below, the Issuer shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the Securities of such a series on the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (a) below, and the provisions of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series shall no longer be in effect (except as to (i) rights of registration of transfer and exchange of Securities of such series pursuant to Section 2.8 (ii) substitution of mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities, (iii) rights of Holders of Securities to receive payments of principal thereof and interest thereon, upon the original stated due dates therefor (but not upon acceleration), and remaining rights of the Holders to receive mandatory sinking fund payments, if any, (iv) any optional redemption rights of such series of Securities, (v) the rights, obligations, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder, (vi) the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series as beneficiaries hereof with respect to the property so deposited with the Trustee payable to all or any of them and (vii) the obligations of the Issuer under Section 3.2) and the Trustee, at the expense of the Issuer, shall at the Issuer’s request, execute proper instruments acknowledging the same, if

 

(a) with reference to this provision the Issuer has irrevocably deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series (i) cash in an amount, or (ii) in the case of any series of Securities the payments on which may only be made in Dollars, U.S. Government Obligations (without reinvestement), maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as will insure the availability of cash or (iii) a combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion or based on the report of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, investment bank or appraisal firm expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay (A) the principal and interest on all Securities of such series on each date that such principal or interest is due and payable and (B) any mandatory sinking fund payments on the dates on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Securities of such series; provided, that before such a deposit the Issuer may make arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Securities at a future date or dates in accordance with Article XII, which shall be given effect in applying the foregoing; and provided, further, that in the case of any redemption at a price or premium to be calculated based off the Treasury rate or similar rate, the amount deposited with the Trustee shall be sufficient for purposes of this Indenture to the extent that such amount is equal to the price or premium calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption, with any deficit on the date of redemption only required to be deposited with the Trustee on or prior to the date of redemption;

 

 

(b) no Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to the Securities shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

 

(c) such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any agreement or instrument to which the Issuer is a party or by which it is bound;

 

(d) the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel based on the fact that (x) the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the IRS a ruling or (y) since the date hereof, there has been a change in the applicable United States Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and such opinion shall confirm that, the beneficial owners of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to United States Federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times, as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred; and

 

(e) the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this provision have been complied with.

 

(C) The Issuer shall be released from its obligations under Sections 3.6 and 9.1 and unless otherwise provided for in the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or Indenture supplemental hereto establishing such series of Securities, from all covenants and other obligations referred to in Section 2.3(19) or 2.3(21) with respect to such series of Securities outstanding on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “covenant defeasance”). For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to the Outstanding Securities of any series, the Issuer may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in such Section, whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to such Section or by reason of any reference in such Section to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute an Event of Default under Section 5.1, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby. The following shall be the conditions to application of this subsection C of this Section 10.1:

 

 

(a) The Issuer has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the holders of the Securities of such series, (i) cash in an amount, or (ii) in the case of any series of Securities the payments on which may only be made in Dollars, U.S. Government Obligations maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as will insure the availability of cash or (iii) a combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion or based on the report of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, investment bank or appraisal firm expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay (A) the principal and interest on all Securities of such series and (B) any mandatory sinking fund payments on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Securities of such series; provided, that before such a deposit the Issuer may make arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Securities at a future date or dates in accordance with Article XII, which shall be given effect in applying the foregoing; and provided, further, that in the case of any redemption at a price or premium to be calculated based off the Treasury rate or similar rate, the amount deposited with the Trustee shall be sufficient for purposes of this Indenture to the extent that such amount is equal to the price or premium calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption, with any deficit on the date of redemption only required to be deposited with the Trustee on or prior to the date of redemption;

 

(b) No Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to the Securities shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

 

(c) Such covenant defeasance shall not cause the Trustee to have a conflicting interest as defined in Section 6.9 and for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to any securities of the Issuer;

 

(d) Such covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under any agreement or instrument to which the Issuer is a party or by which it is bound;

 

(e) Such covenant defeasance shall not cause any Securities then listed on any registered national securities exchange under the Exchange Act to be delisted;

 

(f) The Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the beneficial owners of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States Federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to United States Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred; and

 

(g) The Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the covenant defeasance contemplated by this provision have been complied with.

 

 

Section 10.2 APPLICATION BY TRUSTEE OF FUNDS DEPOSITED FOR PAYMENT OF SECURITIES

 

Subject to Section 10.4, all moneys deposited with the Trustee (or other trustee) pursuant to Section 10.1 shall be held in trust and applied by it to the payment, either directly or through any paying agent (including the Issuer acting as its own paying agent), to the Holders of the particular Securities of such series for the payment or redemption of which such moneys have been deposited with the Trustee, of all sums due and to become due thereon for principal and interest; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

Section 10.3 REPAYMENT OF MONEYS HELD BY PAYING AGENT

 

In connection with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to Securities of any series, all moneys then held by any paying agent under the provisions of this Indenture with respect to such series of Securities shall, upon demand of the Issuer, be repaid to it or paid to the Trustee and thereupon such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys.

 

Section 10.4 RETURN OF MONEYS HELD BY TRUSTEE AND PAYING AGENT UNCLAIMED FOR TWO YEARS

 

Any moneys deposited with or paid to the Trustee or any paying agent for the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security of any series and not applied but remaining unclaimed for two years after the date upon which such principal or interest shall have become due and payable, shall, upon the written request of the Issuer and unless otherwise required by mandatory provisions of applicable escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property law, be repaid to the Issuer by the Trustee for such series or such paying agent, and the Holder of the Securities of such series shall, unless otherwise required by mandatory provisions of applicable escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property laws, thereafter look only to the Issuer for any payment which such Holder may be entitled to collect, and all liability of the Trustee or any paying agent with respect to such moneys shall thereupon cease; provided, that the Trustee or such paying agent, before being required to make any such repayment with respect to moneys deposited with it for any payment in respect of Registered Securities of any series, shall at the cost and expense of the Issuer, send to Holders of such Securities in accordance with Applicable Procedures notice, that such moneys remain and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such mailing, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Issuer.

 

Section 10.5 INDEMNITY FOR U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS

 

The Issuer 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 10.1 or the principal or interest received in respect of such obligations.

 

 

Section 10.6 EFFECT ON SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS

 

Unless otherwise expressly established pursuant to Section 2.3 with respect to the Subordinated Securities of any series, the provisions of Section 11.13 hereof, insofar as they pertain to the Subordinated Securities of such series, and the Subordination Provisions established pursuant to Section 2.3(9) with respect to such series, are hereby expressly made subject to the provisions for satisfaction and discharge and defeasance and covenant defeasance set forth in Section 10.1 hereof and, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, upon the effectiveness of such satisfaction and discharge and defeasance and covenant defeasance pursuant to Section 10.1 with respect to the Securities of such series, such Securities shall thereupon cease to be so subordinated and shall no longer be subject to the provisions of Section 11.13 or the Subordination Provisions established pursuant to Section 2.3(9) with respect to such series and, without limitation to the foregoing, all moneys, U.S. Government Obligations and other securities or property deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) in trust in connection with such satisfaction and discharge, defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be, and all proceeds therefrom may be applied to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on, and mandatory sinking fund payments, if any, with respect to the Securities of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable notwithstanding the provisions of Section 11.13 or such Subordination Provisions.

 

ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

Section 11.1 INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS OF ISSUER 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 stockholder, officer or director, as such, of the Issuer or of any successor, either directly or through the Issuer 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 11.2 PROVISIONS OF INDENTURE FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT OF PARTIES AND HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, expressed or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any person, firm or corporation, other than the parties thereto and their successors and the Holders of the Securities and, in the case of the Subordinated Securities of any series, the holders of Senior Indebtedness with respect to such series, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture or under any covenant or provision herein contained, all such covenants and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and of the Holders of the Securities and, in the case of the Subordinated Securities of any series, the holders of Senior Indebtedness with respect to such series.

 

 

Section 11.3 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS OF ISSUER BOUND BY INDENTURE

 

All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained by or in behalf of the Issuer shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

 

Section 11.4 NOTICES AND DEMANDS ON ISSUER, TRUSTEE AND HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

Any notice, request, direction, consent or communication made pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture or the Notes shall be in writing and delivered in person, sent by facsimile, sent by electronic mail in pdf format, delivered by commercial courier service or mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address of the Issuer is filed by the Issuer with the Trustee) to: Rubicon Technologies, Inc., [335 Madison Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, New York 10017], Attention: Corporate Secretary, or by being e-mailed to [  ] or faxed to[  ] and to the Trustee at [  ] or by being e-mailed to [  ] or faxed to [  ].

 

Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of Registered Securities, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class mail, postage prepaid, to each Holder entitled thereto, at his last address as it appears in the Security register.

 

The Trustee agrees to accept and act upon instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by e-mail, pdf, facsimile transmission or other similar electronic methods; provided, however, that the Trustee shall have received an Officers’ Certificate (which need not comply with Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act or Section 11.5 hereof) listing the names and titles of the persons designated to give such instructions or directions and containing specimen signatures of such designated persons, which certificate shall be amended and replaced whenever a person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If the Issuer elects to give the Trustee e-mail or facsimile instructions (or instructions by a similar electronic method) and the Trustee acts upon such instructions, the Trustee’s understanding of such instructions 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 instructions that the Trustee believes, in the absence of negligence and willful misconduct, to be genuine and to have been sent by one of the persons named on the then most recent certificate referred to above notwithstanding that such instructions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The Issuer agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit the instructions and directions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse of electronic communications by third parties.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Security of any series other than a provision that expressly states that this paragraph is not applicable to the Securities of such series, when this Indenture or any Security provides for notice of any event (including any notice of redemption) to a Holder of Securities in global form (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary for such Security (or its designee) pursuant to the customary procedures of such Depositary.

 

 

In any case where notice to such Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

 

In case, by reason of the suspension of or irregularities in regular mail service, it shall be impracticable to mail notice to the Issuer when such notice is required to the given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, then any manner of giving such notice as shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee shall be deemed to be a sufficient giving of such notice.

 

Section 11.5 OFFICERS’ CERTIFICATES AND OPINIONS OF COUNSEL; STATEMENTS TO BE CONTAINED THEREIN

 

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

 

Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include (a) a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition, (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 such person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him 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 or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

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, statement or opinion of an officer of the Issuer may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of or representations by counsel, unless such officer knows that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate, statement or opinion may be based as aforesaid are erroneous, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know that the same are erroneous. Any certificate, statement or opinion of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters or information with respect to which is in the possession of the Issuer, upon the certificate, statement or opinion of or representations by an officer or officers of the Issuer, unless such counsel knows that the certificate, statement or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate, statement or opinion may be based as aforesaid are erroneous, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know that the same are erroneous.

 

 

Any certificate, statement or opinion of an officer of the Issuer or of counsel may be based upon a certificate, report or opinion of or representations by an accountant, firm of accountants, investment bank or appraisal firm, unless such officer or counsel, as the case may be, knows that the certificate, report or opinion of or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate, statement or opinion may be based as aforesaid are erroneous, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know that the same are erroneous.

 

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

 

Any certificate, report or opinion of any independent firm of public accountants filed with and directed to the Trustee shall contain a statement that such firm is independent.

 

Section 11.6 PAYMENTS DUE ON SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS AND HOLIDAYS

 

If the date of maturity of interest on or principal of the Securities of any series or the date fixed for redemption or repayment of any such Security shall not be a Business Day, then payment of interest or principal need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the date of maturity or the date fixed for redemption, and no additional interest shall accrue for the period after such date.

 

Section 11.7 CONFLICT OF ANY PROVISION OF INDENTURE WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT

 

If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with duties imposed by, or with another provision (an “incorporated provision”) included in this Indenture by operation of Sections 310 to 318, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties or incorporated provision shall control.

 

Section 11.8 NEW YORK LAW TO GOVERN; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

 

THIS INDENTURE AND EACH SECURITY SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF SUCH STATE.

 

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

 

 

Section 11.9 COUNTERPARTS

 

This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original; but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

 

Section 11.10 EFFECT OF HEADINGS

 

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

 

Section 11.11 SECURITIES IN A FOREIGN CURRENCY

 

Unless otherwise specified in an Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.3 of this Indenture with respect to a particular series of Securities, whenever for purposes of this Indenture any action may be taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of Securities of all series or all series affected by a particular action at the time Outstanding and, at such time, there are Outstanding Securities of any series which are denominated in a Foreign Currency, then the principal amount of Securities of such series which shall be deemed to be Outstanding for the purpose of taking such action shall be that amount of Dollars that could be obtained for such amount at the “Market Exchange Rate”. For purposes of this Section 11.11, Market Exchange Rate shall mean the noon Dollar buying rate in the City of New York for cable transfers of such currency or currencies as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as of the most recent available date. If such Market Exchange Rate is not available for any reason with respect to such currency, the paying agent shall use, in its sole discretion and without liability on its part, such quotation of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or quotations from one or more major banks in the City of New York or in the country of issue of the currency in question, which for purposes of the euro shall be any member state of the European Union that has adopted the euro, as the paying agent shall deem appropriate. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply in determining the equivalent principal amount in respect of Securities of a series denominated in a currency other than Dollars in connection with any action taken by Holders of Securities pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

 

All decisions and determinations of the paying agent regarding the Market Exchange Rate or any alternative determination provided for in the preceding paragraph shall be in its sole discretion and shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive to the extent permitted by law for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Issuer and all Holders.

 

 

Section 11.12 JUDGMENT CURRENCY

 

The Issuer agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of or interest on the Securities of any series (the “Required Currency”) into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the “Judgment Currency”), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the paying agent could purchase in the City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered, unless such day is not a New York Banking Day, then, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the paying agent could purchase in the City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the New York Banking Day preceding the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, or any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with subsection (a)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture. For purposes of the foregoing, “New York Banking Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in the City of New York or a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to close.

 

Section 11.13 AGREEMENT TO SUBORDINATE

 

The Issuer, for itself, its successors and assigns, covenants and agrees, and each Holder of Subordinated Securities of any series by his acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on, and mandatory sinking fund payments, if any, in respect of each and all of the Subordinated Securities of such series shall be expressly subordinated, to the extent and in the manner provided in the Subordination Provisions established with respect to the Subordinated Securities of such series pursuant to Section 2.3(9) hereof, in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness with respect to such series.

 

Section 11.14 FORCE MAJEURE

 

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

 

Section 11.15 U.S.A. PATRIOT ACT

 

The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

 

 

ARTICLE XII
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUNDS

 

Section 12.1 APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE

 

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to the Securities of any series which are redeemable before their maturity or to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.3 for Securities of such series.

 

Section 12.2 NOTICE OF REDEMPTION; PARTIAL REDEMPTIONS

 

Notice of redemption to the Holders of Registered Securities of any series to be redeemed as a whole or in part at the option of the Issuer shall be given by sending notice of such redemption, at least 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption, to such Holders of Securities of such series in accordance with Applicable Procedures, except that redemption notices may be delivered more than 60 days prior to a redemption if the notice is issued in connection with defeasance, covenant defeasance or discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Section 10.1. Any notice which is sent in accordance with Applicable Procedures shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives the notice. Any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Security of a series designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of such Security of such series.

 

The notice of redemption to each such Holder shall identify the Securities to be redeemed (including CUSIP number(s)) and specify the aggregate principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed, the date fixed for redemption, the redemption price, the place or places of payment, that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Securities, that such redemption is pursuant to the mandatory or optional sinking fund, or both, if such be the case, that interest accrued to, but not including, the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in such notice and that on and after said date interest thereon or on the portions thereof to be redeemed will cease to accrue. In case any Security of a series is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption to Holders of Securities of the series shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state that on and after the date fixed for redemption, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of such series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.

 

The notice of redemption of Securities of any series to be redeemed at the option of the Issuer shall be given by the Issuer or, at the Issuer’s request at least five (5) Business Days prior to the date the notice must be mailed to Holders (unless the Trustee otherwise agrees to a shorter period), by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Issuer.

 

On or before 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the redemption date specified in the notice of redemption given as provided in this Section, the Issuer will deposit with the Trustee or with one or more paying agents (or, if the Issuer is acting as its own paying agent, set aside, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 3.4) an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the redemption date all the Securities of such series so called for redemption at the appropriate redemption price, together with accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption. The Issuer will deliver to the Trustee at least 70 days prior to the date fixed for redemption, or such shorter period as shall be acceptable to the Trustee, an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be redeemed. In case of a redemption at the election of the Issuer prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee, prior to the giving of any notice of redemption to Holders pursuant to this Section, an Officers’ Certificate stating that such restriction has been complied with.

 

 

If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select, in such manner as it shall deemed appropriate and fair in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary, in its sole discretion, Securities of such series to be redeemed in whole or in part. Securities may be redeemed in part in multiples equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of such series or any multiple thereof. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuer in writing of the Securities of such series selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities of such series selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities of any series shall relate, in the case of any Security redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Security which has been or is to be redeemed.

 

Section 12.3 PAYMENT OF SECURITIES CALLED FOR REDEMPTION

 

If notice of redemption has been given as above provided, the Securities or portions of Securities specified in such notice shall become due and payable on the date and at the place stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued to, but not including, the date fixed for redemption, and on and after said date (unless the Issuer shall default in the payment of such Securities at the redemption price, together with interest accrued to said date) interest on the Securities or portions of Securities so called for redemption shall cease to accrue, and, except as provided in Sections 6.5 and 10.4, such Securities shall cease from and after the date fixed for redemption to be entitled to any benefit or security under this Indenture, and the Holders thereof shall have no right in respect of such Securities except the right to receive the redemption price thereof and unpaid interest to the date fixed for redemption. On presentation and surrender of such Securities at a place of payment specified in said notice, said Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Issuer at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption; provided, that payment of interest becoming due on or prior to, but not including, the date fixed for redemption shall be payable to the Holder of such Registered Securities registered as such on the relevant record date, subject to the terms and provisions of Section 2.3 and 2.7 hereof.

 

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal shall, until paid or duly provided for, bear interest from the date fixed for redemption at the rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security) borne by such Security.

 

Upon presentation of any Security redeemed in part only, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to or on the order of the Holder thereof, at the expense of the Issuer, a new Security or Securities of such series, of authorized denominations, in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security so presented.

 

 

Section 12.4 EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN SECURITIES FROM ELIGIBILITY FOR SELECTION FOR REDEMPTION

 

Securities shall be excluded from eligibility for selection for redemption if they are identified by registration and certificate number in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee at least 40 days prior to the last date on which notice of redemption may be given as being owned of record and beneficially by, and not pledged or hypothecated by, either (a) the Issuer or (b) an entity specifically identified in such written statement as directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Issuer.

 

Section 12.5 MANDATORY AND OPTIONAL SINKING FUNDS

 

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of the Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of the Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” The date on which a sinking fund payment is to be made is herein referred to as the “sinking fund payment date.”

 

In lieu of making all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to any series of Securities in cash, the Issuer may at its option (a) deliver to the Trustee Securities of such series theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired (except upon redemption pursuant to the mandatory sinking fund) by the Issuer or receive credit for Securities of such series (not previously so credited) theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired (except as aforesaid) by the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee for cancellation pursuant to Section 2.10, (b) receive credit for optional sinking fund payments (not previously so credited) made pursuant to this Section, or (c) receive credit for Securities of such series (not previously so credited) redeemed by the Issuer through any optional redemption provision contained in the terms of such series. Securities so delivered or credited shall be received or credited by the Trustee at the sinking fund redemption price specified in such Securities.

 

On or before the 60th day next preceding each sinking fund payment date for any series, the Issuer will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate (which need not contain the statements required by Section 11.5) (a) specifying the portion of the mandatory sinking fund payment to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion to be satisfied by credit of Securities of such series and the basis for such credit, (b) stating that none of the Securities of such series has theretofore been so credited, (c) stating that no defaults in the payment of interest or Events of Default with respect to such series have occurred (which have not been waived or cured) and are continuing and (d) stating whether or not the Issuer intends to exercise its right to make an optional sinking fund payment with respect to such series and, if so, specifying the amount of such optional sinking fund payment which the Issuer intends to pay on or before the next succeeding sinking fund payment date. Any Securities of such series to be credited and required to be delivered to the Trustee in order for the Issuer to be entitled to credit therefor as aforesaid which have not theretofore been delivered to the Trustee shall be delivered for cancellation pursuant to Section 2.10 to the Trustee with such Officers’ Certificate (or reasonably promptly thereafter if acceptable to the Trustee). Such Officers’ Certificate shall be irrevocable and upon its receipt by the Trustee, the Issuer shall become unconditionally obligated to make all the cash payments or payments therein referred to, if any, on or before the next succeeding sinking fund payment date. Failure of the Issuer, on or before any such 60th day, to deliver such Officers’ Certificate and Securities specified in this paragraph, if any, shall not constitute a default but shall constitute, on and as of such date, the irrevocable election of the Issuer (i) that the mandatory sinking fund payment for such series due on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date shall be paid entirely in cash without the option to deliver or credit Securities of such series in respect thereof and (ii) that the Issuer will make no optional sinking fund payment with respect to such series as provided in this Section.

 

 

If the sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory or optional or both) to be made in cash on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date plus any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments made in cash shall exceed $50,000 (or the equivalent thereof in any Foreign Currency) or a lesser sum in Dollars (or the equivalent thereof in any Foreign Currency) if the Issuer shall so request with respect to the Securities of any particular series, such cash shall be applied on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date to the redemption of Securities of such series at the sinking fund redemption price together with accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption. If such amount shall be $50,000 (or the equivalent thereof in any Foreign Currency) or less and the Issuer makes no such request then it shall be carried over until a sum in excess of $50,000 (or the equivalent thereof in any Foreign Currency) is available. The Trustee shall select, in the manner provided in Section 12.2, for redemption on such sinking fund payment date a sufficient principal amount of Securities of such series to absorb said cash, as nearly as may be, and shall (if requested in writing by the Issuer) inform the Issuer of the serial numbers of the Securities of such series (or portions thereof) so selected. Securities shall be excluded from eligibility for redemption under this Section if they are identified by registration and certificate number in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee at least 60 days prior to the sinking fund payment date as being owned of record and beneficially by, and not pledged or hypothecated by, either (a) the Issuer or (b) an entity specifically identified in such Officers’ Certificate as directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Issuer. The Trustee, in the name and at the expense of the Issuer (or the Issuer, if it shall so request the Trustee in writing) shall cause notice of redemption of the Securities of such series to be given in substantially the manner provided in Section 12.2 (and with the effect provided in Section 12.3) for the redemption of Securities of such series in part at the option of the Issuer. The amount of any sinking fund payments not so applied or allocated to the redemption of Securities of such series shall be added to the next cash sinking fund payment for such series and, together with such payment, shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of this Section. Any and all sinking fund moneys held on the stated maturity date of the Securities of any particular series (or earlier, if such maturity is accelerated), which are not held for the payment or redemption of particular Securities of such series shall be applied, together with other moneys, if necessary, sufficient for the purpose, to the payment of the principal of, and interest on, the Securities of such series at maturity.

 

On or before each sinking fund payment date, the Issuer shall pay to the Trustee in cash or shall otherwise provide for the payment of all interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption on Securities to be redeemed on the next following sinking fund payment date.

 

The Trustee shall not redeem or cause to be redeemed any Securities of a series with sinking fund moneys or give any notice of redemption of Securities for such series by operation of the sinking fund during the continuance of a default in payment of interest on such Securities or of any Event of Default except that, where the giving of notice of redemption of any Securities shall theretofore have been made, the Trustee shall redeem or cause to be redeemed such Securities, provided that it shall have received from the Issuer a sum sufficient for such redemption. Except as aforesaid, any moneys in the sinking fund for such series at the time when any such default or Event of Default shall occur, and any moneys thereafter paid into the sinking fund, shall, during the continuance of such default or Event of Default be deemed to have been collected under Article V and held for the payment of all such Securities. In case such Event of Default shall have been waived as provided in Section 5.10 or the default cured on or before the sixtieth day preceding the sinking fund payment date in any year, such moneys shall thereafter be applied on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date in accordance with this Section to the redemption of such Securities.

 

 

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

 

	RUBICON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
	By:
		Name:
		Title:
	[________________________], as Trustee
	By:
		Name:
		Title:

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]

 

 

Exhibit 5.1

 

 

September 5, 2023

 

Rubicon Technologies, Inc.

335 Madison Avenue, 4^th Floor

New York, NY 10017

 

Re:

Form S-3 Registration Statement

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel to Rubicon Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation of the Company’s registration statement on Form S-3 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on or about the date hereof (the “Registration Statement”), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the “Securities Act”).

 

The Registration Statement relates to the proposed offer, issuance and sale from time to time on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, as set forth in the Registration Statement, the prospectus contained therein and any supplement to the prospectus, of the following securities of the Company:

 

(i)

shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”);

 

(ii)

shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “Preferred Stock”);

 

(iii)

debt securities of the Company, in one or more series (the “Debt Securities”), which will be issued under an Indenture, a form of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (as amended or supplemented, the “Indenture”), to be entered into by and between the Company and the trustee named therein (the “Trustee”);

 

(iv)

warrants to purchase the Common Stock, the Preferred Stock or the Debt Securities (the “Warrants”), which will be issued pursuant to a warrant agreement, which will be filed at a later date by amendment or as an exhibit to a document incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, to be entered into by and between the Company and a bank or trust company as warrant agent;

 

(v)

rights to purchase the Common Stock, the Preferred Stock or the Debt Securities (the “Rights”), which will be issued pursuant to a rights agreement, which will be filed at a later date by amendment or as an exhibit to a document incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, to be entered into by and between the Company and a bank or trust company as rights agent; and

 

 

(vi)

units representing an interest in two or more other securities referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above, which may or may not be separable from one another (the “Units” and together with the Common Stock, the Preferred Stock, the Debt Securities, the Warrants and the Rights, the “Securities”), which will be issued pursuant to a unit agreement, which will be filed at a later date by amendment or as an exhibit to a document incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, to be entered into by and between the Company and the other parties named therein.

 

It is understood that the opinions set forth below are to be used only in connection with the offer, issuance and sale of the Securities while the Registration Statement is in effect. The Registration Statement provides that the Securities may be offered in amounts, at prices and on terms to be set forth in one or more prospectus supplements or free writing prospectuses.

 

This opinion letter is being delivered in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

In rendering the opinions set forth below, we examined and relied upon such certificates, corporate records, agreements, instruments and other documents, and examined such matters of law, that we considered necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions. In rendering the opinions set forth below, we have examined and are familiar with originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of (i) the certificate of incorporation of the Company, as in effect on the date hereof (the “Charter”), (ii) the bylaws of the Company, as in effect on the date hereof (together with the Charter, the “Organizational Documents”), (iii) the Registration Statement, (iv) resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) relating to, among other matters, the filing of the Registration Statement and (v) such other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions set forth below. In our examination, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies, the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents, that all parties to such documents had the power, corporate or other, to enter into and perform all obligations thereunder and all such documents have been duly authorized by all requisite action, corporate or other, and duly executed and delivered by all parties thereto. As to any facts material to the opinions expressed herein that we did not independently establish or verify, we have relied upon oral or written statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and others.

 

On the basis of the foregoing, and subject to (i) the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto being effective under the Securities Act, (ii) the Indenture having been duly authorized, validly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto, (iii) the Trustee being qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, (iv) the applicable warrant agreement pursuant to which the Warrants will be issued having been duly authorized, validly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto, (v) a prospectus supplement having been filed with the Commission describing the Securities being offered thereby, (vi) all Securities being issued and sold in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the applicable prospectus supplement and in accordance with a duly executed and delivered purchase, underwriting or similar agreement with respect to the Securities and (vii) all other assumptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

 

 

1. With respect to the Common Stock, when the Board has taken all corporate action necessary to approve the final terms of the issuance and sale of the shares of the Common Stock and the Company has received the consideration therefor (and such consideration per share is not less than the par value per share of the Common Stock), the Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

2. With respect to any series of Preferred Stock, when (i) the Board has taken all corporate action necessary to approve the final terms of the issuance and sale of such Preferred Stock, (ii) the terms of the series of the Preferred Stock have been duly established in conformity with the applicable Organizational Documents and (iii) the Company has received the consideration therefor (and such consideration per share is not less than the par value per share of the Preferred Stock), the Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

3. With respect to the Debt Securities, when (i) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the final terms of the issuance and sale of the Debt Securities, (ii) the terms of the Debt Securities have been duly established in conformity with the Indenture and do not violate any applicable law or result in a default under, or breach of, an agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, (iii) such Debt Securities have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the Indenture, (iv) the applicable Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Trustee and has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and (v) the Company has received the consideration therefor, such Debt Securities will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable 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.

 

4. With respect to the Warrants, when (i) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the final terms of the issuance and sale of the Warrants, (ii) the terms of the Warrants have been duly established in conformity with the applicable warrant agreement and do not violate any applicable law or result in a default under, or breach of, an agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, (iii) the applicable warrant agreement relating to the Warrants has been duly authorized, executed and delivered, (iv) the Warrants are executed, countersigned and delivered in accordance with the applicable warrant agreement against payment therefor and (v) the Company has received the consideration therefor, the Warrants will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable 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.

 

 

5. With respect to the Rights, when (i) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the final terms of the issuance and sale of the Rights, (ii) the terms of the Rights have been duly established in conformity with the applicable rights agreement and do not violate any applicable law or result in a default under, or breach of, an agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, (iii) the applicable rights agreement relating to the Rights has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the subscription agent named therein, (iv) the Rights are executed, countersigned and delivered in accordance with the applicable rights agreement against payment therefor and (v) the Company has received the consideration therefor, the Rights will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable 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.

 

6. With respect to the Units, when (i) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the final terms of the issuance and sale of the Units, (ii) the terms of the Units have been duly established in conformity with the applicable unit agreement and do not violate any applicable law or result in a default under, or breach of, an agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, (iii) the applicable unit agreement relating to the Units has been duly authorized, executed and delivered, (iv) the Units are executed, countersigned and delivered in accordance with the applicable unit agreement against payment therefor and (v) the Company has received the consideration therefor, the Units will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable 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.

 

The opinions expressed herein are based upon and limited to the laws of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as currently in effect. We express no opinion herein as to any other laws, statutes, regulations or ordinances. The opinions expressed herein that are based on the laws of the State of New York are limited to the laws generally applicable in transactions of the type covered by 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 our firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are experts within the meaning of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission or that this consent is required by Section 7 of the Securities Act.

 

	Very truly yours,
	Winston & Strawn LLP

 

 

Exhibit 23.2

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 and Prospectus of Rubicon Technologies, Inc., of our report dated March 22, 2023, with respect to our audits of the consolidated financial statements of Rubicon Technologies, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, and for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2022. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement and Prospectus.

 

/s/ Cherry Bekaert LLP

 

Atlanta, Georgia

September 5, 2023

 

 

 

Exhibit 107

 

Calculation of Filing Fee Tables

 

Form S-3 

(Form Type)

 

Rubicon Technologies, Inc.

(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	Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit	Maximum Aggregate Offering Price	Fee Rate	Amount of Registration Fee	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	Debt	Debt Securities (1)	Rule 457(o)	(2)	(3)	(3)	—	—
	Equity	Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (1)	Rule 457(o)	(2)	(3)	(3)	—	—
	Equity	Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (1)	Rule 457(o)	(2)	(3)	(3)	—	—
	Other	Warrants (1)	Rule 457(o)	(2)	(3)	(3)	—	—
	Other	Rights (1)	Rule 457(o)	(2)	(3)	(3)	—	—
	Other	Units (1)	Rule 457(o)	(2)	(3)	(3)	—	—
	Total	n/a	Rule 457(o)	n/a	Unallocated (Universal) Shelf	$150,000,000	$0.00011020	$16,530 (4)
Fees Previously Paid
	Total Offering Amounts					$150,000,000	$0.00011020	$16,530
	Total Fees Previously Paid							N/A
	Total Fee Offsets							N/A
	Net Fee Due							$16,530

 

(1)

Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable upon the conversion or exercise of, or in exchange for, other securities offered hereby.

 

(2)

There are being registered hereunder such indeterminate number of shares of common stock and preferred stock, such indeterminate principal amount of debt securities and such indeterminate number of warrants, rights, and units to purchase common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities to be sold by the Registrant from time to time at unspecified prices which shall have an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $150,000,000. If any debt securities are issued at an original issue discount, then the principal amount of such debt securities shall be in such greater amount as shall result in an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $150,000,000, less the aggregate dollar amount of all securities previously issued hereunder. The securities registered for sale also include such indeterminate number of shares of common stock and preferred stock and amount of debt securities as may be issued upon conversion of or exchange for preferred stock or debt securities that provide for conversion or exchange, upon exercise of warrants, rights or units or pursuant to the antidilution provisions of any such securities. In addition, pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the shares being registered hereunder include such indeterminate number of shares of common stock and preferred stock as may be issuable with respect to the shares being registered hereunder as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.

 

(3)

The proposed maximum offering price per share 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. to the Calculation of Filing Fee Tables and Related Disclosure on Item 16(b) of Form S-3 under the Securities Act.

 

(4)

The proposed maximum aggregate offering price has been calculated pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act.

 

 

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