CANADIAN SOLAR INC.
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
July 14, 2008
Registration
No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.
20549
FORM F-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Canadian Solar Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as
specified in its charter)
Not Applicable
(Translation of
Registrants name into English)
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Canada
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3674
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Not Applicable
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(State or other jurisdiction
of
incorporation or organization)
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(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
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No. 199 Lushan Road
Suzhou New District
Suzhou, Jiangsu 215129
Peoples Republic of China
(Address, including zip code,
and telephone number, including area code, of registrants
principal executive offices)
CT Corporation System
111 Eighth Avenue
New York, New York 10011
(212) 664-1666
(Name, address, including zip
code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for
service)
Copies to:
David T. Zhang, Esq.
Eugene Y. Lee, Esq.
Latham & Watkins LLP
41st Floor, One Exchange Square
8 Connaught Place, Central
Hong Kong
(852) 2912-2500
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the
public: From time to time after the effective date of this
registration statement.
If only securities being registered on this Form are being
offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans,
please check the following
box. o
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, check the
following
box. þ
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. o
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. o
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General
Instruction I.C. 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. þ
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration
statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.C. filed
to register additional securities or additional classes of
securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities
Act, check the following
box. o
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Proposed
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Proposed Maximum
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Amount of
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Title of Each Class of
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Amount to Be
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Maximum Offering
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Aggregate
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Registration
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Securities to Be Registered(1)
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Registered(2)
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Price per Unit(2)
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Offering Price(2)
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Fee(2)
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Common shares, with no par value
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Debt securities
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(1)
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Includes (i) securities
initially offered and sold outside the United States that may be
resold from time to time in the United States either as part of
their distribution or within 40 days after the later of the
effective date of this registration statement and the date the
securities are first bona fide offered to the public and
(ii) securities that may be purchased by underwriters
pursuant to over-allotment options. These securities are not
being registered for the purposes of sales outside of the United
States.
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(2)
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An indeterminate aggregate number
of securities is being registered as may from time to time be
sold at indeterminate prices. In accordance with
Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the Registrant is deferring
payment of all of the registration fee.
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PROSPECTUS
Common
Shares
Debt Securities
We may offer and sell the securities in any combination from
time to time in one or more offerings, at prices and on terms
described in one or more supplements to this prospectus. The
debt securities may be convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for our common shares or our other securities. Our
common shares are listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the
symbol CSIQ. In addition, this prospectus may be
used to offer securities for the account of persons other than
us.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the
securities that may be offered. Each time we or any selling
security holder sell securities, we will provide a supplement to
this prospectus that contains specific information about the
offering and the terms of the securities. The supplement may
also add, update or change information contained in this
prospectus. We may also authorize one or more free writing
prospectuses to be provided in connection with a specific
offering. You should carefully read this prospectus, the
applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing
prospectuses, as well as any documents incorporated by reference
in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement,
before you invest in any of our securities.
Investing in our securities involves risks. See the
Risk Factors section contained in the applicable
prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus and
in the documents we incorporate by reference in this prospectus
to read about factors you should consider before investing in
our securities.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved of these
securities or passed upon the accuracy or completeness of this
prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
We or any selling security holder may sell the securities
described in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement to or
through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or
directly to purchasers, or through a combination of these
methods, on a continuous or delayed basis. See Plan of
Distribution. If any underwriters, dealers or agents are
involved in the sale of any of the securities, their names, and
any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount
arrangements between or among them, will be set forth, or will
be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable
prospectus supplement.
The date of this prospectus is July 14, 2008.
ABOUT
THIS PROSPECTUS
You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement
together with the additional information described under the
heading Where You Can Find More Information About Us
and Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
In this prospectus, unless otherwise indicated or unless the
context otherwise requires,
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we, us, our, and our
company refer to Canadian Solar Inc. and its subsidiaries;
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China or PRC refers to the Peoples
Republic of China, excluding Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau;
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RMB or Renminbi refers to the legal
currency of China, US$ or
U.S. dollars refers to the legal currency of
the United States, C$ and Canadian $ are
to the legal currency of Canada; and Euro refers to
the legal currency of the European Union; and
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shares or common shares refers to our
common shares, with no par value.
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This prospectus is part of an automatic shelf
registration statement that we filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, or SEC, as a well-known seasoned
issuer as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended or the Securities Act, using a
shelf registration process. By using a shelf
registration statement, we or any selling security holder may
sell any combination of our common shares, and debt securities
from time to time and in one or more offerings. Each time we or
any selling security holder sell securities, we may provide a
supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information
about the securities being offered and the specific terms of
that offering. The supplement may also add, update or change
information contained in this prospectus. If there is any
inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any
prospectus supplement, you should rely on the prospectus
supplement. Before purchasing any securities, you should
carefully read both this prospectus and any supplement, together
with the additional information described under the heading
Where You Can Find More Information About Us and
Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
You should rely only on the information contained or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus, in any applicable
prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus
that we may authorize to be delivered to you. We have not
authorized any other person to provide you with different
information. If anyone provides you with different or
inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We will not
make 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, the applicable
supplement to this prospectus or in any related free writing
prospectus is accurate as of its respective date, and that any
information incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the
date of the document incorporated by reference, unless we
indicate otherwise. Our business, financial condition, results
of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
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WHERE YOU
CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT US
We file reports and other information with the SEC. Information
filed with the SEC by us can be inspected and copied at the
Public Reference Room maintained by the SEC at
100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You
may also obtain copies of this information by mail from the
Public Reference Section of the SEC at prescribed rates. Further
information on the operation of the SECs Public Reference
Room in Washington, D.C. can be obtained by calling the SEC
at
1-800-SEC-0330.
The SEC also maintains a web site that contains reports, proxy
and information statements and other information about issuers,
such as us, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of
that site is
http://www.sec.gov.
Our web site address is
http://www.csisolar.com.
The information on our web site, however, is not, and should not
be deemed to be, a part of this prospectus.
This prospectus and any prospectus supplement are part of a
registration statement that we filed with the SEC and do not
contain all of the information in the registration statement.
The full registration statement may be obtained from the SEC or
us, as indicated below. Forms of the indenture and other
documents establishing the terms of the offered securities are
filed as exhibits to the registration statement. Statements in
this prospectus or any prospectus supplement about these
documents are summaries and each statement is qualified in all
respects by reference to the document to which it refers. You
should refer to the actual documents for a more complete
description of the relevant matters. You may inspect a copy of
the registration statement at the SECs Public Reference
Room in Washington, D.C., as well as through the SECs
website.
INCORPORATION
OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the
information we file with them. This means that we can disclose
important information to you by referring you to those
documents. Each document incorporated by reference is current
only as of the date of such document, and the incorporation by
reference of such documents shall not create any implication
that there has been no change in our affairs since the date
thereof or that the information contained therein is current as
of any time subsequent to its date. The information incorporated
by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus and
should be read with the same care. When we update the
information contained in documents that have been incorporated
by reference by making future filings with the SEC, the
information incorporated by reference in this prospectus is
considered to be automatically updated and superseded. In other
words, in the case of a conflict or inconsistency between
information contained in this prospectus and information
incorporated by reference into this prospectus, you should rely
on the information contained in the document that was filed
later.
We incorporate by reference the documents listed below:
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Our annual report on
Form 20-F
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 filed with the
SEC on June 3, 2008.
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Our reports of foreign private issuer on
Form 6-K
filed with the SEC on June 6, 2008 and July 7, 2008.
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All future annual reports on
Form 20-F,
and any report on
Form 6-K
that we indicate is incorporated by reference into this
prospectus, until we sell all of the securities offered by this
prospectus.
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Our annual report on
Form 20-F
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 filed on
June 3, 2008, contains a description of our business and
audited consolidated financial statements with a report by our
independent auditors. These financial statements are prepared in
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States, or U.S. GAAP.
Copies of all documents incorporated by reference in this
prospectus, other than exhibits to those documents unless such
exhibits are specially incorporated by reference in this
prospectus, will be provided at no cost to each
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person, including any beneficial owner, who receives a copy of
this prospectus on the written or oral request of that person
made to:
Canadian Solar Inc.
No. 199 Lushan Road
Suzhou New District
Suzhou, Jiangsu 215129
Peoples Republic of China
Telephone:
(86-512)
6690-8088
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
You should rely only on the information that we incorporate by
reference or provide in this prospectus and any supplement. We
have not authorized anyone to provide you with different
information. We are not making any offer of these securities in
any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should
not assume that the information in this prospectus is accurate
as of any date other than the date on the front of those
documents.
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SPECIAL
NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the
information incorporated herein and therein by reference may
contain forward-looking statements intended to
qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
statements, which are not statements of historical fact, may
contain estimates, assumptions, projections
and/or
expectations regarding future events, which may or may not
occur. Words such as anticipate,
believe, could, estimate,
expect, intend, may,
plan, potential, should,
will, would, or similar expressions,
which refer to future events and trends, identify
forward-looking statements. We do not guarantee that the
transactions and events described in this prospectus or in any
prospectus supplement will happen as described or that they will
happen at all. You should read this prospectus and any
accompanying prospectus supplement completely and with the
understanding that actual future results may be materially
different from what we expect. The forward-looking statements
made in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus
supplement relate only to events as of the date on which the
statements are made. We undertake no obligation, beyond that
required by law, to update any forward-looking statement to
reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the
statement is made, even though our situation will change in the
future.
Whether actual results will conform with our expectations and
predictions is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties,
many of which are beyond our control, and reflect future
business decisions that are subject to change. Some of the
assumptions, future results and levels of performance expressed
or implied in the forward-looking statements we make inevitably
will not materialize, and unanticipated events may occur which
will affect our results. The Risk Factors section of
this prospectus directs you to a description of the principal
contingencies and uncertainties to which we believe we are
subject.
This prospectus also contains or incorporates by reference data
related to the solar power market in several countries,
including China. This market data, including market data from
Solarbuzz, an independent solar energy research firm, includes
projections that are based on a number of assumptions. The solar
power market may not grow at the rates projected by the market
data, or at all. The failure of the market to grow at the
projected rates may materially and adversely affect our business
and the market price of our securities. In addition, the rapidly
changing nature of the solar power market and related regulatory
regimes subjects any projections or estimates relating to the
growth prospects or future condition of our market to
significant uncertainties. If any one or more of the assumptions
underlying the market data proves to be incorrect, actual
results may differ from the projections based on these
assumptions. You should not place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements.
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OUR
COMPANY
We design, develop, manufacture and sell solar cell and module
products that convert sunlight into electricity for a variety of
uses. We are incorporated in Canada and conduct all of our
manufacturing operations in China. Our products include a range
of standard solar modules built to general specifications for
use in a wide range of residential, commercial and industrial
solar power generation systems. In addition, we recently
commenced commercial production of
e-Modules, a
cost-effective medium power solar module product using 100%
upgraded metallurgical grade silicon, or UMgSi. We also design
and produce specialty solar modules and products manufactured
based on our customers requirements. Specialty solar
modules and products consist of customized modules that our
customers incorporate into their own products, such as
solar-powered bus stop lighting, and complete specialty
products, such as solar-powered car battery chargers. We sell
our products under our CSI brand name and to OEM
customers under their own brand names. We also implement solar
power development projects, primarily in conjunction with
government organizations to provide solar power generation in
rural areas of China.
We currently sell our products to customers located in various
markets worldwide, including Germany, Spain, Italy, the United
States, South Korea, the Czech Republic, China and Canada. We
sell our standard solar modules to distributors, system
integrators and through OEM channels. We sell our
e-Modules to
distributors and system integrators. We sell our specialty solar
modules and products directly to various manufacturers who
integrate our specialty solar modules and products into their
own products and sell and market them as part of their own
product portfolio.
We have historically manufactured our module products from solar
cells purchased from third-party manufacturers. In 2007, we
began to pursue a new business model that combines internal
manufacturing capacity supplemented by direct material purchases
and outsourced toll manufacturing relationships which we believe
provides us with several competitive benefits. We believe that
this approach allows us to benefit from the increased margin
available to vertically integrated solar manufacturers while
reducing the capital expenditures required relative to a fully
vertically integrated business model and produce better returns
on our invested capital. We also believe that this approach
provides us with greater flexibility to respond to short-term
demand patterns and longer-term to take advantage of the
availability of low-cost outsourced manufacturing capacity.
Additionally, it has enabled us to improve production yields,
control our inventory more efficiently and improve cash
management, which we believe has resulted in increased
confidence in our forecasts for future revenue growth.
We believe that we have contractually secured 95% of our silicon
and solar cell requirements to support solar module production
of 230 to 260MW in 2008. For silicon material supplies, we have
entered into a five-year supply agreement with Luoyang Zhong Gui
High Tech Co. Ltd., or Luoyang Poly, for high purity silicon
from 2006 to 2010. For silicon wafers, we have entered into a
fixed price and volume agreement with LDK Solar Co., Ltd., or
LDK, from 2008 to 2010 for specified quantities of solar wafers,
including 50MW for delivery in 2008. We also have standby toll
manufacturing arrangements with LDK and other ingot and wafer
manufacturers to convert our virgin polysilicon and reclaimed
silicon feedstock into wafers. In January 2007, we entered into
a supply agreement with Deutsche Solar AG, or Deutsche Solar,
for a supply of multi-crystalline silicon wafers through 2018.
In November 2007, we entered into various agreements with China
Sunergy Co., Ltd., or China Sunergy, for a supply of 25MW of
solar cells for delivery in 2008, and an agreement with Gintech
Energy Corporation, or Gintech, for a supply of 17MW of solar
cells for delivery in 2008, with an option, subject to
availability, for an extra 5MW. We have other silicon wafer and
solar cell supply agreements in place, including a multi-year
solar wafer supply contract with Jiangsu Shunda Group
Corporation which should provide us with wafer supplies through
2015, a solar cell supply contract with Neo Solar Power and a
UMgSi materials supply contract with Timminco Limited, through
its subsidiary Becancour Silicon Inc., or BSI. We believe these
contracts have diversified our silicon wafer and cell supply
sources and also provide an option of securing additional wafer
and cell supplies from multiple sources, helping us to meet
demand for our solar products.
We have expanded our in-house manufacturing capacity for both
solar cells and solar modules. As of March 31, 2008, we had
400MW of combined annual module manufacturing capacity and 100MW
of annual cell manufacturing capacity. Currently, we intend to
use all of our solar cells in the manufacturing of our own solar
module products.
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We recently announced our new capacity expansion plan which we
intend to complete during Q1 2009, which includes:
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Increasing our annual internal module capacity to 800MW.
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Expansion of our annual solar cell manufacturing capacity to
400MW.
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Construction of a solar ingot and wafer plant in Luoyang, China,
which will give us an annual solar ingot and wafer capacity of
150 to 200MW.
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We recently commenced commercial production of
e-Modules, a
cost-effective medium power solar module product using 100%
UMgSi, in March 2008. We converted one of our solar cell lines
and dedicated it to upgraded metallurgical grade cells in early
April 2008 and ramped up to full production shortly thereafter.
Delivery of
e-Modules to
some of our European and U.S. customers began in early May. We
have announced sales contracts for 24.5MW of
e-Modules
for shipment in 2008 and believe that we are on track to achieve
our prior estimate of shipping 30 to 40MW of
e-Modules in
2008. We believe our
e-Module
product gives us access to more price-sensitive markets such as
the United States and South Korea where traditional silicon
modules may not be as cost-competitive. We will continue to
receive shipments of UMgSi through 2011 and expect to increase
production of our UMgSi modules in the future.
We believe that the substantial industry and international
experience of our management team has helped us foster strategic
relationships with suppliers throughout the solar power industry
value chain. We also take advantage of our flexible and low cost
manufacturing capability in China to lower our manufacturing and
operating costs. We believe we have a proven track record of low
cost and rapid expansion of solar cell and solar module
manufacturing capacity.
We have grown rapidly since March 2002, when we sold our first
solar module products. Our net revenues increased from
US$9.7 million in 2004 to US$302.8 million in 2007,
and from US$17.5 million for the three month period ended
March 31, 2007 to US$171.2 million for the three
months ended March 31, 2008. We sold 2.2MW, 4.1MW, 14.9MW
and 83.5MW of our solar module products in 2004, 2005, 2006 and
2007, respectively, and 3.9MW and 41.8MW for the three months
ended March 31, 2007 and 2008, respectively.
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RISK
FACTORS
Please see the factors set forth under the heading Risk
Factors in our most recently filed Annual Report on
Form 20-F,
which is incorporated in this prospectus by reference, and, if
applicable, in any accompanying prospectus supplement, before
investing in any securities that may be offered pursuant to this
prospectus.
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USE OF
PROCEEDS
We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the
securities as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We will not receive proceeds from sales of securities by persons
other than us except as may otherwise be stated in any
applicable prospectus supplement.
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ENFORCEABILITY
OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
We were incorporated as an Ontario corporation in October 2001
and were continued as a Canadian corporation under the Canadian
federal corporate statute, the Canada Business Corporations Act,
or CBCA, in June 2006.
We are a corporation organized under the federal laws of Canada.
Most of our directors and officers and some of the experts named
in this prospectus reside principally outside the United States.
Because these persons are located outside the United States, it
may not be possible for you to effect service of process within
the United States upon those persons. Furthermore, it may not be
possible for you to enforce against us or them, in the United
States, judgments obtained in U.S. courts, because all or a
substantial portion of our assets and the assets of those
persons are located outside the United States. We have been
advised by WeirFoulds LLP, our Canadian counsel, that there are
defenses that can be raised to the enforceability, in original
actions in Canadian courts, of liabilities based upon the
U.S. federal securities laws and to the enforceability in
Canadian courts of judgments of U.S. courts obtained in
actions based upon the civil liability provisions of
U.S. federal securities laws, such that the enforcement in
Canada of such liabilities and judgments is not certain.
Therefore, it may not be possible to enforce those actions
against us, our directors and officers or the experts named in
this prospectus.
Our constituent documents do not contain provisions requiring
that disputes, including those arising under the securities laws
of the United States, between us, our officers, directors and
shareholders, be arbitrated.
Substantially all of our current operations are conducted in
China, and substantially all of our assets are located in China.
A majority of our directors and officers are nationals or
residents of jurisdictions other than the United States and a
substantial portion of their assets are located outside the
United States. As a result, it may be difficult for a
shareholder to effect service of process within the United
States upon us or such persons, or to enforce against us or them
judgments obtained in U.S. courts, including judgments
predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities
laws of the United States or any state in the United States.
Chen & Co. Law Firm, our counsel as to PRC law, has
advised us that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of
the PRC would:
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recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained
against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the
civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United
States or any state in the United States; or
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entertain original actions brought in each respective
jurisdiction against us or our directors or officers predicated
upon the securities laws of the United States or any state in
the United States.
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Chen & Co. Law Firm has advised us further that the
recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided
for under the PRC Civil Procedures Law. PRC courts may recognize
and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the
requirements of the PRC Civil Procedures Law based either on
treaties between the PRC and the country where the judgment is
made or on reciprocity between jurisdictions. China does not
have any treaties or other arrangements that provide for the
reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments with
the United States or Canada. As a result, it is generally
difficult to recognize and enforce in China a judgment rendered
by a court in either of these two jurisdictions.
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RATIO OF
EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed
changes on a historical basis for the period indicated. The
ratios are calculated by dividing earnings by fixed charges. For
this purpose, earnings consist of pre-tax income from continuing
operations before adjustment for minority interests, plus fixed
charges. Fixed charges represent interest, amortization of debt
discount and expense, and the estimated interest portion of
rental charges.
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Year Ended December 31,
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2003
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2004
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2005
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2006
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2007
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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
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149X
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166X
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17X
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(1)
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(2)
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Earnings for 2006 were insufficient to cover fixed charges by
approximately $9.0 million. |
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Earnings for 2007 were insufficient to cover fixed charges by
approximately $0.4 million. |
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DESCRIPTION
OF SECURITIES
We may issue from time to time, in one or more offerings, the
following securities:
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common shares; and
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debt securities.
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We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement a
description of the debt securities and the common shares that
may be offered under this prospectus. The terms of the offering
of securities, the initial offering price and the net proceeds
to us will be contained in the prospectus supplement, and other
offering material, relating to such offer. The supplement may
also add, update or change information contained in this
prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus and any
supplement before you invest in any of our securities.
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DESCRIPTION
OF COMMON SHARES
We may issue our common shares either alone or underlying other
securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for
our common shares.
Holders of our common shares are entitled to certain rights and
subject to certain conditions as set forth in our articles and
bylaws and the CBCA. See Description of Share
Capital.
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DESCRIPTION
OF DEBT SECURITIES
We may issue series of debt securities, which may include debt
securities convertible into common shares. When we offer to sell
a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the
specific terms of that series in a supplement to this
prospectus. The following description of debt securities will
apply to the debt securities offered by this prospectus unless
we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The applicable prospectus supplement for a particular series of
debt securities may specify different or additional terms.
The debt securities offered hereby may be secured or unsecured,
and may be either senior debt securities, senior subordinated
debt securities or subordinated debt securities. The debt
securities offered hereby will be issued under an indenture
between us and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee. The
indenture will be qualified under, subject to, and governed by,
the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. We have
summarized selected portions of the indenture below. The summary
is not complete. The form of the indenture has been incorporated
by reference as an exhibit to this registration statement and
you should read the indenture for provisions that may be
important to you.
General
The terms of each series of debt securities will be established
by or pursuant to a resolution of our board of directors and
detailed or determined in the manner provided in a board of
directors resolution, an officers certificate or by
a supplemental indenture. The particular terms of each series of
debt securities will be described in a prospectus supplement
relating to the series, including any pricing supplement.
We can issue an unlimited amount of debt securities under an
indenture that may be in one or more series with the same or
various maturities, at par, at a premium or at a discount. We
will set forth in a prospectus supplement, including any pricing
supplement, relating to any series of debt securities being
offered the initial offering price, the aggregate principal
amount and the terms of the debt securities, including the
following:
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the title of the debt securities;
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the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate
principal amount) at which we will sell the debt securities;
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any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt
securities;
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the date or dates on which we will pay the principal on the debt
securities;
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the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or
the method used to determine the rate or rates (including any
commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial
index) at which the debt securities will bear interest and the
right, if any, to extend the maturity of the debt securities,
the date or dates from which interest will accrue, the date or
dates on which interest will commence and be payable and any
regular record date for the interest payable on any interest
payment date;
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the place or places where the principal of, premium, and
interest on the debt securities will be payable;
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the terms and conditions upon which we may redeem the debt
securities;
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any obligation we have to redeem or purchase the debt securities
pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the
option of a holder of debt securities;
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the dates on which and the price or prices at which we will
repurchase the debt securities at the option of the holders of
debt securities and other detailed terms and provisions of these
repurchase obligations;
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the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued,
if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple
thereof;
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whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of
certificated debt securities or global debt securities;
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the portion of principal amount of the debt securities payable
upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity date, if other
than the principal amount;
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the currency of denomination of the debt securities;
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the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in
which payment of principal of, premium and interest on the debt
securities will be made;
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if payments of principal of, premium or interest on the debt
securities will be made in one or more currencies or currency
units other than that or those in which the debt securities are
denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect
to these payments will be determined;
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the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of,
premium or interest on the debt securities will be determined,
if these amounts may be determined by reference to an index
based on a currency or currencies other than that in which the
debt securities are denominated or designated to be payable or
by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange
index or financial index;
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any provisions relating to any security provided for the debt
securities;
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any addition to or change in the events of default described in
the indenture with respect to the debt securities and any change
in the acceleration provisions described in the indenture with
respect to the debt securities;
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any addition to or change in the covenants described in the
indenture with respect to the debt securities;
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whether the debt securities will be senior or subordinated and
any applicable subordination provisions;
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any other terms of the debt securities, which may modify or
delete any provision of the indenture as it applies to that
series; and
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any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange
rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to the debt
securities.
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We may issue debt securities that are exchangeable
and/or
convertible into our common shares. The terms, if any, on which
the debt securities may be exchanged for
and/or
converted will be set forth in the applicable prospectus
supplement. Such terms may include provisions for conversion,
either mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option,
in which case the number of common shares or other securities to
be received by the holders of debt securities would be
calculated as of a time and in the manner stated in the
prospectus supplement. Neither the trustee nor the conversion
agent shall have any duty to verify calculations respecting
conversions. All such calculations shall be performed by us and
our agents. Neither the trustee nor the conversion agent shall
have any liability for not verifying our calculations and shall
be entitled to rely upon them.
We may issue debt securities that provide for an amount less
than their stated principal amount to be due and payable upon
declaration of acceleration of their maturity pursuant to the
terms of the indenture. We will provide you with information on
the U.S. federal income tax considerations, Canadian
federal income tax considerations and other special
considerations applicable to any of these debt securities in the
applicable prospectus supplement. If we denominate the purchase
price of any of the debt securities in a foreign currency or
currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, or if the
principal of and any premium and interest on any series of debt
securities is payable in a foreign currency or currencies or a
foreign currency unit or units, we will provide you with
information on the restrictions, elections, specific terms and
other information with respect to that issue of debt securities
and such foreign currency or currencies or foreign currency unit
or units in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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Global
Securities
The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in
part in the form of one or more global securities that will be
deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary (the
depositary) identified in the prospectus supplement.
Global securities will be issued in registered form and in
either temporary or definitive form. Unless and until it is
exchanged in whole or in part for the individual debt
securities, a global security may not be transferred except as a
whole by the depositary for such global security 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 of such depositary
or a nominee of such successor. The specific terms of the
depositary arrangement with respect to any debt securities of a
series and the rights of and limitations upon owners of
beneficial interests in a global security will be described in
the applicable prospectus supplement.
Governing
Law
The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of
New York.
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DESCRIPTION
OF SHARE CAPITAL
We are a Canadian corporation, and our affairs are governed by
our articles of continuance, as amended from time to time (the
articles), bylaws as effective from time to time,
and the CBCA.
As of the date of this prospectus, our authorized share capital
consists of an unlimited number of common shares and an
unlimited number of preferred shares issuable in series. As of
the date of this registration statement, 32,129,138 common
shares were issued and outstanding.
The following summary description of our share capital does not
purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to our articles and our amended bylaws. If you would
like more information on our common shares, you should review
our articles and bylaws and the CBCA.
Common
Shares
General
All of our common shares are fully paid and non-assessable. Our
common shares are issued in registered form and may or may not
be certificated although every shareholder is entitled at their
option to a share certificate that complies with the CBCA. There
are no limitations on the rights of shareholders who are not
residents of Canada to hold and vote common shares.
Dividends
Holders of our common shares are entitled to receive, from funds
legally available therefor, dividends when and as declared by
the board of directors. The CBCA restricts the directors
ability to declare, and our ability to pay, dividends by
requiring that certain solvency tests be satisfied at the time
of such declaration and payment. See the section entitled
Directors Sources of
Dividends.
Voting
Rights
Each common share is entitled to one vote on all matters upon
which the common shares are entitled to vote.
Liquidation
With respect to a distribution of assets in the event of our
liquidation, dissolution or
winding-up,
whether voluntary or involuntary, or any other distribution of
our assets for the purposes of winding up our affairs, assets
available for distribution among the holders of common shares
shall be distributed among the holders of the common shares on a
pro rata basis.
Variations
of Rights of Shares
All or any of the rights attached to our common shares, or any
other class of shares duly authorized may, subject to the
provisions of the CBCA, be varied either with the unanimous
written consent of the holders of the issued shares of that
class or by a special resolution passed at a meeting of the
holders of the shares of that class.
Preferred
Shares
Our board of directors has the authority, without shareholder
approval, to issue an unlimited number of preferred shares in
one or more series. Our board of directors may establish the
number of shares to be included in each such series and may set
the designations, preferences, powers and other rights of the
shares of a series of preferred shares. While the issuance of
preferred shares provides us with flexibility in connection with
possible acquisitions or other corporate purposes, it could,
among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring or
preventing a change of control transaction and could adversely
affect the market price of our common shares and debt securities
in this prospectus. We have no current plan to issue any
preferred shares.
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Transfer
Agent and Registrar
BNY Mellon Shareowner Services is the transfer agent and
registrar for our common shares. BNY Mellon Shareowner
Services address is 480 Washington Boulevard,
29th Floor, Jersey City, NJ 07310.
Shareholders
Rights
The CBCA and our articles and bylaws govern us and our relations
with our shareholders. The following is a summary of certain
rights of holders of our common shares under the CBCA. This
summary is not intended to be complete and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the CBCA and to our articles and bylaws.
Stated
Objects or Purposes
Our articles do not contain any stated objects or purposes and
do not place any limitations on the business that we may carry
on.
Shareholder
Meetings
We must hold an annual meeting of our shareholders at least once
every year at a time and place determined by our board of
directors, provided that the meeting must not be held later than
15 months after the preceding annual meeting or later than
six months after the end of our preceding financial year. A
meeting of our shareholders may be held at a place within Canada
determined by our directors or, if determined by our directors,
in New York, New York, United States of America, Los Angeles,
California, United States of America, London, England, the Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region of The Peoples Republic
of China or Shanghai, The Peoples Republic of China.
Voting at any meeting of shareholders is by show of hands unless
a poll or ballot is demanded. A poll or ballot may be demanded
by the chairman of our board of directors or by any shareholder
present in person or by proxy.
A special resolution is a resolution passed by not less than
two-thirds of the votes cast by the shareholders entitled to
vote on the resolution at a meeting at which a quorum is
present. An ordinary resolution is a resolution passed by not
less than a simple majority of the votes cast by the
shareholders entitled to vote on the resolution at a meeting at
which a quorum is present.
Notice
of Meeting of Shareholders
Our bylaws provide that written notice stating the place, day
and time of a shareholder meeting and the purpose for which the
meeting is called, shall be delivered not less than 21 days
nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting.
Quorum
Under the CBCA, unless a corporations bylaws provide
otherwise, a quorum is present at a meeting of the shareholders,
irrespective of the number of shareholders actually present at
the meeting, if the holders of a majority of the shares entitled
to vote at the meeting are present in person or represented by
proxy. Our bylaws provide that a quorum shall be at least two
shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting represented in
person or by proxy and holding at least one-third of our total
issued and outstanding common shares.
Record
Date for Notice of Meeting of Shareholders
Our directors may fix in advance a date as the record date for
the determination of shareholders entitled to receive notice of
a meeting of shareholders, but such record date shall not
precede by more than 60 days or by less than 21 days
the date on which the meeting is to be held. If no record date
is fixed, the record date for the determination of shareholders
entitled to receive notice of a meeting of shareholders shall be
at the close of business on the day immediately preceding the
day on which the notice is given or, if no notice is given, the
day on which the meeting is held. If a record date is fixed,
notice thereof shall be given, not less than seven days before
the date so
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fixed by newspaper advertisement in the manner provided by the
CBCA and by written notice to each stock exchange in Canada on
which our shares are listed for trading.
Ability
to Requisition Special Meetings of the
Shareholders
The CBCA provides that the holders of not less than five percent
of the issued shares of a corporation that carry the right to
vote at a meeting sought to be held may give notice to the
directors requiring them to call a meeting.
Shareholder
Proposals
A shareholder entitled to vote at a meeting of shareholders who
has held common shares with a fair market value of at least
C$2,000 for at least six months may submit to us notice of a
proposal and discuss at the meeting any matter in respect of
which the shareholder would have been entitled to submit a
proposal. A proposal may include nominations for the election of
directors if the proposal is signed by one or more holders of
shares representing in the aggregate not less than five percent
of the shares entitled to vote at the meeting to which the
proposal is to be presented. This requirement does not preclude
nominations being made at a meeting of shareholders. The
proposal must be submitted to us at least 90 days before
the anniversary date of the notice of meeting that was sent to
shareholders in connection with the last annual meeting.
Vote
Required for Extraordinary Transactions
Under the CBCA, certain extraordinary corporate actions are
required to be approved by special resolution. Such
extraordinary corporate actions include:
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amendments to articles;
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arrangements;
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amalgamations other than amalgamations involving a holding body
corporate, one or more wholly owned subsidiaries
and/or one
or more sister corporations;
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continuances under the laws of another jurisdiction;
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voluntary dissolutions; and
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sales, leases or exchanges of all or substantially all the
property of a corporation other than in the ordinary course of
business.
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Related
Party Transactions
The CBCA does not prohibit related party transactions.
Dissent
Rights
The CBCA provides that our shareholders are entitled to exercise
dissent rights and demand payment of the fair value of their
shares in certain circumstances. For this purpose, there is no
distinction between listed and unlisted shares. Dissent rights
exist when we resolve to:
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amalgamate with a corporation other than a holding body
corporate, one or more wholly owned subsidiaries
and/or one
or more sister corporations;
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amend the our articles of incorporation to add, change or remove
any provisions restricting the issue, transfer or ownership of
shares;
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amend the ours articles to add, change or remove any restriction
upon the business or businesses that the we may carry on;
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continue under the laws of another jurisdiction;
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sell, lease or exchange of all or substantially all our property
other than in the ordinary course of business; or
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carry out a going-private or squeeze-out transaction.
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In addition, a court order in connection with an arrangement
proposed by us may permit shareholders to dissent if the
arrangement is adopted.
However, a shareholder is not entitled to dissent if an
amendment to the articles of incorporation is effected by a
court order approving a reorganization or by a court order made
in connection with an action for an oppression remedy.
Action
by Written Consent
Under the CBCA, shareholders can take action by written
resolution and without a meeting only if all shareholders sign
the written resolution.
Directors
Number
of Directors and Election
Under the CBCA the number of directors of a corporation must be
specified in the corporations articles. The articles may
provide for a minimum and maximum number of directors.
Our articles provide that the number of directors will not be
less than three or more than ten. Our board of directors
currently consists of six directors.
Our articles provide that our board of directors shall fix and
may change the number of directors within the minimum and
maximum number of directors provided for in our articles. In
addition, our board of directors may appoint one or more
additional directors, who shall hold office for a term expiring
not later than the close of the next annual meeting of
shareholders, but the total number of directors so appointed may
not exceed one-third of the number of directors elected at the
previous annual meeting of shareholders.
Shareholders of a corporation governed by the CBCA elect
directors by ordinary resolution at each annual meeting of
shareholders at which such an election is required.
Director
Qualifications
Under the CBCA, at least 25% of the directors must be Canadian
residents. A director must not be:
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under eighteen years of age;
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adjudicated as mentally unsound;
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a person that is not an individual; or
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a person who has the status of a bankrupt.
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Removal
of Directors; Staggered Term
Under the CBCA, a corporations shareholders may remove at
a special meeting any director before the expiration of his or
her term of office and may elect any qualified person in such
directors stead for the remainder of such term by ordinary
resolution.
Under the CBCA, directors may be elected for a term expiring not
later than the third annual meeting of shareholders following
the election. If no term is specified, a directors term
expires at the next annual meeting of shareholders. A director
may be nominated for re-election to the board of directors at
the end of the directors term.
Vacancies
on the Board of Directors
Under the CBCA, vacancies that exist on the board of directors,
except a vacancy resulting from an increase in the number or the
minimum or maximum number of directors or a failure to elect the
number or minimum number
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of directors provided for in the articles, may be filled by the
board if the remaining directors constitute a quorum. In the
absence of a quorum, the remaining directors shall call a
meeting of shareholders to fill the vacancy.
Limitation
of Personal Liability of Directors and Officers
Under the CBCA, in exercising their powers and discharging their
duties, directors and officers must act honestly and in good
faith with a view to the best interests of the corporation and
exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent
person would exercise in comparable circumstances. No provision
in the corporations articles, bylaws, resolutions or
contracts can relieve a director or officer from the duty to act
in accordance with the CBCA or relieve a director from liability
for a breach thereof. However, a director will not be liable for
breaching his or her duty to act in accordance with the CBCA if
the director relied in good faith on:
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financial statements represented to him by an officer or in a
written report of the auditor to fairly reflect the financial
condition of the corporation; or
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a report of a person whose profession lends credibility to a
statement made by such person.
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Indemnification
of Directors and Officers
Under the CBCA and pursuant to our bylaws, we may indemnify any
present or former director or officer or an individual who acts
or acted at our request as a director or officer, or an
individual acting in a similar capacity, of another entity,
against all costs, charges and expenses, including an amount
paid to settle an action or satisfy a judgment, reasonably
incurred by such individual in respect of any civil, criminal,
administrative, investigative or other proceeding in which the
individual is involved because of that association with the
corporation or other entity. In order to qualify for
indemnification such director or officer must:
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have acted honestly and in good faith with a view to the best
interests of the corporation, or, as the case may be, to the
best interests of the other entity for which the individual
acted as a director or officer or in a similar capacity at the
corporations request; and
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in the case of a criminal or administrative action or proceeding
enforced by a monetary penalty, have had reasonable grounds for
believing that his or her conduct was lawful.
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Indemnification will be provided to an eligible director or
officer who meets both these tests and was substantially
successful on the merits in his or her defense of the action.
A director or officer is entitled to indemnification from us as
a matter of right if he or she is not judged by the court or
other competent authority to have committed any fault or omitted
to do anything that the individual ought to have done and
fulfilled the conditions set forth above.
Sources
of Dividends
Dividends may be declared at the discretion of the board of
directors. Under the CBCA, the directors may not declare, and we
may not pay, dividends if there are reasonable grounds for
believing that (i) we are, or would after such payment be
unable to pay our liabilities as they become due or
(ii) the realizable value of our assets would thereby be
less than the aggregate of our liabilities and of our stated
capital of all classes of shares.
Amendments
to the Bylaws
The directors may by resolution make, amend or repeal any bylaw
unless the articles or bylaws provide otherwise. Our articles
and bylaws do not restrict the power of our directors to make,
amend or repeal bylaws. When the directors make, amend or repeal
a bylaw, they are required under the CBCA to submit the change
to the shareholders at the next meeting of shareholders.
Shareholders may confirm, reject or amend the bylaw, amendment
or repeal by ordinary resolution.
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Interested
Directors Transactions
Under the CBCA, if a director or officer of a corporation has
any interest in a material contract or material transaction,
whether made or proposed, with the corporation if such director
or officer is a party to the contract or transaction or is a
director or an officer, or an individual acting in a similar
capacity, of a party to the contract or transaction or has a
material interest in a party to the contract or transaction, the
director generally may not vote on any resolution to approve the
contract or transaction, but the contract is not invalid by
reason only of the relationship if such interest is disclosed in
accordance with the requirements set out in the CBCA, the
contract or transaction is approved by the other directors or by
the shareholders and the contract or transaction was fair and
reasonable to the corporation at the time it was approved.
Where a director or officer has an interest in a material
contract or transaction or a proposed material contract or
transaction that, in the ordinary course of the
corporations business, would not require approval by the
directors or shareholders, the interested director or officer
shall disclose in writing to the corporation or request to have
entered in the minutes of meetings of directors, the nature and
the extent of the interest forthwith after the director or
officer becomes aware of the contract or transaction or proposed
contract or transaction.
Committees
Under the CBCA, directors of a corporation may appoint from
their number a committee of directors and delegate to such
committee certain powers of the directors.
Derivative
Actions
Under the CBCA, a complainant (as defined below) may apply to
the court for leave to bring an action in the name of and on
behalf of a corporation or any of its subsidiaries, or to
intervene in an existing action to which such body corporate is
a party for the purpose of prosecuting, defending or
discontinuing the action. A complainant includes a present or
former shareholder, a present or former officer or director of
the corporation or any of its affiliates, the Director appointed
under the CBCA or any other person who in the discretion of the
court is a proper person to make such an application. Under the
CBCA, no such action may be brought and no such intervention in
an action may be made unless the court is satisfied that:
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the complainant has given notice to the directors of the
corporation or its subsidiary of the complainants
intention to apply to the court for such leave not less than
14 days before bringing the application, or as otherwise
directed by the court, if the directors of the corporation or
its subsidiary do not bring, diligently prosecute or defend or
discontinue the action;
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the complainant is acting in good faith; and
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it appears to be in the interests of the corporation or its
subsidiary that the action be brought, prosecuted, defended or
discontinued.
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Under the CBCA, the court in a derivative action may make any
order it thinks fit, including orders pertaining to the conduct
of the action, the making of payments to former and present
shareholders and payment of reasonable legal fees incurred by
the complainant.
Oppression
Remedy
The CBCA provides an oppression remedy that enables a court to
make any intention or final order it thinks fit to rectify the
matters complained of, if the court is satisfied upon
application of a complainant (as defined below) that:
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any act or omission of the corporation or any of its affiliates
effects a result;
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the business or affairs of the corporation or any of its
affiliates are or have been conducted in a manner; or
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the powers of the directors of the corporation or any of its
affiliates are or have been exercised in a manner,
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that is oppressive or unfairly prejudicial to or that unfairly
disregards the interests of any security holder, creditor,
director or officer of the corporation.
A complainant for this purpose includes a present or former
shareholder, a present or former officer or director of the
corporation or any of its affiliates, the Director appointed
under the CBCA and any other person who in the discretion of the
court is a proper person to make such an application.
The exercise of the courts jurisdiction does not depend on
a finding of a breach of such legal and equitable rights.
Furthermore, the court may order a corporation to pay the
interim costs of a complainant seeking an oppression remedy, but
the complainant may be held accountable for such interim costs
on final disposition of the complaint.
Inspection
of Books and Records
Under the CBCA, our shareholders and creditors, their personal
representatives and the Director appointed under the CBCA may
examine, free of charge during our usual business hours:
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our articles, bylaws and all amendments thereto;
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the minutes and resolutions of shareholders;
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copies of all notices of directors filed under the CBCA; and
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our securities register.
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Any of our shareholders may request a copy of the articles,
bylaws and all amendments thereto free of charge.
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PLAN OF
DISTRIBUTION
We or any selling security holder may sell or distribute the
securities offered by this prospectus, from time to time, in one
or more offerings, as follows:
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through agents;
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to dealers or underwriters for resale;
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directly to purchasers; or
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through a combination of any of these methods of sale.
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In addition, we may issue the securities as a dividend or
distribution or in a subscription rights offering to our
existing security holders. In some cases, we or dealers acting
for us or on our behalf may also repurchase securities and
reoffer them to the public by one or more of the methods
described above. This prospectus may be used in connection with
any offering of our securities through any of these methods or
other methods described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Our securities distributed by any of these methods may be sold
to the public, in one or more transactions, either:
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at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;
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at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;
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at prices related to prevailing market prices; or
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at negotiated prices.
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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 or any selling security holder. 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.
If dealers are used in the sale of securities offered through
this prospectus, we or any selling security holder 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 or any selling security holder 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. Unless otherwise indicated
in the applicable prospectus supplement, any agent will agree to
use its commonly reasonable efforts to solicit purchases for the
period of its appointment.
23
We or any selling security holder 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 or any
selling security holder may authorize agents, underwriters or
dealers to solicit offers from certain types of institutions to
purchase securities at the public offering price under delayed
delivery contracts. These contracts would provide for payment
and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts
would be subject only to those conditions described in the
prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will
describe the 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. We may elect to list any
series of offered securities on an exchange. Any underwriters
that we or any selling security holder uses 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 stabilizing transactions,
syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance
with Rule 104 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
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, any selling security holder and the underwriters may engage
in derivative transactions involving the securities. These
derivatives may consist of short sale transactions and other
hedging activities. The underwriters 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 or any selling security holder
may enter into security lending or repurchase agreements with
the underwriters. The underwriters 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
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.
Loans of
Securities
We or a selling shareholder may loan or pledge securities to a
financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell
the securities using this prospectus and an applicable
prospectus supplement.
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. Our agents, underwriters, and dealers, or their
affiliates, may be customers of, engage in transactions with or
perform services for us or our affiliates, in the ordinary
course of business for which they may receive customary
compensation.
24
VALIDITY
OF THE SECURITIES
The validity of the debt securities offered hereby will be
passed upon for us by Latham & Watkins LLP. The
validity of the common shares offered hereby will be passed upon
for us by WeirFoulds LLP.
EXPERTS
The financial statements and the related financial statement
schedule of Canadian Solar Inc. and subsidiaries (the
Company) incorporated in this prospectus by
reference from the Companys Annual Report on
Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2007, and
the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting
as of December 31, 2007 have been audited by Deloitte
Touche Tohmatsu CPA Ltd., an independent registered public
accounting firm, as stated in their reports which are
incorporated herein by reference (which reports (1) express
an unqualified opinion on the consolidated financial statements
and related financial statement schedule and include an
explanatory paragraph referring to the adoption of FASB
Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in
Income Taxes, effective January 1, 2007 and
(2) express an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of
internal control over financial reporting).
The offices of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu CPA Ltd. are located at
30th Floor, Bund Center, 222 Yan An Road East,
Shanghai, Peoples Republic of China.
25
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
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|
ITEM 8.
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INDEMNIFICATION
OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
|
Under the CBCA, we may indemnify a present or former director or
officer or a person who acts or acted at our request as a
director or officer or an individual acting in a similar
capacity, of another corporation or entity, and his or her heirs
and legal representatives, against all costs, charges and
expenses, including an amount paid to settle an action or
satisfy a judgment, reasonably incurred by him or her in respect
of any civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other
proceeding in which the individual is involved because of that
association with the corporation or other entity, provided that
the director or officer acted honestly and in good faith with a
view to the best interests of the corporation or other entity
and, in the case of a criminal or administrative action or
proceeding that is enforced by a monetary penalty, had
reasonable grounds for believing that his or her conduct was
lawful. We may advance monies to such an individual for such
costs, charges and expenses. Such indemnification may be made in
connection with a derivative action only with court approval. A
director or officer or other individual described above is
entitled to indemnification from us in respect of all costs,
charges and expenses reasonably incurred by him or her in
connection with the defense of any civil, criminal,
administrative, investigative or other proceeding to which he or
she is subject because of his or her association with the
corporation or other entity described above as a matter of right
if he or she is not judged by the court or other competent
authority to have committed any fault or omitted to do anything
that the individual ought to have done and fulfilled the
conditions set forth above. Our directors and officers are
covered by directors and officers insurance policies.
Any underwriting agreement entered into in connection with an
offering of securities will also provide for indemnification of
us and our officers and directors in certain cases.
The exhibits to this registration statement are listed on the
Index to Exhibits to this registration statement, which Index to
Exhibits is hereby incorporated by reference.
(A) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or
sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this
registration statement;
(i) To include any prospectus required by
Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(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 any 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;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and
(a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the registration
statement is on
Form F-3
and the information required to be included in a post-effective
amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports
filed with or furnished to the SEC by the Registrant pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 that are incorporated
II-1
by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a
form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is
part of the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any
liability under the Securities Act of 1933, 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) To file a post-effective amendment to the
registration statement to include any financial statements
required by Item 8.A of
Form 20-F
at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous
offering. Financial statements and information otherwise
required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Act need not be furnished,
provided that the Registrant includes in the prospectus, by
means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements
required pursuant to this paragraph (a)(4) and other information
necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus
is at least as current as the date of those financial
statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to
registration statements on
Form F-3,
a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include
financial statements and information required by
Section 10(a)(3) of the Act or
Rule 3-19
of
Regulation S-K
if such financial statements and information are contained in
periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the
Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of
the Securities Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in
this Form F-3.
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability
under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(i) Each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to
Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration
statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of
and included in the registration statement; and
(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule
424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement
in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made
pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the
purpose of providing the information required by
section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed
to be part of and included in the registration statement as of
the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used
after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of
314 securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As
provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer
and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date
shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration
statement relating to the securities in the registration
statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of
such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement
made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of
the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or
deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement
or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will,
as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such
effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made
in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the
registration statement or made in any such document immediately
prior to such effective date.
(6) That, for the purpose of determining liability of
the Registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 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;
II-2
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus
relating to the offering containing material information about
the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on
behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the
offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.
(B) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes
that, for purposes of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrants
annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or
Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 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.
(C) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities
arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted
to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Registrant has been
advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 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 of 1933
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
II-3
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe
that it meets all of the requirements for filing on
Form F-3
and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in
Suzhou, Peoples Republic of China, on July 14, 2008.
CANADIAN SOLAR INC.
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By:
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/s/ Shawn
(Xiaohua) Qu
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Name: Shawn (Xiaohua) Qu
Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF
ATTORNEY
Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and
appoints Mr. Shawn (Xiaohua) Qu as his or her true and
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or
her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign
any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to
this registration statement and any and all related registration
statements pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act,
and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other
documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and
agent, or its substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this
registration statement has been signed by the following persons
in the capacities and on July 14, 2008.
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|
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Signature
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Title
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|
|
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/s/ Shawn
(Xiaohua) Qu
Shawn
(Xiaohua) Qu
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|
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive officer)
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|
|
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/s/ Arthur
Chien
Arthur
Chien
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|
Director and Chief Financial Officer
(principal financial and accounting officer)
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/s/ Robert
McDermott
Robert
McDermott
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|
Director
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/s/ Lars-Eric
Johansson
Lars-Eric
Johansson
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Director
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|
|
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/s/ Michael
G. Potter
Michael
G. Potter
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Director
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|
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/s/ Yan
Zhuang
Yan
Zhuang
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Director
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/s/ Donald
J. Puglisi
Donald
J. Puglisi
Managing Director
Puglisi & Associates
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Authorized U.S. Representative
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II-4
INDEX TO
EXHIBITS
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|
|
Exhibit
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|
|
Number
|
|
Description of Document
|
|
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1
|
.1*
|
|
Form of Underwriting Agreement.
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4
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.1
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Registrants Specimen Certificate for Common shares
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.11 of the Registration
Statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-138144) filed with the SEC)
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4
|
.2
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Form of Indenture
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|
4
|
.3*
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Form of Note
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5
|
.1
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Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP regarding the validity of
the debt securities
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5
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.2
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Opinion of WeirFoulds LLP regarding the validity of the common
shares
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|
12
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.1
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|
Statement regarding the computation of ratio of earnings to
fixed charges
|
|
21
|
.1
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|
List of Subsidiaries
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23
|
.1
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|
Consent of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm
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23
|
.2
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Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
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23
|
.3
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Consent of WeirFoulds LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2)
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|
23
|
.4
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Consent of Chen & Co. Law Firm
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|
24
|
.1
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Powers of Attorney (included as part of signature page)
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|
25
|
.1
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|
Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of the Trustee under the Indenture
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* |
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To be filed as an exhibit to a post-effective amendment to this
registration statement or as an exhibit to a report filed under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and incorporated herein by
reference. |
EX-4.2 FORM OF INDENTURE
Exhibit 4.2
INDENTURE
The Bank of New York Mellon
Canadian Solar Inc.
Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Indenture, dated as of [], 200[]
Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of the
Indenture.
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|
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§ 310(a)(1) |
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7.10 |
(a)(2) |
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7.10 |
(a)(3) |
|
Not Applicable |
(a)(4) |
|
Not Applicable |
(a)(5) |
|
7.10 |
(b) |
|
7.10 |
§ 311(a) |
|
7.11 |
(b) |
|
7.11 |
(c) |
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Not Applicable |
§ 312(a) |
|
2.6 |
(b) |
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10.3 |
(c) |
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10.3 |
§ 313(a) |
|
7.6 |
(b)(1) |
|
7.6 |
(b)(2) |
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7.6 |
(c)(1) |
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7.6 |
(d) |
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7.6 |
§ 314(a) |
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4.2, 10.5 |
(b) |
|
Not Applicable |
(c)(1) |
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10.4 |
(c)(2) |
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10.4 |
(c)(3) |
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Not Applicable |
(d) |
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Not Applicable |
(e) |
|
10.5 |
(f) |
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Not Applicable |
§ 315(a) |
|
7.1 |
(b) |
|
7.5 |
(c) |
|
7.1 |
(d) |
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7.1 |
(e) |
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6.14 |
§ 316(a) |
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2.10 |
(a)(1)(A) |
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6.12 |
(a)(1)(B) |
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6.13 |
(b) |
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6.8 |
§ 317(a)(1) |
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6.3 |
(a)(2) |
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6.4 |
(b) |
|
2.5 |
§ 318(a) |
|
10.1 |
Indenture
dated as of
[ ], 200[ ] between Canadian Solar Inc., a company incorporated in Canada
(Company), and The Bank of New York Mellon, a banking corporation organized under the laws of the
State of New York (Trustee).
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable
benefit of the Holders of the Securities issued under this Indenture.
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section 1.1 Definitions.
"Additional Amounts means any additional amounts which are required hereby or by any
Security, under circumstances specified herein or therein, to be paid by the Company in respect of
certain taxes imposed on Holders specified herein or therein and which are owing to such Holders.
"Affiliate of any specified person means any other person directly or indirectly controlling
or controlled by or under common control with such specified person. For the purposes of this
definition, control (including, with correlative meanings, the terms controlled by and under
common control with), as used with respect to any person, shall mean the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such
person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by agreement or otherwise.
"Agent means any Registrar, Paying Agent or Service Agent.
"Board of Directors means the Board of Directors of the Company or any duly authorized
committee thereof.
"Board Resolution means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary of the Company to have been adopted by the Board of Directors or pursuant to
authorization by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of the certificate and delivered to the Trustee.
"Business Day means, unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers Certificate or
supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series, any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal
holiday in The City of New York on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law,
regulation or executive order to close or a day the Corporate Trust Office is closed.
"Capital Stock means any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other
equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock.
"Company means the party named as such above until a successor replaces it and thereafter
means the successor.
1
"Company Order means a written order signed in the name of the Company by two Officers, one
of whom must be the Companys principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal
accounting officer.
"Company Request means a written request signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman,
its Chief Executive Officer, or any Vice President and by its Chief Financial Officer and delivered
to the Trustee.
"Corporate Trust Office means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its
corporate trust business shall be principally administered.
"Default means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an
Event of Default.
"Depositary means, with respect to the Securities of any Series issuable or issued in whole
or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the person designated as Depositary for
such Series by the Company, which Depositary shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act; and if at any time there is more than one such person,
Depositary as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Depositary with
respect to the Securities of such Series.
"Discount Security means any Security that provides for an amount less than the stated
principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity
thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.
"Dollars and $ means the currency of The United States of America.
"ECU means the European Currency Unit as determined by the Commission of the European Union.
"Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"Foreign Currency means any currency or currency unit issued by a government other than the
government of The United States of America.
"Foreign Government Obligations means, with respect to Securities of any Series that are
denominated in a Foreign Currency, (i) direct obligations of the government that issued or caused
to be issued such currency for the payment of which obligations its full faith and credit is
pledged or (ii) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by or acting as an agency or
instrumentality of such government the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a
full faith and credit obligation by such government, which, in either case under clauses (i) or
(ii), are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.
"GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and
pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in
such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the
accounting profession, which are in effect as of the date of determination.
2
"Global Security or Global Securities means a Security or Securities, as the case may be,
in the form established pursuant to Section 2.2 evidencing all or part of a Series of Securities,
issued to the Depositary for such Series or its nominee, and registered in the name of such
Depositary or nominee.
"Holder or Securityholder means a person in whose name a Security is registered.
Indenture means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time and shall include the
form and terms of particular Series of Securities established as contemplated hereunder.
"interest with respect to any Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after
Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.
"Maturity, when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of
such Security becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity
or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.
"Officer means the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, any Vice President, or the Chief
Financial Officer of the Company.
"Officers Certificate means a certificate signed by two Officers, one of whom must be the
Companys principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer.
"Opinion of Counsel means a written opinion of legal counsel, which opinion, is acceptable to
the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company.
"person means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, limited
liability company, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any
agency or political subdivision thereof.
"principal of a Security means the principal of the Security plus, when appropriate, the
premium, if any, on, and any Additional Amounts in respect of, the Security.
"Responsible Officer means any officer of the Trustee in its Corporate Trust Office and also
means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom any corporate
trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with a particular
subject and who shall in each case have direct responsibility for the administration of this
Indenture.
"SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Securities means the debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company of any
Series authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
"Series or Series of Securities means each series of debentures, notes or other debt
instruments of the Company created pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereof.
3
"Stated Maturity when used with respect to any Security, means the date specified in such
Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or interest is due and payable.
"Subsidiary of any specified person means any corporation, association or other business
entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled
(without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or
indirectly, by such person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that person or a combination
thereof.
"TIA means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the
date of this Indenture; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is
amended after such date, TIA means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust
Indenture Act as so amended.
"Trustee means the person named as the Trustee in the first paragraph of this instrument
until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this
Indenture, and thereafter Trustee shall mean or include each person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such person, Trustee
as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Trustee with respect to
Securities of that Series.
"U.S. Government Obligations means securities which are (i) direct obligations of The United
States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations
of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of The United
States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit
obligation by The United States of America, and which in the case of (i) and (ii) are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a
depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S.
Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S. Government
Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt, provided
that (except as required by law) such custodian is not
authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt
from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by
such depository receipt.
Section 1.2 Other Definitions.
|
|
|
TERM |
|
DEFINED IN SECTION |
"Bankruptcy Law |
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6.1 |
"Custodian |
|
6.1 |
"Event of Default |
|
6.1 |
"Journal |
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10.15 |
"Judgment Currency |
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10.16 |
"Legal Holiday |
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10.7 |
"mandatory sinking fund payment |
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11.1 |
"Market Exchange Rate |
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10.15 |
4
|
|
|
TERM |
|
DEFINED IN SECTION |
"New York Banking Day |
|
10.16 |
"optional sinking fund payment |
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11.1 |
"Paying Agent |
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2.4 |
"Registrar |
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2.4 |
"Required Currency |
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10.16 |
"Service Agent |
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2.4 |
"successor person |
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5.1 |
Section 1.3 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by
reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have
the following meanings:
"Commission means the SEC.
"indenture securities means the Securities.
"indenture security holder means a Securityholder.
"indenture to be qualified means this Indenture.
"indenture trustee or institutional trustee means the Trustee.
"obligor on the indenture securities means the Company and any successor obligor upon the
Securities.
All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference
to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA and not otherwise defined herein are used
herein as so defined.
Section 1.4 Rules of Construction.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
|
(a) |
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a term has the meaning assigned to it; |
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(b) |
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an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in
accordance with GAAP; |
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(c) |
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or is not exclusive; |
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(d) |
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words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the
singular; and |
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(e) |
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provisions apply to successive events and transactions. |
5
ARTICLE II.
THE SECURITIES
Section 2.1 Issuable in Series.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under
this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more Series. All Securities of
a Series shall be identical except as may be set forth or determined in the manner provided in a
Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers Certificate detailing the adoption of the
terms thereof pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution. In the case of Securities of
a Series to be issued from time to time, the Board Resolution, Officers Certificate or
supplemental indenture detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to authority granted
under a Board Resolution may provide for the method by which specified terms (such as interest
rate, maturity date, record date or date from which interest shall accrue) are to be determined.
Securities may differ between Series in respect of any matters, provided that all Series of
Securities shall be equally and ratably entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.
Section 2.2 Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities.
At or prior to the issuance of any Securities within a Series, the following shall be
established (as to the Series generally, in the case of Subsection 2.2.1 and either as to such
Securities within the Series or as to the Series generally in the case of Subsections 2.2.2 through
2.2.21) by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth or determined in the manner provided in
a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers Certificate:
2.2.1. the title of the Series (which shall distinguish the Securities of that particular
Series from the Securities of any other Series);
2.2.2. the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) at
which the Securities of the Series will be issued;
2.2.3. any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the Series which 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 2.7, 2.8, 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6);
2.2.4. the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the Series is payable;
2.2.5. the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or, if applicable, the
method used to determine such rate or rates (including, but not limited to, any commodity,
commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the Securities of the Series
shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest, if any, shall accrue, the
date or dates on which such interest, if any, shall commence and be payable and any regular record
date for the interest payable on any interest payment date;
6
2.2.6. the place or places where the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of
the Series shall be payable, where the Securities of such Series may be surrendered for
registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in
respect of the Securities of such Series and this Indenture may be served, and the method of such
payment, if by wire transfer, mail or other means;
2.2.7. if applicable, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the
terms and conditions upon which the Securities of the Series may be redeemed, in whole or in part,
at the option of the Company;
2.2.8. the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase the Securities of the
Series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof
and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions
upon which Securities of the Series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant
to such obligation;
2.2.9. the dates, if any, on which and the price or prices at which the Securities of the
Series will be repurchased by the Company at the option of the Holders thereof and other detailed
terms and provisions of such repurchase obligations;
2.2.10. if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the
denominations in which the Securities of the Series shall be issuable;
2.2.11. the forms of the Securities of the Series and whether the Securities will be issuable
as Global Securities;
2.2.12. if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the
Securities of the Series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity
thereof pursuant to Section 6.2;
2.2.13. the currency of denomination of the Securities of the Series, which may be Dollars or
any Foreign Currency, including, but not limited to, the ECU, and if such currency of denomination
is a composite currency other than the ECU, the agency or organization, if any, responsible for
overseeing such composite currency;
2.2.14. the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the
principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be made;
2.2.15. if payments of principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series are
to be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such
Securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to such payments
will be determined;
2.2.16. the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of or interest, if any, on the
Securities of the Series will be determined, if such amounts may be determined by reference to an
index based on a currency or currencies or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock
exchange index or financial index;
2.2.17. the provisions, if any, relating to any security provided for the Securities of the
Series;
7
2.2.18. any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of
the Series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities
to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 6.2;
2.2.19. any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Articles IV or V which applies
to Securities of the Series;
2.2.20. any other terms of the Securities of the Series (which may supplement, modify or
delete any provision of this Indenture insofar as it applies to such Series); and
2.2.21. any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents
or other agents with respect to Securities of such Series if other than those appointed herein.
All Securities of any one Series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from
time to time, consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so provided by or pursuant to the
Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers Certificate referred to above.
Section 2.3 Execution and Authentication.
Two Officers shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the
Security is authenticated, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.
A Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual or facsimile signature of the
Trustee or an authenticating agent. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security
has been authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee shall at any time, and from time to time, authenticate Securities for original
issue in the principal amount provided in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or
Officers Certificate, upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order. Such Company Order may
authorize authentication and delivery pursuant to oral or electronic instructions from the Company
or its duly authorized agent or agents, which oral instructions shall be promptly confirmed in
writing. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication unless otherwise provided by a
Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers Certificate.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities of any Series outstanding at any time may not
exceed any limit upon the maximum principal amount for such Series set forth in the Board
Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers Certificate delivered pursuant to Section
2.2, except as provided in Section 2.8.
Prior to the issuance of Securities of any Series, the Trustee shall have received and
(subject to Section 7.2) shall be fully protected in relying on: (a) the Board Resolution,
supplemental indenture hereto or Officers Certificate establishing the form of the Securities of
that Series or of Securities within that Series and the terms of the Securities of that Series
8
or of Securities within that Series, (b) an Officers Certificate complying with Section 10.4,
and (c) an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 10.4.
The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Securities of such
Series: (a) if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not be taken
lawfully; or (b) if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive
committee or a trust committee of directors and/or vice-presidents shall determine that such action
would expose the Trustee to personal liability to Holders of any then outstanding Series of
Securities.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate
Securities. An authenticating agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so.
Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such
agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or an
Affiliate of the Company.
Section 2.4 Registrar and Paying Agent.
The Company shall maintain, with respect to each Series of Securities, at the place or places
specified with respect to such Series pursuant to Section 2.2, an office or agency where Securities
of such Series may be presented or surrendered for payment (Paying Agent), where Securities of
such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange (Registrar) and where
notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such Series and this
Indenture may be served (Service Agent). The Trustee or Service Agent, as applicable, shall
deliver such notices and demands to the Company in accordance with Section 10.2 hereof. The
Registrar shall keep a register with respect to each Series of Securities and to their transfer and
exchange. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the name and address, and
any change in the name or address, of each Registrar, Paying Agent or Service Agent. If at any time
the Company shall fail to maintain any such required Registrar, Paying Agent or Service Agent or
shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the name and address thereof, such presentations,
surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee,
and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations,
surrenders, notices and demands.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more co-registrars, additional paying
agents or additional service agents and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided,
however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its
obligations to maintain a Registrar, Paying Agent and Service Agent in each place so specified
pursuant to Section 2.2 for Securities of any Series for such purposes. The Company will give
prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the
name or address of any such co-registrar, additional paying agent or additional service agent. The
term Registrar includes any co-registrar; the term Paying Agent includes any additional paying
agent; and the term Service Agent includes any additional service agent.
The Company hereby appoints the Trustee the initial Registrar, Paying Agent and Service Agent
for each Series unless another Registrar, Paying Agent or Service Agent, as the case may be, is
appointed prior to the time Securities of that Series are first issued.
9
The Company hereby appoints The Depository Trust Company to act as Depositary with respect to
the Securities.
Section 2.5 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.
The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that
the Paying Agent will hold in trust, for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of
Securities, or the Trustee, all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or
interest on the Series of Securities, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in
making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent
to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to
pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if
other than the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) shall have no further liability for the
money. If the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and
hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities all
money held by it as Paying Agent.
Section 2.6 Securityholder Lists.
The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent
list available to it of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities and
shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall
furnish to the Trustee at least ten days before each interest payment date and at such other times
as the Trustee may request in writing a list, in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may
reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities.
Section 2.7 Transfer and Exchange.
Where Securities of a Series are presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request
to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of the same
Series, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if its requirements for such
transactions are met. To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trustee shall
authenticate Securities upon receipt of a Company Order. No service charge shall be made for any
registration of transfer or exchange (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein), but the
Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental
charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer tax or similar governmental
charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Sections 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6).
Neither the Company nor the Registrar shall be required (a) to issue, register the transfer
of, or exchange Securities of any Series for the period beginning at the opening of business
fifteen days immediately preceding the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of that
Series selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or
(b) to register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any Series selected, called or being
called for redemption as a whole or the portion being redeemed of any such Securities selected,
called or being called for redemption in part.
10
Section 2.8 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.
If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the
Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order, shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new
Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not
contemporaneously outstanding.
If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction
of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be
required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the
absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide
purchaser, the Company shall execute and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order, shall
authenticate and make available for delivery, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen
Security, a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a
number not contemporaneously outstanding.
In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to
become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay
such Security.
Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment
of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation
thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected
therewith.
Every new Security of any Series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed,
lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the
Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by
anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately
with any and all other Securities of that Series duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all
other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost
or stolen Securities.
Section 2.9 Outstanding Securities.
The Securities outstanding at any time are all the Securities authenticated by the Trustee
except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the
interest on a Global Security effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof and
those described in this Section as not outstanding.
If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.8, it ceases to be outstanding until the
Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a bona fide
purchaser.
If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary of the Company or an Affiliate of
the Company) holds on the Maturity of Securities of a Series money sufficient to pay such
Securities payable on that date, then on and after that date such Securities of the Series cease to
be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.
11
A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company
holds the Security.
In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Securities
have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the
principal amount of a 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 6.2.
Section 2.10 Treasury Securities.
In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities of a Series
have concurred in any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver,
Securities of a Series owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company shall be disregarded,
except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on
any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver only Securities of a
Series that the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
Section 2.11 Temporary Securities.
Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee,
upon receipt of a Company Order, shall authenticate temporary Securities upon a Company Order.
Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have
variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable
delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order, shall
authenticate definitive Securities of the same Series and date of maturity in exchange for
temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, temporary securities shall have the same rights under
this Indenture as the definitive Securities.
Section 2.12 Cancellation.
The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar
and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for
registration of transfer, exchange or payment. Upon receipt of written instruction from the
Company, the Trustee shall cancel all Securities surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment,
replacement or cancellation and shall destroy such canceled Securities and deliver a certificate of
such destruction to the Company, unless the Company otherwise directs. The Company may not issue
new Securities to replace Securities that it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.13 Defaulted Interest.
If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on a Series of Securities, it shall pay the
defaulted interest, plus, to the extent permitted by law, any interest payable on the defaulted
interest, to the persons who are Securityholders of the Series on a subsequent special record date.
The Company shall fix the record date and payment date. At least 10 days before the record date,
the Company shall mail to the Trustee and to each Securityholder of the Series a notice that states
the record date, the payment date and the amount of interest to be paid. The Company may pay
defaulted interest in any other lawful manner.
12
Section 2.14 Global Securities.
2.14.1. Terms of Securities. A Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an
Officers Certificate shall establish whether the Securities of a Series shall be issued in whole
or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and the Depositary for such Global Security
or Securities.
2.14.2. Transfer and Exchange. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary
contained in Section 2.7 of the Indenture and in addition thereto, any Global Security shall be
exchangeable pursuant to Section 2.7 of the Indenture for Securities registered in the names of
Holders other than the Depositary for such Security or its nominee only if (i) such Depositary
notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global
Security or if at any time such Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the
Exchange Act, and, in either case, the Company fails to appoint a successor Depositary registered
as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act within 90 days of such event or (ii) the Company
executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officers Certificate to the effect that such Global
Security shall be so exchangeable. Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the
preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for Securities registered in such names as the Depositary
shall direct in writing in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the
Global Security with like tenor and terms.
Except as provided in this Section 2.14.2, a Global Security may not be transferred except as
a whole by the Depositary with respect to such Global Security to a nominee of such Depositary, by
a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by the
Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such a successor
Depositary.
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 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.
2.14.3. Legend. Any Global Security issued hereunder shall bear a legend in
substantially the following form:
This Security is a Global Security within the meaning of the Indenture hereinafter referred
to and is registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary. This Security is
exchangeable for Securities registered in the name of a person other than the Depositary or its
nominee only in the limited circumstances described in the Indenture, and may not be transferred
except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, 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 a successor Depositary.
2.14.4. Acts of Holders. The Depositary, as a Holder, may appoint agents and otherwise
authorize participants to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice,
consent, waiver or other action which a Holder is entitled to give or take under the Indenture.
13
2.14.5. Payments. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Indenture, unless
otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.2, payment of the principal of and interest, if
any, on any Global Security shall be made to the Holder thereof.
2.14.6. Consents, Declaration and Directions. Except as provided in Section 2.14.5,
the Company, the Trustee and any Agent shall treat a person as the Holder of such principal amount
of outstanding Securities of such Series represented by a Global Security as shall be specified in
a written statement of the Depositary with respect to such Global Security, for purposes of
obtaining any consents, declarations, waivers or directions required to be given by the Holders
pursuant to this Indenture.
Section 2.15 CUSIP Numbers.
The Company in issuing the Securities may use CUSIP numbers (if then generally in use), and,
if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders;
provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the
correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a
redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other elements of identification printed on
the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such
numbers.
ARTICLE III.
REDEMPTION
Section 3.1 Notice to Trustee.
The Company may, with respect to any Series of Securities, reserve the right to redeem and pay
the Series of Securities or may covenant to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or any part
thereof prior to the Stated Maturity thereof at such time and on such terms as provided for in such
Securities. If a Series of Securities is redeemable and the Company wants or is obligated to redeem
prior to the Stated Maturity thereof all or part of the Series of Securities pursuant to the terms
of such Securities, it shall notify the Trustee of the redemption date and the principal amount of
Series of Securities to be redeemed. The Company shall give the Trustee notice at least 45 days
before the redemption date (or such shorter notice as may be acceptable to the Trustee).
Section 3.2 Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.
Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by a Board Resolution, a supplemental
indenture hereto or an Officers Certificate, if less than all the Securities of a Series are to be
redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Securities of the Series to be redeemed in any manner that
the Trustee deems fair and appropriate and in accordance with its customary practices or the
selection shall be in accordance with DTC procedures, as applicable. The Trustee shall make the
selection from Securities of the Series outstanding not previously called for redemption. The
Trustee may select for redemption portions of the principal of Securities of the Series that have
denominations larger than $1,000. Securities of the Series and portions of them it selects shall be
in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 or, with respect to Securities of any Series
issuable in other denominations pursuant to
14
Section 2.2.10, the minimum principal denomination for each Series and integral multiples
thereof. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities of a Series called for redemption
also apply to portions of Securities of that Series called for redemption.
Section 3.3 Notice of Redemption.
Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, a supplemental
indenture hereto or an Officers Certificate, at least 15 days but not more than 60 days before a
redemption date, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption by first-class mail to each Holder
whose Securities are to be redeemed.
The notice shall identify the Securities of the Series to be redeemed and shall state:
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(a) |
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the redemption date; |
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(b) |
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the redemption price; |
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(c) |
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the name and address of the Paying Agent; |
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(d) |
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that Securities of the Series called for redemption must be surrendered to
the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price; |
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(e) |
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that interest on Securities of the Series called for redemption ceases to
accrue on and after the redemption date; |
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|
(f) |
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the CUSIP number, if any; and |
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(g) |
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any other information as may be required by the terms of the particular
Series or the Securities of a Series being redeemed. |
At the Companys request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption prepared by the
Company, in the Companys name and at its expense.
Section 3.4 Effect of Notice of Redemption.
Once notice of redemption is mailed or published as provided in Section 3.3, Securities of a
Series called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption
price. A notice of redemption may not be conditional. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such
Securities shall be paid at the redemption price plus accrued interest to the redemption date.
Section 3.5 Deposit of Redemption Price.
On or before the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money
sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest, if any, on all Securities to be
redeemed on that date.
Section 3.6 Securities Redeemed in Part.
Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed in part, the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company
Order, shall authenticate for the Holder a new Security of the same Series and the
15
same maturity equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.
ARTICLE IV.
COVENANTS
Section 4.1 Payment of Principal and Interest.
The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each Series of Securities
that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of
that Series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture.
Section 4.2 SEC Reports.
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 15 days after it files them with the SEC
copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents, and other reports (or copies of
such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe) which the
Company is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The
Company also shall comply with the other provisions of TIA § 314(a).
Section 4.3 Compliance Certificate.
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of
the Company, an Officers Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and
its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the
signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and
fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer
signing such certificate, that to the best of his/her knowledge the Company has kept, observed,
performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default
in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof (or, if a
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default
of which he may have knowledge).
The Company will, so long as any of the Securities are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee,
forthwith upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers Certificate
specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to
take with respect thereto.
Section 4.4 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.
The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time
insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any
stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may
affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture or the Securities; and the Company (to
the extent it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law
and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law,
16
hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will
suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.
Section 4.5 Corporate Existence.
Subject to Article V, the Company 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 Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required
to preserve any such right, license or franchise if the Board of Directors shall determine that the
preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to
the Holders.
ARTICLE V.
SUCCESSORS
Section 5.1 When Company May Merge, Etc.
The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all
or substantially all of its properties and assets to, any person (a successor person) unless:
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(a) |
|
the Company is the surviving corporation or the successor person (if other
than the Company) is a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of
any U.S. domestic jurisdiction and expressly assumes the Companys obligations on the
Securities and under this Indenture and |
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|
(b) |
|
immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Default or Event of
Default, shall have occurred and be continuing. |
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee prior to the consummation of the proposed transaction
an Officers Certificate to the foregoing effect and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the
proposed transaction and any supplemental indenture comply with this Indenture.
Notwithstanding the above, any Subsidiary of the Company may consolidate with, merge into or
transfer all or part of its properties to the Company. Neither an Officers Certificate nor an
Opinion of Counsel shall be required to be delivered in connection therewith.
Section 5.2 Successor Corporation Substituted.
Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all
or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 5.1, the successor
corporation formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which
such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for,
and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as
if such successor person has been named as the Company herein; provided, however,
that the predecessor Company in the case of a sale, conveyance or other disposition (other than a
lease) shall be released from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the
Securities.
17
ARTICLE VI.
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 6.1 Events of Default.
"Event of Default, wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any Series, means any
one of the following events, unless in the establishing Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or
Officers Certificate, it is provided that such Series shall not have the benefit of said Event of
Default:
|
(a) |
|
default in the payment of any interest on any Security of that Series when
it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days
(unless the entire amount of such payment is deposited by the Company with the
Trustee or with a Paying Agent prior to the expiration of such period of 30 days); or |
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(b) |
|
default in the payment of principal of any Security of that Series at its
Maturity; or |
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(c) |
|
default in the performance or breach of any covenant or warranty of the
Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty that has been included
in this Indenture solely for the benefit of Series of Securities other than that
Series), which default continues uncured for a period of 60 days after there has been
given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the
Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the
outstanding Securities of that Series a written notice specifying such default or
breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a Notice of
Default hereunder; or |
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|
(d) |
|
the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law: |
|
(i) |
|
commences a voluntary case, |
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(ii) |
|
consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an
involuntary case, |
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(iii) |
|
consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or
substantially all of its property, |
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(iv) |
|
makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or |
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(v) |
|
generally is unable to pay its debts as the same become due; or |
|
(e) |
|
a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any
Bankruptcy Law that: |
|
(i) |
|
is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case, |
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(ii) |
|
appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or
substantially all of its property, or |
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(iii) |
|
orders the liquidation of the Company, |
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and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days; or |
18
|
(f) |
|
any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that
Series, which is specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or
an Officers Certificate, in accordance with Section 2.2.18. |
The term Bankruptcy Law means title 11, U.S. Code or any similar Federal or State law for
the relief of debtors. The term Custodian means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or
similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
Section 6.2 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any Series at the time outstanding occurs
and is continuing (other than an Event of Default referred to in Section 6.1(d) or (e)) then in
every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the
outstanding Securities of that Series may declare the principal amount (or, if any Securities of
that Series are Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in
the terms of such Securities) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all of the Securities
of that Series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the
Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified
amount) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, shall become immediately due and payable. If an
Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(d) or (e) shall occur, the principal amount (or specified
amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding Securities shall ipso facto
become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the
Trustee or any Holder.
At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to any Series has been made
and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as
hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
outstanding Securities of that Series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may
rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if all Events of Default with respect to
Securities of that Series, other than the non-payment of the principal and interest, if any, of
Securities of that Series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have
been cured or waived as provided in Section 6.13.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.3 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.
The Company covenants that if
|
(a) |
|
default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such
interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days,
or |
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|
(b) |
|
default is made in the payment of principal of any Security at the Maturity
thereof, or |
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(c) |
|
default is made in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when and as due
by the terms of a Security, |
19
then, the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders
of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and
interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on
any overdue principal and any overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such
Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs
and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and
advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own
name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of
the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may
enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the
moneys adjudged or deemed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the
Company or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, if an Event of Default with respect to
any Securities of any Series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to
protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such Series by
pursuing any available remedy by proceeding at law or in equity as the Trustee shall deem most
effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any
covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or
to enforce any other proper remedy.
Section 6.4 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy,
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the
Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other
obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities
shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective
of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue
principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or
otherwise,
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(a) |
|
to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal and interest
owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities 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 the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and
advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such
judicial proceeding, and |
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(b) |
|
to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable
on any such claims and to distribute the same, |
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar
official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments
to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments
directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation,
expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts
due the Trustee under Section 7.7.
20
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to
or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or
composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the
Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
Section 6.5 Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.
All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and
enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof
in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be
brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after
provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of
the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in
respect of which such judgment has been recovered.
Section 6.6 Application of Money Collected.
Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following
order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on
account of principal or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of
the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
First: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7; and
Second: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and interest on the
Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably,
without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such
Securities for principal and interest, respectively; and
Third: To the Company or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.
Section 6.7 Limitation on Suits.
No Holder of any Security of any Series shall have any right to institute any proceeding,
judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or
trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless
|
(a) |
|
such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a
continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that Series; |
|
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(b) |
|
the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding
Securities of that Series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute
proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder; |
|
|
(c) |
|
such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory
to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in
compliance with such request; |
21
|
(d) |
|
the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer
of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and |
|
|
(e) |
|
no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the
Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of
the outstanding Securities of that Series; |
it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in
any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect,
disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain
priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture,
except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders.
Section 6.8 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have
the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and
interest, if any, on such Security on the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities expressed in such
Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date) and to institute suit for the
enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such
Holder.
Section 6.9 Restoration of Rights and Remedies.
If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy
under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has
been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to
any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored
severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and
remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been
instituted.
Section 6.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative.
Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in Section 2.8, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or
reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy,
and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to
every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or
otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not,
to the extent permitted by law, prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other
appropriate right or remedy.
Section 6.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right
or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a
waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by
this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as
often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
22
Section 6.12 Control by Holders.
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series
shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any
remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with
respect to the Securities of such Series, provided that
|
(a) |
|
such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this
Indenture, |
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(b) |
|
the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is
not inconsistent with such direction, and |
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|
(c) |
|
subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, the Trustee shall have the right
to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a
Responsible Officer of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would
involve the Trustee in personal liability. |
Section 6.13 Waiver of Past Defaults.
The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of
any Series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such Series waive any past Default
hereunder with respect to such Series and its consequences, except a Default in the payment of the
principal of or interest on any Security of such Series (provided, however, that the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may rescind an
acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such
acceleration). Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default
arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no
such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.14 Undertaking for 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, 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 Company,
to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders,
holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any
Series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal
of or interest on any Security on or after the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities expressed in
such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date).
23
ARTICLE VII.
TRUSTEE
Section 7.1 Duties of Trustee.
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(a) |
|
If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall
exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree
of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent man would exercise or use under the
circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs. |
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(b) |
|
Except during the continuance of an Event of Default: |
|
(i) |
|
The Trustee need perform only those duties that are
specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others. |
|
|
(ii) |
|
In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may
conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of
the opinions expressed therein, upon Officers Certificates or Opinions of
Counsel furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this
Indenture; however, in the case of any such Officers Certificates or Opinions
of Counsel which by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be
furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine such Officers
Certificates and Opinions of Counsel 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). |
|
(c) |
|
The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent
action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that: |
|
(i) |
|
This paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of
this Section. |
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|
(ii) |
|
The Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment
made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the
Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts. |
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|
(iii) |
|
The Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action
taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it with respect to Securities of any
Series in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series
relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any
remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred
upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such
Series. |
|
(d) |
|
Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is
subject to paragraph (a), (b) and (c) of this Section. |
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|
(e) |
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The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power
unless it receives indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or
expense. |
24
|
(f) |
|
The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it
except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by
the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by
law. |
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(g) |
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No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to risk its own
funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its
duties, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have
reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity
against such risk is not reasonably assured to it. |
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(h) |
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The Paying Agent, the Registrar, the Service Agent and any authenticating
agent shall be entitled to the protections, immunities and standard of care as are
set forth in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section with respect to the Trustee. |
Section 7.2 Rights of Trustee.
|
(a) |
|
The Trustee may rely on and shall be protected in acting or refraining from
acting upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or
presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter
stated in the document. |
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(b) |
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Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an
Officers Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel, or both. The Trustee shall not be
liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such
Officers Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. No such Officers Certificate or Opinion
of Counsel shall be at the expense of the Trustee. Any request or direction of the
Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers Certificate. |
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|
(c) |
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The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence
of any agent appointed with due care. No Depositary shall be deemed an
agent of the Trustee and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any act or omission
by any Depositary. |
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(d) |
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The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in
good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers,
provided that the Trustees conduct does not constitute
negligence or bad faith. The Trustee shall not be liable for any special or consequential damages, even if
they were reasonably foreseeable. |
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(e) |
|
The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of
such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and
protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder
without negligence and in good faith and in reliance thereon. |
25
|
(f) |
|
The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or
powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the
Holders of Securities unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security
or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities
which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction. |
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(g) |
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The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or
matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion,
report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other
evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its
discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters
as it may see fit. |
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(h) |
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The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of
Default (other than a payment default under Section 6.1 or 6.2) unless a Responsible
Officer of the Trustee has received written notice of any event which is in fact such
a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee,
and such notice references the Securities generally or the Securities of a particular
Series and this Indenture. |
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(i) |
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The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the
Trustee, including without limitation its right to be indemnified, are extended to,
and shall enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and to
each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder. |
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(j) |
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The Trustee may request that the Issuer deliver an Officers 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 Officers
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. |
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(k) |
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The Trustee shall have no duty to inquire as to or monitor the performance
of the Issuer with respect to the covenants contained in Article IV. |
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(l) |
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The Trustee shall not be required to give any note, bond or surety in
respect of the execution of the trusts and powers under this Indenture. |
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(m) |
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Nothing herein shall be deemed to require the Trustee to submit to the
jurisdiction or venue of a non-U.S. court. |
Section 7.3 Individual Rights of Trustee.
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of
Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company with the same
rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. The
Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11.
26
Section 7.4 Trustees Disclaimer.
The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the
Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Companys use of the proceeds from the Securities,
and it shall not be responsible for any statement in the Securities other than its authentication.
Section 7.5 Notice of Defaults.
If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Securities of
any Series and if it is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to
each Securityholder of the Securities of that Series notice of a Default or Event of Default within
90 days after it occurs or, if later, after a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has written notice
of such Default or Event of Default. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment
of principal of or interest on any Security of any Series, the Trustee may withhold the notice if
and so long as its corporate trust committee or a committee of its Responsible Officers in good
faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Securityholders of that Series.
Section 7.6 Reports by Trustee to Holders.
Within 60 days after May 15 in each year, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all
Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear on the register kept by the Registrar, a brief
report dated as of such May 15, in accordance with, and to the extent required under, TIA § 313.
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Securityholders of any Series shall be
filed with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Securities of that Series are listed. The
Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when Securities of any Series are listed on any stock
exchange.
Section 7.7 Compensation and Indemnity.
The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time compensation for its services as the
Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree upon in writing. The Trustees compensation
shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall
reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by it. Such
expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustees agents and
counsel.
The Company shall indemnify each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee (including the
cost of defending itself) against any loss, liability or expense incurred by it except as set forth
in the next paragraph in the performance of its duties under this Indenture as Trustee or Agent.
The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. The
Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have
one separate counsel (in addition to local counsel, if applicable) and the Company shall pay the
reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made
without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. This indemnification shall
apply to officers, directors, employees, shareholders and agents of the Trustee.
27
The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred
by the Trustee or by any officer, director, employee, shareholder or agent of the Trustee through
negligence or bad faith.
To secure the Companys payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien
prior to the Securities of any Series on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee,
except that held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Securities of that Series.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in
Section 6.1(d) or (e) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the
fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration
under any Bankruptcy Law.
The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of this Indenture and the
resignation and removal of the Trustee.
Section 7.8 Replacement of Trustee.
A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become
effective only upon the successor Trustees acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section.
The Trustee may resign with respect to the Securities of one or more Series by so notifying
the Company at least 30 days prior to the date of the proposed resignation. The Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the Securities of any Series may remove the Trustee with respect to
that Series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company. The Company may remove the Trustee with
respect to Securities of one or more Series if:
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(a) |
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the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10; |
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(b) |
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the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief
is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law; |
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(c) |
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a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property;
or |
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(d) |
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the Trustee becomes incapable of acting. |
If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any
reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor
Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding
Securities may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the
Company.
If a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any one or more Series does not take
office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the
Company or the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Securities of the
applicable Series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a
successor Trustee.
28
A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring
Trustee and to the Company. Immediately after that, the retiring Trustee shall transfer all
property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee subject to the lien provided for in Section
7.7, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor
Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee with respect to each Series of
Securities for which it is acting as Trustee under this Indenture. A successor Trustee shall mail a
notice of its succession to each Securityholder of each such Series. Notwithstanding replacement of
the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.8, the Companys obligations under Section 7.7 hereof shall
continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee with respect to expenses and liabilities incurred
by it prior to such replacement.
Section 7.9 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.
If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially
all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any
further act shall be the successor Trustee.
Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification.
This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1),
(2) and (5). The Trustee shall always have a combined capital and surplus of at least $25,000,000
as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with
TIA § 310(b).
Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.
The Trustee is subject to TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA §
311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent
indicated.
ARTICLE VIII.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE
Section 8.1 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.
This Indenture shall upon Company Order cease to be of further effect (except as hereinafter
provided in this Section 8.1), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper
instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when
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(i) |
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all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other
than Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been
replaced or paid) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or |
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(ii) |
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all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee
for cancellation |
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(1) |
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have become due and payable, or |
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(2) |
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will become due and payable at their Stated
Maturity within one year, or |
29
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(3) |
|
have been called for redemption or are to be
called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory
to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in
the name, and at the expense, of the Company, or |
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(4) |
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are deemed paid and discharged pursuant to
Section 8.3, as applicable; |
and the Company, in the case of (1), (2) or (3) above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to
be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust an amount sufficient for the purpose of
paying and discharging the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the
Trustee for cancellation, for principal and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of
Securities which have become due and payable on or prior to the date of such deposit) or to the
Stated Maturity or redemption date, as the case may be;
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(b) |
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the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder
by the Company; and |
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(c) |
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the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an
Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for
relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with. |
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the
Company to the Trustee under Section 7.7, and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee
pursuant to clause (a) of this Section, the provisions of Sections 2.4, 2.7, 2.8, 8.2 and 8.5 shall
survive.
Section 8.2 Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification.
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(a) |
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Subject to the provisions of Section 8.5, all money deposited with the
Trustee pursuant to Section 8.1, all money and U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign
Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.3 or 8.4 and
all money received by the Trustee in respect of U.S. Government Obligations or
Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.3 or
8.4, shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of
the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any
Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee
may determine, to the persons entitled thereto, of the principal and interest for
whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the Trustee or to
make mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments as contemplated by
Sections 8.3 or 8.4. |
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(b) |
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The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee
or other charge imposed on or assessed against U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign
Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Sections 8.3 or 8.4 or the interest and
principal received in respect of such obligations other than any payable by or on
behalf of Holders. |
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(c) |
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The Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon
Company Request any U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government |
30
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Obligations or money held by it as provided in Sections 8.3 or 8.4 which, in the
opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants
expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are then in
excess of the amount thereof which then would have been required to be deposited for
the purpose for which such U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government
Obligations or money were deposited or received. This provision shall not authorize
the sale by the Trustee of any U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government
Obligations held under this Indenture. |
Section 8.3 Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series.
Unless this Section 8.3 is otherwise specified, pursuant to Section 2.2.20, to be inapplicable
to Securities of any Series, the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire
indebtedness on all the outstanding Securities of any Series on the 91st day after the date of the
deposit referred to in subparagraph (d) hereof, and the provisions of this Indenture, as it relates
to such outstanding Securities of such Series, shall no longer be in effect (and the Trustee, at
the expense of the Company, shall, at Company Request, execute proper instruments acknowledging the
same), except as to:
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(a) |
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the rights of Holders of Securities of such Series to receive, from the
trust funds described in subparagraph (d) hereof, (i) payment of the principal of and
each installment of principal of and interest on the outstanding Securities of such
Series on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or
interest and (ii) the benefit of any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to
the Securities of such Series on the day on which such payments are due and payable
in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Securities of such Series; |
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(b) |
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the provisions of Sections 2.4, 2.7, 2.8, 8.2, 8.3 and 8.5; and |
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(c) |
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the rights, powers, trust and immunities of the Trustee hereunder; |
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provided that, the following conditions shall have been satisfied: |
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(d) |
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the Company shall have deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited
(except as provided in Section 8.2(c)) 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 such Securities (i) in the case
of Securities of such Series denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars and/or U.S.
Government Obligations, or (ii) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated
in a Foreign Currency (other than a composite currency), money and/or Foreign
Government Obligations, which through the payment of interest and principal in
respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without
reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee), not
later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash,
sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public
accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to
pay and discharge each installment of principal of and interest, if any, on and any |
31
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mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of all the Securities of such Series on
the dates such installments of interest or principal and such sinking fund payments
are due; |
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(e) |
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such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a
default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the
Company is a party or by which it is bound; |
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(f) |
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no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such
Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or during
the period ending on the 91st day after such date; |
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(g) |
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the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate
and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (i) the Company has received from, or
there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the
date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable
Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such
Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the Securities of such Series
will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result
of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to 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; |
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(h) |
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the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate
stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring
the Holders of the Securities of such Series over any other creditors of the Company
or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other
creditors of the Company; and |
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(i) |
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the Company 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 defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with. |
Section 8.4 Covenant Defeasance.
Unless this Section 8.4 is otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.2.20 to be inapplicable
to Securities of any Series, the Company may omit to comply with respect to the Securities of any
Series with any term, provision or condition set forth under Sections 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, and 5.1
as well as any additional covenants specified in a supplemental indenture for such Series of
Securities or a Board Resolution or an Officers Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2.20
(and the failure to comply with any such covenants shall not constitute a Default or Event of
Default with respect to such Series under Section 6.1) and the occurrence of any event specified in
a supplemental indenture for such Series of Securities or a Board Resolution or an Officers
Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2.18 and designated as an Event of Default shall not
constitute a Default or Event of Default hereunder, with respect to the Securities of such Series,
provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
32
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(a) |
|
With reference to this Section 8.4, the Company has deposited or caused to
be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 8.2(c)) 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 such
Securities (i) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in Dollars, cash
in Dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations, or (ii) in the case of Securities of
such Series denominated in a Foreign Currency (other than a composite currency),
money and/or Foreign Government Obligations, which through the payment of interest
and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide (and
without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee),
not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in
cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent
certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered
to the Trustee, to pay and discharge each installment of principal of and interest,
if any, on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the Securities of
such Series on the dates such installments of interest or principal and such sinking
fund payments are due; |
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(b) |
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Such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a
default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the
Company is a party or by which it is bound; |
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(c) |
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No Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such
Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit; |
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(d) |
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The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to
the effect that Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income,
gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and covenant
defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same
manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and covenant
defeasance had not occurred; |
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(e) |
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The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate
stating the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the
Holders of the Securities of such Series over any other creditors of the Company or
with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors
of the Company; and |
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(f) |
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The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate
and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided
for relating to the covenant defeasance contemplated by this Section have been
complied with. |
Section 8.5 Repayment to Company.
The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon written request any money held
by them for the payment of principal and interest that remains unclaimed for two years. After that,
Securityholders entitled to the money must look to the Company for
33
payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another
person.
ARTICLE IX.
AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS
Section 9.1 Without Consent of Holders.
The Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities of one or
more Series without the consent of any Securityholder:
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(a) |
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to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency; |
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(b) |
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to comply with Article V; |
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(c) |
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to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of
certificated Securities; |
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(d) |
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to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any
Securityholder; |
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(e) |
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to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and
conditions of Securities of any Series as permitted by this Indenture; |
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(f) |
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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; or |
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(g) |
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to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the
qualification of this Indenture under the TIA. |
Section 9.2 With Consent of Holders.
The Company and the Trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture with the written consent
of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each
Series affected by such supplemental indenture (including consents obtained in connection with a
tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series), 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 Securityholders of
each such Series. Except as provided in Section 6.13, the Holders of at least a majority in
principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series by notice to the Trustee (including
consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such
Series) may waive compliance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities
with respect to such Series.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Securities under this Section 9.2
to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture or waiver,
34
but it shall be
sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. After a supplemental
indenture or waiver under this section becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the
Holders of Securities affected thereby, a notice briefly describing the supplemental indenture or
waiver. Any failure by the Company to mail or publish such notice, or any defect therein, shall
not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture or
waiver.
Section 9.3 Limitations.
Without the consent of each Securityholder affected, an amendment or waiver may not:
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(a) |
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reduce the principal amount of Securities whose Holders must consent to an
amendment, supplement or waiver; |
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(b) |
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reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest (including
default interest) on any Security; |
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(c) |
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reduce the principal or change the Stated Maturity of any Security or
reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund
or analogous obligation; |
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(d) |
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reduce the principal amount of Discount Securities payable upon
acceleration of the maturity thereof; |
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(e) |
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waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of or
interest, if any, on any Security (except a rescission of acceleration of the
Securities of any Series by the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of
the outstanding Securities of such Series and a waiver of the payment default that
resulted from such acceleration); |
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(f) |
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make the principal of or interest, if any, on any Security payable in any
currency other than that stated in the Security; |
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(g) |
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make any change in Sections 6.8, 6.13 or 9.3 (this sentence); or |
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(h) |
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waive a redemption payment with respect to any Security, provided that such
redemption is made at the Companys option. |
Section 9.4 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.
Every amendment to this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series shall be set forth
in a supplemental indenture hereto that complies with the TIA as then in effect.
Section 9.5 Revocation and Effect of Consents.
Until an amendment is set forth in a supplemental indenture or a waiver becomes effective, a
consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent
Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting
Holders Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any
35
Security. However, any such
Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his Security or portion of a Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the
date of the supplemental indenture or the date the waiver becomes effective.
Any amendment or waiver once effective shall bind every Securityholder of each Series affected
by such amendment or waiver unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (a) through (h) of
Section 9.3. In that case, the amendment or waiver shall bind each Holder of a Security who has
consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences
the same debt as the consenting Holders Security.
Section 9.6 Notation on or Exchange of Securities.
The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment or waiver on any Security of
any Series thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for Securities of that Series may
issue and the Trustee shall authenticate upon receipt of a Company Order new Securities of that
Series that reflect the amendment or waiver.
Section 9.7 Trustee Protected.
In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture
permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the
Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in
relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is
authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee shall sign all supplemental indentures,
except that the Trustee need not sign any supplemental indenture that adversely affects its rights.
ARTICLE X.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.1 Trust Indenture Act Controls.
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with another provision
which is required or deemed to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, such required or deemed
provision shall control.
Section 10.2 Notices.
Any notice or communication by the Company or the Trustee to the other, or by a Holder to the
Company or the Trustee, is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by
first-class mail:
if to the Company:
Canadian Solar Inc.
No. 199 Lushan Road
Suzhou New District
Suzhou, Jiangsu 215129
36
Peoples Republic of China
(+86) 512 6690 8088
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
if to the Trustee:
The Bank of New York Mellon
101 Barclay Street, Floor 4 East
New York, NY 10286
U.S.A.
(+1) 212 815 5802 or (+1) 212 815 5803
Attention: Global Trust Services
(Canadian Solar Inc. []% Convertible Senior Notes due [])
with copy to:
The Bank of New York Mellon
Level 12/F
Three Pacific Place
1 Queens Road East
Hong Kong
(+852) 2295 3283
Attention: Global Corporate Trust
(Re: Canadian Solar Inc. []% Convertible Senior Notes due [])
The Company or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different
addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
Any notice or communication to a Securityholder shall be mailed by first-class mail to his
address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a
Securityholder of any Series or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to
other Securityholders of that or any other Series.
If a notice or communication is mailed or published in the manner provided above, within the
time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the Securityholder receives it.
If the Company mails a notice or communication to Securityholders, it shall mail a copy to the
Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
Section 10.3 Communication by Holders with Other Holders.
Securityholders of any Series may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other
Securityholders of that Series or any other Series with respect to their rights under this
Indenture or the Securities of that Series or all Series. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar
and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).
Section 10.4 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.
37
Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this
Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:
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(a) |
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an Officers Certificate stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all
conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed
action have been complied with; and |
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(b) |
|
an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all
such conditions precedent have been complied with. |
Section 10.5 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided
for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA § 314(a)(4)) shall comply
with the provisions of TIA § 314(e) and shall include:
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(a) |
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a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read
such covenant or condition; |
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(b) |
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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; |
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(c) |
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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 |
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(d) |
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a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such
condition or covenant has been complied with. |
Section 10.6 Rules by Trustee and Agents.
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Securityholders of one or
more Series. Any Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.
Section 10.7 Legal Holidays.
Unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers Certificate or supplemental indenture
hereto for a particular Series, a Legal Holiday is any day that is not a Business Day. If a
payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the
next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening
period.
Section 10.8 No Recourse Against Others.
A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company shall not have any
liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim
based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Securityholder by
accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the
consideration for the issue of the Securities.
38
Section 10.9 Counterparts.
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in
separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of
which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
Section 10.10 Governing Laws.
THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF
LAWS PROVISIONS THEREOF.
Section 10.11 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.
This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the
Company or a Subsidiary of the Company. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used
to interpret this Indenture.
Section 10.12 Successors.
All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successor.
All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.
Section 10.13 Severability.
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in
any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 10.14 Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.
The Table of Contents, Cross Reference Table, and headings of the Articles and Sections of
this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a
part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
Section 10.15 Securities in a Foreign Currency or in ECU.
Unless otherwise specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an
Officers Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2 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 coin or currency other than Dollars
(including ECUs), 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 at such time. For purposes of this Section
10.15, Market Exchange Rate shall mean the noon Dollar buying rate in New York City for cable
transfers of that currency as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; provided,
however, in the case of ECUs, Market
39
Exchange Rate shall mean the rate of exchange determined by the Commission of the European
Union (or any successor thereto) as published in the Official Journal of the European Union (such
publication or any successor publication, the Journal). If such Market Exchange Rate is not
available for any reason with respect to such currency, the Trustee shall use, in its sole
discretion and without liability on its part, such quotation of the Federal Reserve Bank of New
York or, in the case of ECUs, the rate of exchange as published in the Journal, as of the most
recent available date, or quotations or, in the case of ECUs, rates of exchange from one or more
major banks in The City of New York or in the country of issue of the currency in question or, in
the case of ECUs, in Luxembourg or such other quotations or, in the case of ECUs, rates of exchange
as the Trustee, upon consultation with the Company, 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 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 Trustee 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, to the extent permitted by law, be conclusive for all
purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Company and all Holders.
Section 10.16 Judgment Currency.
The Company 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 or other amount 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 Trustee 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 the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance
with normal banking procedures the Trustee 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, 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 on which banking institutions are
authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
40
ARTICLE XI.
SINKING FUNDS
Section 11.1 Applicability of Article.
The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of
the Securities of a Series, except as otherwise permitted or required by any form of Security of
such Series issued pursuant to this Indenture.
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 other amount
provided for by the terms of Securities of such Series is herein referred to as an optional
sinking fund payment. If provided for by the terms of Securities of any Series, the cash amount of
any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 11.2. Each sinking fund
payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any Series as provided for by the terms
of the Securities of such Series.
Section 11.2 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.
The Company may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect
to the Securities of any Series to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities (1) deliver
outstanding Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable (other than
any of such Securities previously called for mandatory sinking fund redemption) and (2) apply as
credit Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable and which have
been repurchased by the Company or redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the
terms of such Series of Securities (except pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund) or through the
application of permitted optional sinking fund payments or other optional redemptions pursuant to
the terms of such Securities, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited.
Such Securities shall be received by the Trustee, together with an Officers Certificate with
respect thereto, not later than 15 days prior to the date on which the Trustee begins the process
of selecting Securities for redemption, and shall be credited for such purpose by the Trustee at
the price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the
amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly. If as a result of the delivery or
credit of Securities in lieu of cash payments pursuant to this Section 11.2, the principal amount
of Securities of such Series to be redeemed in order to exhaust the aforesaid cash payment shall be
less than $100,000, the Trustee need not call Securities of such Series for redemption, except upon
receipt of a Company Order that such action be taken, and such cash payment shall be held by the
Trustee or a Paying Agent and applied to the next succeeding sinking fund payment, provided,
however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall from time to time upon receipt of a Company
Order pay over and deliver to the Company any cash payment so being held by the Trustee or such
Paying Agent upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of Securities of that Series purchased by
the Company having an unpaid principal amount equal to the cash payment required to be released to
the Company.
Section 11.3 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.
Not less than 45 days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, supplemental
indenture hereto or Officers Certificate in respect of a particular Series of Securities) prior to
each sinking fund payment date for any Series of Securities, the Company
41
will deliver to the Trustee an Officers Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing
mandatory sinking fund payment for that Series pursuant to the terms of that Series, the portion
thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which
is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting of Securities of that Series pursuant to Section
11.2, and the optional amount, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking
fund payment, and the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified. Not
less than 30 days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, Officers Certificate or
supplemental indenture in respect of a particular Series of Securities) before each such sinking
fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund
payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.2 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to
be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.3.
Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms
and in the manner stated in Sections 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of
the day and year first above written.
42
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Canadian Solar Inc.
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By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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The Bank of New York Mellon,
as Trustee
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By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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[Signature Page to Indenture]
EX-5.1 OPINION OF LATHAM & WATKINS LLP
Exhibit 5.1
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July 14, 2008 |
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File No.
041300-0007 |
Canadian Solar Inc.
No. 199 Lushan Road
Suzhou New District
Suzhou, Jiangsu 215129
Peoples Republic of China
Re: Registration Statement on Form F-3
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special U.S. counsel to Canadian Solar Inc., a company organized under the
laws of Canada (the Company), in connection with the Companys filing on the date hereof with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) of a registration statement on Form F-3 (the
Registration Statement) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Act), relating to the
registration for issue and sale by the Company of (a) common shares of the Company, with no par
value (the Common Shares), (b) one or more series of debt securities (the Debt Securities), and
(c) any combination of the foregoing. The Debt Securities will be issued pursuant to an indenture
by and among the Company, as issuer, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (the Trustee),
in the form most recently filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (as defined herein), as
such indenture may be supplemented from time to time (the Indenture). Any Debt Securities may be
exchangeable for and/or convertible into Common Shares or into other securities. The Common Shares
and Debt Securities are herein collectively called the Securities. This opinion is being
furnished in connection with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act,
and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration
Statement or related prospectus, other than as expressly stated herein with respect to issue of the
Securities.
As such counsel, we have examined such matters of fact and questions of law as we have
considered appropriate for purposes of this letter. With your consent, we have relied upon
certificates and other assurances of officers of the Company and others as to factual matters
without having independently verified such factual matters. We are opining herein as
Resident partners: Joseph A. Bevash (US), Patrick J. Flanagan (US), Z. Julie Gao (US), Eugene Y. S. Lee (US), John A. Otoshi (US), David Zhang (US)
July 14,
2008
Page 2
to the internal laws of the State of New York (which we have with your consent assumed will be
chosen to govern the Indenture), and we express no opinion with respect to the applicability
thereto, or the effect thereon, of the laws of any other jurisdiction, or as to any matters of
municipal law or the laws of any local agency within any state.
Subject to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein, it is our opinion that as of
the date hereof, when the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by all
necessary corporate action of the Company, and when the specific terms of any particular series of
Debt Securities have been duly established in accordance with the Indenture and applicable law and
authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company (including, without limitation, by the
adoption by the board of directors of the Company of resolutions duly authorizing the issuance and
delivery of such Debt Securities and the Securities that such Debt Securities may be exchangeable
for and/or convertible into), and when any such Debt Securities have been duly executed and issued
by the Company, duly authenticated by the Trustee and duly delivered by or on behalf of the Company
against payment therefor in accordance with the Indenture and in the manner contemplated by the
Registration Statement and/or the related prospectus and by such corporate action, such Debt
Securities will be the legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against
the Company in accordance with their terms.
Our opinion is subject to: (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
preference, fraudulent transfer, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the
rights and remedies of creditors; (ii) the effect of general principles of equity, whether
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law (including the possible unavailability of specific
performance or injunctive relief), concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair
dealing, and the discretion of the court before which a proceeding is brought; (iii) the invalidity
under certain circumstances under law or court decisions of provisions providing for the
indemnification of or contribution to a party with respect to a liability where such
indemnification or contribution is contrary to public policy; and (iv) we express no opinion as to
(a) any provision for liquidated damages, default interest, late charges, monetary penalties,
make-whole premiums or other economic remedies to the extent such provisions are deemed to
constitute a penalty, (b) consents to, or restrictions upon, governing law, jurisdiction, venue,
arbitration, remedies or judicial relief, (c) the waiver of rights or defenses set forth in Section
4.4 of the Indenture, (d) any provision requiring the payment of attorneys fees, where such
payment is contrary to law or public policy, (e) any provision permitting, upon acceleration of the
Debt Securities, collection of that portion of the stated principal amount thereof which might be
determined to constitute unearned interest thereon, (f) any provision to the extent it requires
that a claim with respect to a security denominated in other than U.S. dollars (or a judgment in
respect of such a claim) be converted into U.S. dollars at a rate of exchange at a particular date,
to the extent applicable law otherwise provides, (g) advance waivers of claims, defenses, rights
granted by law, or notice, opportunity for hearing, evidentiary requirements, statutes of
limitation, trial by jury or at law, or other procedural rights, (h) waivers of broadly or vaguely
stated rights, (i) provisions for exclusivity, election or cumulation of rights or remedies, (j)
provisions authorizing or validating conclusive or discretionary determinations, (k) grants of
setoff rights, (l) proxies, powers and trusts, (m) provisions prohibiting, restricting, or
requiring consent to assignment or transfer of any right or property, and (m) the severability, if
invalid, of provisions to the foregoing effect.
July 14,
2008
Page 3
With your consent, we have assumed (a) that each of the Debt Securities and the Indenture
(collectively, the Documents) will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties
thereto, (b) that the Documents will constitute legally valid and binding obligations of the
parties thereto other than the Company, enforceable against each of them in accordance with their
respective terms, (c) that the status of the Documents as legally valid and binding obligations of
the parties will not be affected by any (i) breaches of, or defaults under, agreements or
instruments, (ii) violations of statutes, rules, regulations or court or governmental orders, or
(iii) failures to obtain required consents, approvals or authorizations from, or to make required
registrations, declarations or filings with, governmental authorities.
This opinion is for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement and may be
relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the applicable provisions of
the Act. We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to
the reference to our firm contained in the Prospectus under the heading Validity of the
Securities. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of
persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder.
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Very truly yours, |
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/s/
Latham & Watkins LLP |
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EX-5.2 OPINION OF WEIRFOULDS LLP
Exhibit
5.2
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July 14, 2008
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Wayne T. Egan |
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T: 416-947-5086 |
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wegan@weirfoulds.com |
Canadian Solar Inc. |
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199 Lushan Road
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File 11628.00001 |
Suzhou New District |
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Suzhou 215129 |
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Peoples Republic of China |
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Dear Sirs/Mesdames:
Re: Canadian Solar Inc. (the Company)
We have acted as special legal counsel to the Company in Canada in connection with the filing with
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) on July 14, 2008 of a registration
statement on Form F-3 (the Registration Statement) relating to the registration under the U.S.
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act), of a proposed issuance of common
shares (the Common Shares) and debt securities (the Debt Securities), some or all of which Debt
Securities may be convertible into common shares of the Company (the Debt Shares) issuable upon
due exercise of any conversion rights granted pursuant to the Debt Securities, as described in the
prospectus (the Prospectus) contained in the Registration Statement.
For the purposes of rendering the opinions set out below, we have examined a copy of the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus. We have also reviewed the Articles of Continuance of
the Company dated June 1, 2006 (and all amendments thereto), the by-laws of the Company dated June
1, 2006, a certificate of an officer of the Company dated July 14, 2008 (a copy of which is annexed
hereto) (the Officers Certificate) and made such inquiries and examined such questions of law as
we have deemed necessary in order to render such opinions.
In rendering the opinion expressed in Paragraph 1 below, we have relied solely, as to the existence
of the Company, upon a Certificate of Compliance issued in respect of the Company by Industry
Canada on July 14, 2008 (the Certificate of Compliance).
We have assumed (a) the genuineness and authenticity of all signatures and the conformity to
originals of all copies (whether or not certified) examined by us, and the authenticity and
completeness of the originals from which such copies were taken, (b) that where a document has been
examined by us in draft form, it will be or has been executed and/or filed in the form of that
draft, and where a number of drafts of a document have been examined by us, that all changes
thereto have been marked or otherwise drawn to our attention, and (c) the accuracy
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The Exchange Tower, Suite 1600 P.O. Box 480, 130 King Street West Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5X 1J5
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T: 416-365-1110 F: 416-365-1876 |
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www.weirfoulds.com |
and completeness of all factual representations made in the Registration Statement and other
documents reviewed by us.
We have not been instructed to undertake and have not undertaken any further inquiry or due
diligence in relation to the transaction or transactions which are the subject of this opinion.
The opinions set out below are given only as to and based on circumstances and matters of fact
existing as at the date hereof and of which we are aware consequent upon the instructions we have
received in relation to the subject matter hereof and as to the laws of Canada as the same are in
force at the date hereof. In giving this opinion, we have relied upon the completeness and
accuracy (and assumed the continuing completeness and accuracy as of the date hereof) of the
Officers Certificate as to matters of fact and the Certificate of Compliance without further
verification, and have relied upon the foregoing assumptions, which we have not independently
verified.
We have made no investigation of and express no opinion in relation to the laws of any jurisdiction
other than Canada. This opinion is to be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
Canada and is limited to and is given on the basis of the current law and practice in Canada.
On the basis and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
1. |
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The Company is a company organized, existing and in good standing under the Canada Business
Corporations Act. |
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2. |
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On the assumption that the Common Shares (which includes the Debt Shares issuable upon due
exercise of the conversion rights granted to holders of the Debt Securities) have been duly
authorised prior to the issuance of such Common Shares, and when the Common Shares have
issued, delivered and paid for in the manner described in and pursuant to the terms of the
Registration Statement and related prospectus supplement to the Prospectus, the Common Shares
will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable common shares in the capital of the
Company. |
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3. |
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The statements contained under the heading Description of Share Capital of the Prospectus
insofar and to the extent that they constitute a summary or description of the applicable laws
and regulations of Canada under the Canada Business Corporations Act and a summary of the
terms of the share capital and the Articles of Continuance of the Company, are true and
correct in all respects |
2
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and nothing has been omitted from such statements which would make them misleading
in any material respect. |
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to
the references to our firm under the captions Enforceability of Civil Liabilities and Validity
of the Securities in the prospectus forming part of the Registration Statement. In giving such
consent, we do not hereby admit that we are experts within the meaning of Section 11 of the
Securities Act, or that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under
Section 7 of the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
Yours truly,
/s/ WeirFoulds LLP
WeirFoulds LLP
3
EX-12.1 STATEMENT REGARDING THE COMPUTATION
Exhibit 12.1
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Canadian Solar Inc. |
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Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges |
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Year Ended December 31, |
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2003 |
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2004 |
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2005 |
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2006 |
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2007 |
Computation of Earnings: |
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Income before taxes |
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654 |
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1,820 |
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4,409 |
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(8,998 |
) |
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(395 |
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Interest capitalized |
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(47 |
) |
Fixed charges |
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3 |
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11 |
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282 |
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2,267 |
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2,588 |
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Earnings |
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448 |
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1,831 |
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4,691 |
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(6,731 |
) |
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2,146 |
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Computation of Fixed Charges: |
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Interest expense |
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239 |
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2,194 |
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2,414 |
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Interest portion of operating lease |
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3 |
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11 |
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43 |
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73 |
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174 |
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Fixed charges |
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3 |
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11 |
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282 |
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2,267 |
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2,588 |
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Ratio of Earnings to Fixed charges |
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149 |
% |
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166 |
% |
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17 |
% |
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(3 |
)% |
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1 |
% |
Deficiency |
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8,998 |
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442 |
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EX-21.1 LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES
EXHIBIT 21.1
LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES
CSI Solartronics (Changshu) Co., Ltd., incorporated in the Peoples Republic of China
CSI Solar Manufacture Inc., incorporated in the Peoples Republic of China
CSI Solar Technologies Inc., incorporated in the Peoples Republic of China
CSI Central Solar Power Co., Ltd., incorporated in the Peoples Republic of China
CSI Cells Co., Ltd., incorporated in the Peoples Republic of China
Changshu CSI Advanced Solar Inc., incorporated in the Peoples Republic of China
CSI Solar Power Inc. , incorporated in the Peoples Republic of China
CSI Solar Inc., incorporated in Delaware, USA
EX-23.1 CONSENT OF DELOITTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form F-3 of our
reports dated June 3, 2008, relating to the consolidated financial statements and financial
statement schedule of Canadian Solar Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company), and the effectiveness
of the Companys internal control over financial reporting (which reports 1) express an unqualified
opinion on the financial statements and financials statement schedule and includes an explanatory
paragraph relating to the adoption of FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in
Income Taxes an Interpretation of FASB Statement 109, effective January 1, 2007 and 2) express
an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting),
appearing in the Annual Report on Form 20-F of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2007,
and to the reference to us under the heading Experts in the Prospectus, which is part of this
Registration Statement.
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/s/
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu CPA Ltd. |
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Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu CPA Ltd. |
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Shanghai, China |
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July 14, 2008 |
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EX-23.4 CONSENT OF CHEN & CO. LAW FIRM
Exhibit 23.4
July 14, 2008
Canadian Solar Inc.
No. 199 Lu Shan Road
Suzhou New District
Suzhou, Jiangsu 215129
Peoples Republic of China
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We hereby consent to the use of our name under the caption Enforceability of Civil Liabilities in
the prospectus supplement to the Registration Statement on Form F-3, originally filed by Canadian
Solar Inc. on July 14, 2008, with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended.
In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we come within the
category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or the regulations promulgated thereunder.
Sincerely yours,
/s/ Chen & Co. Law Firm
Ex-25.1 FORM T-1 STATEMENT
Exhibit
25.1
FORM T-1
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE
ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
SECTION 305(b)(2) o
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
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New York
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13-5160382 |
(State of incorporation
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(I.R.S. employer |
if not a U.S. national bank)
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identification no.) |
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One Wall Street, New York, N.Y.
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10286 |
(Address of principal executive offices)
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(Zip code) |
Canadian Solar Inc.
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
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Canada
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Not Applicable |
(State or other jurisdiction of
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(I.R.S. employer |
incorporation or organization)
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identification no.) |
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No. 199 Lushan Road |
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Suzhou New District |
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Suzhou, Jiangsu 215129 |
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Peoples Republic of China |
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(Address of principal executive offices)
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(Zip code) |
Debt Securities
(Title of the indenture securities)
1. |
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General information. Furnish the following information as to the Trustee: |
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(a) |
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Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is
subject. |
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Name |
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Address |
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Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York
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One State Street, New
York, N.Y. 10004-1417,
and Albany, N.Y. 12223 |
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Federal Reserve Bank of New York
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33 Liberty Street, New
York, N.Y. 10045 |
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Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
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Washington, D.C. 20429 |
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New York Clearing House Association
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New York, New York 10005 |
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(b) |
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Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. |
2. |
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Affiliations with Obligor. |
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If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation. |
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None. |
16. |
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List of Exhibits. |
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Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated
herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939 (the Act) and 17 C.F.R. 229.10(d). |
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1. |
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A copy of the Organization Certificate of The Bank of New York Mellon
(formerly known as The Bank of New York, itself formerly Irving Trust Company) as now
in effect, which contains the authority to commence business and a grant of powers to
exercise corporate trust powers. (Exhibit 1 to Amendment No. 1 to Form T-1 filed with
Registration Statement No. 33-6215, Exhibits 1a and 1b to Form T-1 filed with
Registration Statement No. 33-21672, Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration
Statement No. 33-29637 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No.
333-121195.) |
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4. |
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A copy of the existing By-laws of the Trustee. (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed
with Registration Statement No. 333-121195.) |
- 2 -
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6. |
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The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act. (Exhibit 6
to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-106702.) |
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7. |
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A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to
law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority. |
- 3 -
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the Trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon, a
corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this
statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized,
all in The City of New York, and State of New York, on the 11th day of July, 2008.
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THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
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By: |
/S/ FRANCA M. FERRERA
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Name: |
FRANCA M. FERRERA |
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Title: |
ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT |
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- 4 -
EXHIBIT 7
Consolidated Report of Condition of
THE BANK OF NEW YORK
of One Wall Street, New York, N.Y. 10286
And Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,
a member of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of business March 31, 2008, published in
accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions
of the Federal Reserve Act.
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Dollar Amounts |
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In Thousands |
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ASSETS |
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Cash and balances due from depository institutions: |
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Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin |
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4,545,000 |
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Interest-bearing balances |
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29,795,000 |
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Securities: |
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Held-to-maturity securities |
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1,739,000 |
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Available-for-sale securities |
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24,149,000 |
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Federal funds sold and securities purchased under
agreements to resell: |
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Federal funds sold in domestic offices |
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14,850,000 |
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Securities purchased under agreements to
resell |
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0 |
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Loans and lease financing receivables: |
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Loans and leases held for sale |
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0 |
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Loans and leases, net of unearned
income |
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34,834,000 |
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LESS: Allowance for loan and
lease losses |
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237,000 |
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Loans and leases, net of unearned
income and allowance |
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34,597,000 |
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Trading assets |
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5,456,000 |
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Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases) |
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908,000 |
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Other real estate owned |
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4,000 |
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Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated
companies |
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781,000 |
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Not applicable |
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Intangible assets: |
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Goodwill |
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2,445,000 |
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Other intangible assets |
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987,000 |
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Other assets |
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8,086,000 |
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Dollar Amounts |
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In Thousands |
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Total assets |
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128,342,000 |
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LIABILITIES |
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Deposits: |
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In domestic offices |
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32,973,000 |
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Noninterest-bearing |
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18,760,000 |
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Interest-bearing |
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14,213,000 |
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In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and
IBFs |
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61,040,000 |
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Noninterest-bearing |
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1,544,000 |
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Interest-bearing |
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59,496,000 |
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Federal funds purchased and securities sold under
agreements to repurchase: |
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Federal funds purchased in domestic
offices |
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1,001,000 |
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Securities sold under agreements to
repurchase |
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86,000 |
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Trading liabilities |
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4,981,000 |
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Other borrowed money:
(includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under
capitalized leases) |
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4,200,000 |
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Not applicable |
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Not applicable |
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Subordinated notes and debentures |
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2,955,000 |
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Other liabilities |
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12,465,000 |
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Total liabilities |
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119,701,000 |
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Minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries |
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160,000 |
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EQUITY CAPITAL |
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Perpetual preferred stock and related
surplus |
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0 |
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Common stock |
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1,135,000 |
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Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock) |
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2,375,000 |
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Retained earnings |
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6,178,000 |
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Accumulated other comprehensive income |
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-1,207,000 |
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Other equity capital components |
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0 |
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Total equity capital |
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8,481,000 |
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Total liabilities, minority interest, and equity capital |
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128,342,000 |
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I, Bruce W. Van Saun, Chief Financial Officer of the above-named bank do hereby declare that
this Report of Condition is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.
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Bruce W. Van Saun, Chief Financial Officer |
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We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this statement of resources and
liabilities. We declare that it has been examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and
belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions and is true and correct.
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Gerald L. Hassell |
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Steven G. Elliott |
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Directors |
Robert P. Kelly |
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