As
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 12, 2024
Registration
No. 333-_______
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
Form
S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
ABEONA
THERAPEUTICS INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware |
|
83-0221517 |
(State
or other jurisdiction |
|
(I.R.S.
Employer |
of
incorporation or organization) |
|
Identification
No.) |
6555 Carnegie Avenue, 4th Floor
Cleveland, OH 44103
(646) 813-4701
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Sean
M. Ewen, Esq.
Jared N. Fertman, Esq.
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
787 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10019-6099
(212) 728-8000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)
Approximate
date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the registration statement becomes effective.
If
the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check
the following box. ☐
If
any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the
Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following
box. ☒
If
this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the
following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same
offering. ☐
If
this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the
Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If
this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective
upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
If
this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register
additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a nonaccelerated filer, a smaller reporting
company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,”
“smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large
accelerated filer ☐ |
Accelerated
filer ☐ |
Non-accelerated
filer ☒ |
Smaller
reporting company ☒ |
|
Emerging
growth company ☐ |
If
an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the Registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying
with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act. ☐
We
hereby amend this registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay
its effective date until we shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter
become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become effective
on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
Explanatory
Note
This
registration statement contains two prospectuses:
| ● | a
base prospectus covering the offering, issuance and sale of such indeterminate number of
shares of common stock and preferred stock, such indeterminate number of warrants to purchase
common stock and preferred stock and such indeterminate number of units as shall have an
aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $300,000,000; and |
| | |
| ● | an
at-the-market offering prospectus covering the offering, issuance and sale of shares of our
common stock with an aggregate offering price of up to $75,000,000 that may be issued and
sold under our outstanding Open Market Sale Agreement entered into with Jefferies LLC on
August 17, 2018, as amended on November 19, 2021. |
The
base prospectus immediately follows this explanatory note. The specific terms of any securities to be offered pursuant to the base prospectus
will be specified in a prospectus supplement to the base prospectus. The at-the-market offering prospectus immediately follows the base
prospectus. The common stock that may be offered, issued and sold under the at-the-market offering prospectus is included in the $300,000,000
of securities that may be offered, issued and sold by us under the base prospectus.
Upon
termination of the sales agreement with Jefferies LLC, any portion of the $75,000,000 included in the at-the-market offering prospectus
that is not sold pursuant to the sales agreement will be available for sale in other offerings pursuant to the base prospectus and a
corresponding prospectus supplement.
THE
INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS MAY CHANGE OR BE AMENDED. WE MAY NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IS NOT SOLICITING AN
OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.
SUBJECT
TO COMPLETION, DATED JUNE 12, 2024
PROSPECTUS
$300,000,000
Common
Stock
Preferred
Stock
Warrants
This
prospectus will allow us to issue, from time to time at prices and on terms to be determined at or prior to the time of the offering,
up to $300,000,000 of any combination of the securities described in this prospectus. We may also offer common stock or preferred stock
upon conversion of or exchange for the debt securities or common stock, preferred stock or debt securities upon the exercise of warrants.
This
prospectus describes the general terms of these securities and the general manner in which these securities will be offered. We will
provide you with the specific terms of any offering in one or more supplements to this prospectus. We may also authorize one or more
free writing prospectuses to be provided to you in connection with these offerings. The prospectus supplements and any related free writing
prospectus will also describe the specific manner in which these securities will be offered and may also supplement, update or amend
information contained in this document. You should read this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, and any related free writing prospectus,
as well as any documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, carefully before you invest.
Our
securities may be sold directly by us to you, through agents designated from time to time or to or through underwriters or dealers. For
additional information on the methods of sale, you should refer to the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus
and in the applicable prospectus supplement. If any underwriters or agents are involved in the sale of our securities with respect to
which this prospectus is being delivered, the names of such underwriters or agents and any applicable fees, commissions or discounts
and over-allotment options will be set forth in a prospectus supplement. The price to the public of such securities and the net proceeds
that we expect to receive from such sale will also be set forth in a prospectus supplement.
Our
common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”), under the symbol “ABEO.” On June 10, 2024, the
last reported sale price of our common stock on Nasdaq was $4.46 per share.
Investing
in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before deciding whether to invest in our securities, you should consider carefully
the risks that we have described on page 4 of this prospectus under the caption “Risk Factors.” We may include specific
risk factors in supplements to this prospectus and any related free writing prospectus under the caption “Risk Factors.”
This prospectus may not be used to sell our securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
Neither
the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed
upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The
date of this prospectus is , 2024.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
ABOUT
THIS PROSPECTUS
This
prospectus is part of a “shelf” registration statement. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell, at any time and
from time to time, in one or more offerings, any combination of the securities described in this prospectus. The exhibits to our Registration
Statement contain the full text of certain contracts and other important documents we have summarized in this prospectus. Since these
summaries may not contain all the information that you may find important in deciding whether to purchase the securities we offer, you
should review the full text of these documents. The Registration Statement and the exhibits can be obtained from the Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”) as indicated under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation By Reference.”
This
prospectus only provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide
a prospectus supplement that contains specific information about the terms of those securities and the terms of that offering. The prospectus
supplement may also add, update, or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus
supplement together with the additional information described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation
By Reference.”
We
have not authorized any dealer, agent, or other person to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained
or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. You must not rely upon any information
or representation not contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or an accompanying prospectus supplement. This prospectus
and the accompanying prospectus supplement, if any, do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities
other than the registered securities to which they relate, nor do this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement, if any,
constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful
to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus and
any accompanying prospectus supplement is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front of the document or that
any information we have incorporated by reference is correct on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference,
even though this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement is delivered or securities are sold on a later date.
References
in this prospectus to the terms “the Company,” “Abeona,” “we,” “our” and “us”
or other similar terms mean Abeona Therapeutics Inc., unless we state otherwise or the context indicates otherwise.
CAUTIONARY
NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This
prospectus, any prospectus supplement, and the other documents we have filed with the SEC that are incorporated herein by reference contain
forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical facts,
regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans, objectives
of management or other financial items are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,”
“expect,” “seek,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,”
“will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all
forward-looking statements contain these identifying words.
We
may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place
undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations
disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make. We have included important factors in the cautionary statements included in this
prospectus, particularly as set forth and incorporated by reference into the “Risk Factors” section below, that we believe
could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that we make. Our forward-looking statements
do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures, collaborations, or investments
we may make.
You
should read this prospectus, any supplements to this prospectus and the documents that we incorporate by reference into this prospectus
completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We do not assume
any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as otherwise required by law. We advise you, however, to consult any
further disclosures we make on related subjects in our future annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current
reports on Form 8-K we file with or furnish to the SEC.
THE
COMPANY
Overview
We
are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing cell and gene therapies for life-threatening diseases. Our lead clinical program
is pz-cel, investigational autologous, COL7A1 gene-corrected epidermal sheets, currently in development for recessive dystrophic epidermolysis
bullosa (“RDEB”). We have announced positive data from our VIITAL™ Phase 3 study evaluating the efficacy, safety and
tolerability of pz-cel. The VIITAL™ study met its two co-primary efficacy endpoints demonstrating statistically significant, clinically
meaningful improvements in wound healing and pain reduction in large chronic RDEB wounds. On September 25, 2023, we submitted a Biologics
License Application (“BLA”) for pz-cel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”).
In
November 2023, the FDA accepted and granted priority review for our BLA for pz-cel, and subsequently, under the Prescription Drug User
Fee Act (“PDUFA”), the FDA set a target action date of May 25, 2024. However, in April 2024, the FDA issued a Complete Response
Letter (“CRL”) in response to the BLA. The CRL follows the completion of Abeona’s Late Cycle Review Meeting with the
FDA in March 2024. At the Late Cycle Review Meeting and in a subsequent information request, the FDA noted that certain additional information
needed to satisfy Chemistry Manufacturing and Controls (“CMC”) requirements must be satisfactorily resolved before the application
can be approved. In response, we submitted plans to the FDA with the commitment to provide CMC data prior to BLA approval, and full validation
reports after approval in mid-2024. In addition, we discussed these plans with the FDA in a subsequent informal meeting. In the CRL,
the FDA indicated that the proposed timing of the data submission by us would not allow sufficient time for the FDA to complete its review
by the May 25, 2024 PDUFA date.
The
information needed to satisfy the CMC requests in the CRL pertains to validation requirements for certain manufacturing and release testing
methods, including some that were captured in the observations during the FDA’s pre-license inspection (“PLI”). The
CRL did not identify any deficiencies related to the clinical efficacy or clinical safety data in the BLA, and the FDA did not request
any new clinical trials or clinical data to support the approval of pz-cel. We anticipate completing and submitting the requested CMC
information in the second half of 2024.
We
have continued to prepare our current Good Manufacturing Practices (“cGMP”) commercial facility in Cleveland, Ohio for manufacturing
pz-cel drug product to support our planned commercial launch of pz-cel, if approved. Pz-cel study drug product for all our VIITAL™
study participants has been manufactured at our Cleveland facility. As part of our commercial planning, we continue to engage with stakeholders
across the healthcare system, including public and private payors, and healthcare providers to better understand market access and potential
pricing for pz-cel. We have also begun discussions with high volume treatment centers of excellence to onboard them for pz-cel application
upon potential FDA approval.
Our
development portfolio also features adeno-associated virus (“AAV”) based gene therapies designed to treat ophthalmic diseases
using the novel AIM™ capsid platform that we have exclusively licensed from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and
internal AAV vector research programs.
Preclinical
Pipeline
Our
preclinical programs are investigating the use of novel AAV capsids in AAV-based therapies for serious genetic eye diseases, including
ABO-504 for Stargardt disease, ABO-503 for X-linked retinoschisis (“XLRS”) and ABO-505 for autosomal dominant optic atrophy
(“ADOA”). We have completed pre-Investigational New Drug Application meetings with the FDA regarding our preclinical development
plans and regulatory requirements to support first-in-human trials.
Company
Information
We
were incorporated in 1974. On October 24, 2014, we changed our name to PlasmaTech Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., and on June 19, 2015, we
changed our name to Abeona Therapeutics Inc. to reflect our broader rare disease commitment. Our principal executive office is located
at 6555 Carnegie Avenue, 4th Floor, Cleveland, Ohio 44103, and our telephone number is (646) 813-4701. Our website address
is www.abeonatherapeutics.com. We do not incorporate by reference into this prospectus the information on our website, and you should
not consider it as part of this prospectus.
Risk
Factors
An
investment in our securities involves risks and uncertainties. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider these
risks as well as other information we include or incorporate by reference in this prospectus. In particular, you should carefully consider
the information under the heading “Risk Factors,” as well as the factors listed under the heading “ Forward-Looking
Statements,” in each case contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our most recent fiscal year, in any Quarterly Reports
on Form 10-Q that have been filed since our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and in any other documents that we file (not furnish)
with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), each of which is incorporated by
reference in this prospectus. Any of the risks described could significantly and negatively affect our business, financial condition,
results of operations, cash flows and prospects and the trading price of our securities. You could lose all or part of your investment.
Use
Of Proceeds
We
intend to use the net proceeds from this offering primarily to fund preparations for resubmission of our BLA and for commercialization
of our product candidate pz-cel, as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes. The amounts and timing of our use of
the net proceeds from the sale of securities in this offering will depend on a number of factors, such as regulatory approvals, commercial
infrastructure expansion, the timing and progress of our pre-clinical product candidates and our development efforts, technological advances
and the competitive environment for our product candidates.
As
of the date of this prospectus, we cannot specify with certainty all of the particular uses for the net proceeds to us from this offering.
Accordingly, our management will have broad discretion in the timing and application of these proceeds. Pending application of the net
proceeds as described above, we may invest the net proceeds of this offering in a variety of capital preservation investments, including
but not limited to short-term, interest-bearing investment grade government securities, money market accounts, certificates of deposit
and direct or guaranteed obligations of the U.S. government.
Plan
of distribution
We
may sell the offered securities in any of the ways described below or in any combination or any other way set forth in an applicable
prospectus supplement from time to time:
| ● | to
or through underwriters or dealers; |
| | |
| ● | through
one or more agents; or |
| | |
| ● | directly
to purchasers or to a single purchaser. |
The
distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions:
| ● | at
a fixed price, or prices, which may be changed from time to time; |
| | |
| ● | at
market prices prevailing at the time of sale; |
| | |
| ● | at
prices related to such prevailing market prices; or |
| | |
| ● | at
negotiated prices. |
Each
prospectus supplement will describe the method of distribution of the securities and any applicable restrictions.
The
prospectus supplement with respect to the securities of a particular series will describe the terms of the offering of the securities,
including the following:
| ● | the
name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents and the amounts of securities underwritten
or purchased by each of them; |
| | |
| ● | the
public offering price of the securities and the proceeds to us and any discounts, commissions
or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and |
| | |
| ● | any
securities exchanges on which the securities may be listed. |
Any
offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
Only
the agents or underwriters named in each prospectus supplement are agents or underwriters in connection with the securities being offered
thereby.
We
may authorize underwriters, dealers or other persons acting as our agents to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase securities
from us pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on the date stated in each applicable prospectus supplement.
Each contract will be for an amount not less than, and the aggregate amount of securities sold pursuant to such contracts shall not be
less nor more than, the respective amounts stated in each applicable prospectus supplement. Institutions with whom the contracts, when
authorized, may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and
charitable institutions, and other institutions, but shall in all cases be subject to our approval. Delayed delivery contracts will be
subject only to those conditions set forth in each applicable prospectus supplement, and each prospectus supplement will set forth any
commissions we pay for solicitation of these contracts.
Agents,
underwriters and other third parties described above may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or to contribution from us with respect
to payments which the agents, underwriters or other third parties may be required to make in respect thereof. Agents, underwriters and
such other third parties may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.
One
or more firms, referred to as “remarketing firms,” may also offer or sell the securities, if a prospectus supplement so indicates,
in connection with a remarketing arrangement upon their purchase. Remarketing firms will act as principals for their own accounts or
as our agents. These remarketing firms will offer or sell the securities in accordance with the terms of the securities. Each prospectus
supplement will identify and describe any remarketing firm and the terms of its agreement, if any, with us and will describe the remarketing
firm’s compensation. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters in connection with the securities they remarket. Remarketing
firms may be entitled under agreements that may be entered into with us to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act, and may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary
course of business.
Certain
underwriters may use this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement for offers and sales related to market-making transactions
in the securities. These underwriters may act as principal or agent in these transactions, and the sales will be made at prices related
to prevailing market prices at the time of sale.
The
securities we offer may be new issues of securities and may have no established trading market. The securities may or may not be listed
on a securities exchange. Underwriters may make a market in these securities, but will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue
any market making at any time without notice. We can make no assurance as to the liquidity of, or the existence of trading markets for,
any of the securities.
Certain
persons participating in an offering may engage in overallotment, stabilizing transactions, short covering transactions and penalty bids
in accordance with rules and regulations under the Exchange Act. Overallotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create
a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed
a specified maximum. Short covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution is completed
to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities originally
sold by the dealer are purchased in a short covering transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of the
securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the activities at any time.
We
also may sell any of the securities through agents designated by us from time to time. We will name any agent involved in the offer or
sale of these securities and will list commissions payable by us to these agents in the applicable prospectus supplement. These agents
will be acting on a best efforts basis to solicit purchases for the period of its appointment, unless stated otherwise in the applicable
prospectuses.
We
may sell any of the securities directly to purchasers. In this case, we will not engage underwriters or agents in the offer and sale
of these securities.
We
may engage in sales deemed to be “at the market offerings” as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, including
sales made directly on or through Nasdaq, the existing trading market for our common stock, sales made to or through a market maker other
than on an exchange or otherwise, in negotiated transactions at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at prices related to
such prevailing market prices and/or any other method permitted by law. The terms of such “at the market offerings” will
be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may engage an agent to act as a sales agent in such “at the market offerings”
on a best efforts basis using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with normal trading and sales practices, on mutually agreed
terms between such agent and us. We will name any agent involved in such “at the market offerings” of securities and will
list commissions payable by us to these agents in the applicable prospectus supplement.
In
addition, we may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties
in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement so indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the
third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions.
If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related
open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings
of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be named in
the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment). In addition, we may otherwise loan or pledge securities to a financial
institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities short using this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement.
Such financial institution or other third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection
with a concurrent offering of other securities.
The
specific terms of any lock-up provisions in respect of any given offering will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
In
compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), the maximum consideration
or discount to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker dealer may not exceed 8% of the aggregate proceeds of the offering.
The
underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with us, or perform services for us, in the ordinary course of business for
which they receive compensation.
GENERAL
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES THAT WE MAY SELL
We
may offer and sell, at any time and from time to time:
| ● | Shares
of our common stock; |
| | |
| ● | Shares
of our preferred stock; |
| | |
| ● | Warrants
to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities; |
| | |
| ● | Debt
securities consisting of debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness; or |
| | |
| ● | Any
combination of these securities. |
The
terms of any securities we offer will be determined at the time of sale. We may issue debt securities that are exchangeable for or convertible
into common stock or any of the other securities that may be sold under this prospectus. When particular securities are offered, a supplement
to this prospectus will be filed with the SEC, which will describe the terms of the offering and sale of the offered securities.
DESCRIPTION
OF OUR COMMON STOCK
Our
authorized capital stock consists of 200,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, and 2,000,000 shares of preferred
stock, $0.01 par value per share, which may be issued in one or more series. The following summary of the terms of our common stock is
subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to our restated certificate of incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”)
and amended and restated bylaws (the “Bylaws”). Please refer to “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation
By Reference” below for directions on obtaining these documents.
As
of June 10, 2024, we had 40,962,694 shares of common stock outstanding and no shares of preferred stock outstanding.
General
Holders
of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders and have the right
to vote cumulatively for the election of directors. This means that in the voting at our annual meeting, each stockholder or his proxy
may multiply the number of his shares by the number of directors to be elected, then cast the resulting total number of votes for a single
nominee, or distribute such votes on the ballot among the nominees as desired. Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably
such dividends, if any, as may be declared by our Board of Directors (the “Board”) out of funds legally available therefor,
subject to any preferential dividend rights for our outstanding preferred stock.
Upon
our liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, the holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably our net assets available
after the payment of all debts and other liabilities and subject to the prior rights of any of our outstanding preferred stock. Holders
of our common stock have no preemptive, subscription, redemption, or conversion rights. The rights, preferences, and privileges of holders
of our common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of our preferred
stock which we may designate and issue in the future.
Our
common stockholders may not receive any assets or funds until our creditors have been paid in full and the preferential or participating
rights of our preferred stockholders have been satisfied. If we participate in a corporate merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition
of property or stock, or other reorganization, any payments or shares of stock allocated to our common stockholders will be distributed
pro rata to holders of our common stock on a per share basis. If we redeem, repurchase, or otherwise acquire for payment any shares of
our common stock, we will treat each share of common stock identically.
We
may issue additional shares of our common stock, if authorized by the Board, without the common stockholders’ approval, unless
required by Delaware law or a stock exchange on which our securities are traded. If we receive the appropriate payment, shares of our
common stock that we issue will be fully paid and nonassessable.
Anti-Takeover
Provisions
We
are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware (“DGCL”). Section 203 prohibits certain
publicly held Delaware corporations from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder,”
for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an “interested stockholder,” unless
the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. A “business combination” includes mergers, asset sales and other
transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Subject to certain exceptions, an “interested stockholder”
is a person or entity who, together with affiliates and associates, owns (or within the preceding three years, did own) 15% or more of
the corporation’s voting stock. The statute contains provisions enabling a corporation to avoid the statute’s restrictions
if the stockholders holding a majority of the corporation’s voting stock approve the transaction. Moreover, our Certificate of
Incorporation provides that our directors shall be divided into three classes, with the terms of each class to expire in different years.
In
addition, our Certificate of Incorporation, in order to combat “greenmail,” provides in general that any direct or indirect
purchase by us of any of our voting stock or rights to acquire voting stock known to be beneficially owned by any person or group which
holds more than five percent of a class of our voting stock and which has owned the securities being purchased for less than two years
must be approved by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of voting stock, subject
to certain exceptions. The prohibition of “greenmail” may tend to discourage or foreclose certain acquisitions of
our securities which might temporarily increase the price of our securities. Discouraging the acquisition of a large block of our securities
by an outside party may also have a potential negative effect on takeovers. Parties seeking control of us through large acquisitions
of our securities will not be able to resort to “greenmail” should their bid fail, thus making such a bid less attractive
to persons seeking to initiate a takeover effort.
Elimination
of Monetary Liability for Officers and Directors
Our
Certificate of Incorporation incorporates certain provisions permitted under DGCL relating to the liability of directors. The provisions
eliminate a director’s liability for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty, including gross negligence, except in circumstances
involving certain wrongful acts, such as the breach of director’s duty of loyalty or acts or omissions involving intentional misconduct
or a knowing violation of law. These provisions do not eliminate a director’s duty of care. Moreover, these provisions do not apply
to claims against a director for certain violations of law, including knowing violations of federal securities law. Our Certificate of
Incorporation also contains provisions to indemnify the directors, officers, employees, or other agents to the fullest extent permitted
by DGCL. We believe that these provisions will assist us in attracting and retaining qualified individuals to serve as directors.
Our
Certificate of Incorporation also contains provisions to indemnify the directors, officers, employees, or other agents to the fullest
extent permitted by DGCL. These provisions may have the practical effect in certain cases of eliminating the ability of stockholders
to collect monetary damages from directors. We believe that these provisions will assist us in attracting or retaining qualified individuals
to serve as our directors.
The
Nasdaq Capital Market
Our
common stock is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “ABEO.”
Transfer
Agent and Registrar
The
transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Odyssey Transfer and Trust Company, headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota.
DESCRIPTION
OF OUR PREFERRED STOCK
The
Board may, without further action by our stockholders, from time to time, direct the issuance of shares of preferred stock in series
and may, at the time of issuance, determine the rights, preferences, and limitations of each series, including voting rights, dividend
rights and redemption and liquidation preferences. Satisfaction of any dividend preferences of outstanding shares of our preferred stock
would reduce the amount of funds available for the payment of dividends on shares of our common stock. Holders of shares of our preferred
stock may be entitled to receive a preference payment in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of our Company before
any payment is made to the holders of shares of our common stock. In some circumstances, the issuance of shares of preferred stock may
render more difficult or tend to discourage a merger, tender offer or proxy contest, the assumption of control by a holder of a large
block of our securities or the removal of incumbent management. Upon the affirmative vote of the Board, without stockholder approval,
we may issue shares of preferred stock with voting and conversion rights which could adversely affect the holders of shares of our common
stock.
If
we offer a specific class or series of preferred stock under this prospectus, we will describe the terms of the preferred stock in the
prospectus supplement for such offering and will file a copy of the certificate establishing the terms of the preferred stock with the
SEC. To the extent required, this description will include:
| ● | the
title and stated value; |
| | |
| ● | the
number of shares offered, the liquidation preference per share and the purchase price; |
| | |
| ● | the
dividend rate(s), period(s) and/or payment date(s) or method(s) of calculation for such dividends; |
| | |
| ● | whether
dividends will be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends
will accumulate; |
| | |
| ● | the
procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any; |
| | |
| ● | the
provisions for a sinking fund, if any; |
| | |
| ● | the
provisions for redemption, if applicable; |
| | |
| ● | any
listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange or market; |
| | |
| ● | whether
the preferred stock will be convertible into our common stock, and, if applicable, the conversion
price (or how it will be calculated), the conversion period and any other terms of conversion
(including any anti-dilution provisions, if any); |
| | |
| ● | whether
the preferred stock will be exchangeable into debt securities, and, if applicable, the exchange
price (or how it will be calculated), the exchange period and any other terms of exchange
(including any anti-dilution provisions, if any); |
| | |
| ● | voting
rights, if any, of the preferred stock; |
| | |
| ● | a
discussion of any material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred
stock; |
| | |
| ● | the
relative ranking and preferences of the preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company; |
| | |
| ● | any
material limitations on issuance of any class or series of preferred stock ranking senior
to or on parity with the series of preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company; and |
| | |
| ● | any
other affirmative, negative, or other covenants or contractual rights which might be attendant
with the specific class or series of preferred stock. |
The
preferred stock offered by this prospectus, when issued, will not have, or be subject to, any preemptive or similar rights.
Transfer
Agent and Registrar
The
transfer agent and registrar for any series or class of preferred stock will be set forth in each applicable prospectus supplement.
DESCRIPTION
OF OUR WARRANTS
This
section describes the general terms and provisions of our warrants to acquire our securities that we may issue from time to time. The
applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the warrants offered through that prospectus supplement.
We
may issue warrants for the purchase of our debt securities, common stock or preferred stock or other securities issued by us. We may
issue warrants independently or together with other securities, and they may be attached to or separate from the other securities. We
will file a copy of the warrant and warrant agreement with the SEC each time we issue a series of warrants, and these warrants and warrant
agreements will be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement of which this prospectus is a part. A holder of our warrants
should refer to the provisions of the applicable warrant agreement and prospectus supplement for more specific information.
The
applicable prospectus supplement will contain, where applicable, the following terms of and other information relating to the warrants:
| ● | the
specific designation and aggregate number of, and the price at which we will issue, the warrants; |
| ● | the
currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are
payable; |
| ● | the
designation, amount, and terms of the securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants; |
| ● | if
applicable, the exercise price for shares of our common stock and the number of shares of
common stock to be received upon exercise of the warrants; |
| ● | if
applicable, the exercise price for shares of our preferred stock, the number of shares of
preferred stock to be received upon exercise and a description of that class or series of
our preferred stock; |
| ● | if
applicable, the exercise price for our debt securities, the amount of our debt securities
to be received upon exercise and a description of that series of debt securities; |
| ● | the
date on which the right to exercise the warrants will begin and the date on which that right
will expire or, if the warrants may not be continuously exercised throughout that period,
the specific date or dates on which the warrants may be exercised; |
| ● | whether
the warrants will be issued in fully registered form or bearer form, in definitive or global
form or in any combination of these forms, although, in any case, the form of a warrant included
in a unit will correspond to the form of the unit and of any security included in that unit; |
| ● | any
applicable material U.S. federal income tax consequences; |
| ● | the
identity of the warrant agent for the warrants and of any other depositaries, execution or
paying agents, transfer agents, registrars, or other agents; |
| ● | the
proposed listing, if any, of the warrants or any securities purchasable upon exercise of
the warrants on any securities exchange; |
| ● | if
applicable, the date from and after which the warrants and the common stock, preferred stock
or debt securities will be separately transferable; |
| ● | if
applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one
time; |
| ● | information
with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; |
| ● | any
redemption or call provisions; |
| ● | whether
the warrants are to be sold separately or with other securities as parts of units; and |
| ● | any
additional terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to
the exchange and exercise of the warrants. |
After
your warrants expire they will become void. All warrants will be issued in registered form. The prospectus supplement may provide for
the adjustment of the exercise price of the warrants.
Warrants
may be exercised at the appropriate office of the warrant agent, or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Before the exercise of warrants, holders will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon exercise and will
not be entitled to payments made to holders of those securities.
The
warrant agreements may be amended or supplemented without the consent of the holders of the warrants to which it applies to effect changes
that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the warrants and that do not materially and adversely affect the interests of the holders
of the warrants. However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of warrants will not be effective
unless the holders of at least a majority of the applicable warrants then outstanding approve the amendment. Every holder of an outstanding
warrant at the time any amendment becomes effective, by continuing to hold the warrant, will be bound by the applicable warrant agreement
as amended. The prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of warrants may provide that certain provisions of the warrants,
including the securities for which they may be exercisable, the exercise price and the expiration date, may not be altered without the
consent of the holder of each warrant.
Transfer
Agent and Registrar
The
transfer agent and registrar for any warrants will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
DESCRIPTION
OF OUR DEBT SECURITIES
This
section describes the general terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, any of which may be
issued as convertible or exchangeable debt securities. We will set forth the particular terms of the debt securities we offer in a prospectus
supplement. The extent, if any, to which the following general provisions apply to particular debt securities will be described in the
applicable prospectus supplement. The following description of general terms relating to the debt securities and the indenture under
which the debt securities will be issued are summaries only and therefore are not complete. You should read the indenture and the prospectus
supplement regarding any particular issuance of debt securities.
We
will issue any debt under an indenture to be entered into between us and the trustee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The terms of the debt securities will include those stated in the indenture and those made part of the indenture by reference to the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Indenture Act”), as in effect on the date of the indenture. We have filed or
will file a copy of the form of indenture as an exhibit to the Registration Statement in which this prospectus is included. The indenture
will be subject to and governed by the terms of the Indenture Act.
We
may offer under this prospectus up to an aggregate principal amount of $300,000,000 in debt securities, or if debt securities
are issued at a discount, or in a foreign currency, foreign currency units or composite currency, the principal amount as may be sold
for an initial public offering price of up to $300,000,000. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt
securities will represent direct, unsecured obligations of the Company and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured indebtedness.
The
following statements relating to the debt securities and the indenture are summaries, qualified in their entirety by reference to the
detailed provisions of the indenture and the final form indenture as may be filed with a future prospectus supplement.
General
We
may issue the debt securities in one or more series with the same or various maturities, at par, at a premium, or at a discount. We will
describe the particular terms of each series of debt securities in a prospectus supplement relating to that series, which we will file
with the SEC.
The
prospectus supplement will set forth, to the extent required, the following terms of the debt securities in respect of which the prospectus
supplement is delivered:
| ● | the
title of the series; |
| ● | the
aggregate principal amount; |
| ● | the
issue price or prices, expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount of the
debt securities; |
| ● | any
limit on the aggregate principal amount; |
| ● | the
date or dates on which principal is payable; |
| ● | the
interest rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) or, if applicable, the method used
to determine such rate or rates; |
| ● | the
date or dates from which interest, if any, will be payable and any regular record date for
the interest payable; |
| ● | the
place or places where principal and, if applicable, premium and interest, is payable; |
| ● | the
terms and conditions upon which we may, or the holders may require us to, redeem or repurchase
the debt securities; |
| ● | the
denominations in which such debt securities may be issuable, if other than denominations
of $1,000 or any integral multiple of that number; |
| ● | whether
the debt securities are to be issuable in the form of certificated securities (as described
below) or global securities (as described below); |
| ● | the
portion of principal amount that will be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the
maturity date if other than the principal amount of the debt securities; |
| ● | the
currency of denomination; |
| ● | the
designation of the currency, currencies, or currency units in which payment of principal
and, if applicable, premium and interest, will be made; |
| ● | if
payments of principal and, if applicable, premium or interest, on the debt securities are
to be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than the currency of denomination,
the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to such payments will be determined; |
| ● | if
amounts of principal and, if applicable, premium and interest 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, then the manner in which such amounts will be determined; |
| ● | the
provisions, if any, relating to any collateral provided for such debt securities; |
| ● | any
addition to or change in the covenants and/or the acceleration provisions described in this
prospectus or in the indenture; |
| ● | any
events of default, if not otherwise described below under “Defaults and Notice”; |
| ● | the
terms and conditions, if any, for conversion into or exchange for shares of our common stock
or preferred stock; |
| ● | any
depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other
agents; and |
| ● | the
terms and conditions, if any, upon which the debt securities shall be subordinated in right
of payment to other indebtedness of the Company. |
We
may issue discount debt securities that provide for an amount less than the stated principal amount to be due and payable upon acceleration
of the maturity of such debt securities in accordance with the terms of the indenture. We may also issue debt securities in bearer form,
with or without coupons. If we issue discount debt securities or debt securities in bearer form, we will describe material U.S. federal
income tax considerations and other material special considerations which apply to these debt securities in the applicable prospectus
supplement.
We
may issue debt securities denominated in or payable in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units. If we do,
we will describe the restrictions, elections, and general tax considerations relating to the debt securities and the foreign currency
or currencies or foreign currency unit or units in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Exchange
and/or Conversion Rights
We
may issue debt securities which can be exchanged for or converted into shares of our common stock or preferred stock. If we do, we will
describe the terms of exchange or conversion in the prospectus supplement relating to these debt securities.
Transfer
and Exchange
We
may issue debt securities that will be represented by either:
| ● | “book-entry
securities,” which means that there will be one or more global securities registered
in the name of a depositary or a nominee of a depositary; or |
| ● | “certificated
securities,” which means that they will be represented by a certificate issued in definitive
registered form. |
We
will specify in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular offering whether the debt securities offered will be book-entry
or certificated securities.
Certificated
Debt Securities
If
you hold certificated debt securities issued under an indenture, you may transfer or exchange such debt securities in accordance with
the terms of the indenture. You will not be charged a service charge for any transfer or exchange of certificated debt securities but
may be required to pay an amount sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with such transfer or
exchange.
Global
Securities
The
debt securities of a series may be issued in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with a depositary or its
nominees identified in the prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities. In such a case, one or more global securities will
be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities
of the series to be represented by such global security or securities.
Unless
and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities in definitive registered form, a global security may not be registered
for transfer or exchange except as a whole by the depositary for such global security to a nominee of the depositary and except in the
circumstances described in the prospectus supplement relating to the debt securities. The specific terms of the depositary arrangement
with respect to a series of debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such series.
No
Protection in the Event of Change of Control
Any
indenture that governs our debt securities covered by this prospectus may not have any covenant or other provision providing for a put
or increased interest or otherwise that would afford holders of our debt securities additional protection in the event of a recapitalization
transaction, a change of control of the Company or a highly leveraged transaction. If we offer any covenants or provisions of this type
with respect to any debt securities covered by this prospectus, we will describe them in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Covenants
Unless
otherwise indicated in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement, our debt securities may not have the benefit of any covenant
that limits or restricts our business or operations, the pledging of our assets or the incurrence by us of indebtedness. We will describe
in the applicable prospectus supplement any material covenants in respect of a series of debt securities.
Consolidation,
Merger, and Sale of Assets
We
may agree in any indenture that governs the debt securities of any series covered by this prospectus that we will not consolidate with
or merge into any other person or convey, transfer, sell or lease our properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any person,
unless such person and such proposed transaction meets various criteria, which we will describe in detail in the applicable prospectus
supplement.
Defaults
and Notice
The
debt securities of any series will contain events of default to be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, which may include,
without limitation:
| ● | failure
to pay the principal of, or premium or make-whole amount, if any, on any debt security of
such series when due and payable (whether at maturity, by call for redemption, through any
mandatory sinking fund, by redemption at the option of the holder, by declaration or acceleration
or otherwise); |
| ● | failure
to make a payment of any interest on any debt security of such series when due; |
| ● | our
failure to perform or observe any other covenants or agreements in the indenture with respect
to the debt securities of such series; |
| ● | certain
events relating to our bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization; and |
| ● | certain
cross defaults, if and as applicable. |
If
an event of default with respect to debt securities of any series shall occur and be continuing, we may agree that the trustee or the
holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of such series may declare the principal
amount (or, if the debt securities of such series are issued at an original issue discount, such portion of the principal amount as may
be specified in the terms of the debt securities of such series) of all debt securities of such series or such other amount or amounts
as the debt securities or supplemental indenture with respect to such series may provide, to be due and payable immediately. Any provisions
pertaining to events of default and any remedies associated therewith will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Any
indenture that governs our debt securities covered by this prospectus may require that the trustee under such indenture shall, within
90 days after the occurrence of a default, give to holders of debt securities of any series notice of all uncured defaults with respect
to such series known to it. However, in the case of a default that results from the failure to make any payment of the principal of,
premium or make-whole amount, if any, or interest on the debt securities of any series, or in the payment of any mandatory sinking fund
installment with respect to debt securities of such series, if any, the trustee may withhold such notice if it in good faith determines
that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the holders of debt securities of such series. Any terms and provisions relating
to the foregoing types of provisions will be described in further detail in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Any
indenture that governs our debt securities covered by this prospectus will contain a provision entitling the trustee to be indemnified
by holders of debt securities before proceeding to exercise any trust or power under the indenture at the request of such holders. Any
such indenture may provide that the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities
of any series may direct the time, method, and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the trustee, or of exercising
any trust or power conferred upon the trustee with respect to the debt securities of such series. However, the trustee under any such
indenture may decline to follow any such direction if, among other reasons, the trustee determines in good faith that the actions or
proceedings as directed may not lawfully be taken, would involve the trustee in personal liability or would be unduly prejudicial to
the holders of the debt securities of such series not joining in such direction.
Any
indenture that governs our debt securities covered by this prospectus may endow the holders of such debt securities to institute a proceeding
with respect to such indenture, subject to certain conditions, which will be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement and which
may include, that the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding
make a written request upon the trustee to exercise its power under the indenture, indemnify the trustee and afford the trustee reasonable
opportunity to act. Even so, such holders may have an absolute right to receipt of the principal of, premium or make-whole amount, if
any, and interest when due, to require conversion or exchange of debt securities if such indenture provides for convertibility or exchangeability
at the option of the holder and to institute suit for the enforcement of such rights. Any terms and provisions relating to the foregoing
types of provisions will be described in further detail in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Modification
of the Indenture
We
and the trustee may modify any indenture that governs our debt securities of any series covered by this prospectus with or without the
consent of the holders of such debt securities, under certain circumstances to be described in a prospectus supplement.
Defeasance;
Satisfaction and Discharge
The
prospectus supplement will outline the conditions under which we may elect to have certain of our obligations under the indenture discharged
and under which the indenture obligations will be deemed to be satisfied.
Regarding
the Trustee
We
will identify the trustee and any relationship that we may have with such trustee, with respect to any series of debt securities, in
the prospectus supplement relating to the applicable debt securities. You should note that if the trustee becomes a creditor of the Company,
the indenture and the Indenture Act limit the rights of the trustee to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain
property received in respect of any such claim, as security or otherwise. The trustee and its affiliates may engage in, and will be permitted
to continue to engage in, other transactions with us and our affiliates. If, however, the trustee acquires any “conflicting interest”
within the meaning of the Indenture Act, it must eliminate such conflict or resign.
Governing
Law
The
law governing the indenture and the debt securities will be identified in the prospectus supplement relating to the applicable indenture
and debt securities.
WHERE
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
We
file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website at www.sec.gov
that contains reports, statements, and other information about issuers, such as us, who file electronically with the SEC. We maintain
a website at www.abeonatherapeutics.com. However, the information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus
and any prospectus supplement and you should not consider it a part of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.
The
SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information in other documents that we file with it.
This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference
is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and information in documents that we file later with the SEC will automatically update
and supersede information contained in documents filed earlier with the SEC or contained in this prospectus. We incorporate by reference
into this prospectus the documents listed below; provided, however, that we are not incorporating, in each case, any documents or information
deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules:
|
● |
our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed on March 18, 2024; |
|
|
|
|
● |
our
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 filed on May 15, 2024; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
portions of our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed on March 19, 2024 that are incorporated by reference into Part III
of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023; |
|
|
|
|
● |
our
Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 8, 2024, April 22, 2024, April 24, 2024, and May 3, 2024; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
description of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A, dated and filed with
the SEC on November 4, 2014, as updated by Exhibit 4.4 to our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, and including
any amendments or reports filed with the SEC for the purpose of updating such description. |
All
reports and other documents we subsequently file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination
of this offering, including all such documents we may file with the SEC after the date of this initial registration statement and prior
to the effectiveness of this registration statement, but excluding any information furnished to and not filed with, the SEC, will also
be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and deemed to be part of this prospectus from the date of the filing of such reports
and documents.
You
may obtain a copy of any or all of the documents referred to above which may have been or may be incorporated by reference into this
prospectus, except for exhibits to those documents (unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into those documents)
at no cost to you by contacting us at the following address and telephone number: Investor Relations, Abeona Therapeutics Inc., 6555
Carnegie Avenue, 4th Floor, Cleveland, Ohio 44103, telephone (646) 813-4701.
LEGAL
MATTERS
Unless
otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP will provide opinions
regarding certain legal matters. Certain partners and attorneys of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP hold shares of our common stock.
Additional legal matters may be passed upon for us or any underwriters, dealers, or agents by counsel that we will name in the applicable
prospectus supplement.
EXPERTS
The
financial statements of Abeona Therapeutics, Inc. as of December 31, 2023, and for the year ended December 31, 2023, incorporated by
reference in this prospectus by reference to Abeona Therapeutics, Inc.’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2023, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their
report. Such financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of such firm given their authority as experts
in accounting and auditing.
The
consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, incorporated by reference from the Company’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, have been audited by Whitley Penn LLP, an independent registered public
accounting firm, as stated in its report filed with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December
31, 2023, which is also incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report
of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
THE
INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS MAY CHANGE OR BE AMENDED. WE MAY NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IS NOT SOLICITING AN
OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.
SUBJECT
TO COMPLETION, DATED JUNE 12, 2024
Prospectus
$75,000,000
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Common
Stock
We
have entered into an Open Market Sale AgreementSM dated August 17, 2018, as amended on November 19, 2021 (the “Sale
Agreement”), with Jefferies LLC (the “Agent”), relating to the sale of shares of our common stock offered by this prospectus.
In accordance with the terms of the Sale Agreement, we may offer and sell shares of our common stock under this prospectus having an
aggregate offering price of up to $75,000,000.
Sales
of our common stock, if any, under this prospectus may be made in sales deemed to be “at the market offerings” as defined
in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“the Securities Act”) including sales made directly
on or through the Nasdaq Capital Market, the existing trading market for our common stock, sales made to or through a market maker other
than on an exchange or otherwise, in negotiated transactions at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at prices related to
such prevailing market prices, and/or any other method permitted by law. The Agent is not required to sell any specific number or dollar
amount of securities but will act as our sales agent using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales
practices, on mutually agreed terms between the Agent and us. Our common stock to which this prospectus relates will be sold through
the Agent on any given day. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in any escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
The
compensation to the Agent for sales of common stock sold pursuant to the Sale Agreement will be 3.0% of the gross proceeds from each
such sale. In connection with the sale of the common stock on our behalf, the Agent may be deemed to be an “underwriter”
within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the Agent’s compensation may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts.
See “Plan of Distribution” for additional information regarding compensation to be paid to the Agent. We have also agreed
to provide indemnification and contribution to the Agent with respect to certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities
Act.
Our
common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “ABEO.” On June 10, 2024, the last reported sale price
of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $4.46 per share.
Investing
in our securities involves significant risks. Please read the information contained in or incorporated by reference under the heading
“Risk Factors” beginning on page S-5 of this prospectus, and under similar headings in other documents filed after the
date hereof and incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any free writing prospectus.
Neither
the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed
upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus or any free writing prospectus prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
Jefferies
LLC
The
date of this prospectus is , 2024
Table
of Contents
ABOUT
THIS PROSPECTUS
This
prospectus relates to the offering of our common stock. You should read this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference into
this prospectus, and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize for use in connection with this offering, in their entirety before
making an investment decision. You should also read and consider the information in the documents to which we have referred you in the
section of this prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation by Reference.” These documents contain
important information that you should consider when making your investment decision.
To
the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus, on the one hand, and the information contained in
any document incorporated by reference that was filed with the SEC before the date of this prospectus, on the other hand, you should
rely on the information in this prospectus. If any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document
having a later date — for example, a document incorporated by reference in this prospectus — the statement in the document
having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.
We
are responsible for the information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus and in any free writing prospectus
that we may authorize for use in connection with this offering. We have not, and the Agent has not, authorized any other person to provide
you with different information, and neither we nor the Agent takes any responsibility for any other information that others may give
you.
We
are not, and the Agent is not, making an offer to sell or soliciting an offer to buy our common stock in any jurisdiction in which an
offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making that offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone
to whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation.
You
should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and in
any free writing prospectus that we may authorize for use in connection with this offering, is accurate only as of the date of those
respective documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
Unless
the context otherwise requires or as otherwise expressly stated, references in this prospectus to the terms “the Company,”
“Abeona,” “we,” “our” and “us” or other similar terms mean Abeona Therapeutics Inc. and
its subsidiaries, unless we state otherwise, or the context indicates otherwise.
SPECIAL
NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This
prospectus and the other documents we have filed with the SEC that are incorporated herein by reference contain forward-looking statements
that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, regarding our strategy,
future operations, future financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans, objectives of management or other financial
items are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,”
“seek,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “will,”
“would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements
contain these identifying words.
We
may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place
undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations
disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make. We have included important factors in the cautionary statements included in this
prospectus, particularly as set forth and incorporated by reference in the “Risk Factors” section below, that we believe
could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that we make. Our forward-looking statements
do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures, collaborations, or investments
we may make. You should read this prospectus and the documents that we incorporate by reference in this prospectus completely and with
the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We do not assume any obligation to
update any forward-looking statements, except as otherwise required by law. We advise you, however, to consult any further disclosures
we make on related subjects in our future annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K
we file with or furnish to the SEC.
SUMMARY
This
summary highlights information contained elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. This summary does not contain all
of the information that you should consider before deciding to invest in our common stock. You should read this entire prospectus carefully,
including the “Risk Factors” section contained in this prospectus, our financial statements and the related notes thereto,
and the other documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
Overview
We
are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing cell and gene therapies for life-threatening diseases. Our lead clinical program
is pz-cel, investigational autologous, COL7A1 gene-corrected epidermal sheets, currently in development for recessive dystrophic epidermolysis
bullosa (“RDEB”). We have announced positive data from our VIITAL™ Phase 3 study evaluating the efficacy, safety and
tolerability of pz-cel. The VIITAL™ study met its two co-primary efficacy endpoints demonstrating statistically significant, clinically
meaningful improvements in wound healing and pain reduction in large chronic RDEB wounds. On September 25, 2023, we submitted a Biologics
License Application (“BLA”) for pz-cel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”).
In
November 2023, the FDA accepted and granted priority review for our BLA for pz-cel, and subsequently, under the Prescription Drug User
Fee Act (“PDUFA”), the FDA set a target action date of May 25, 2024. However, in April 2024, the FDA issued a Complete Response
Letter (“CRL”) in response to the BLA. The CRL follows the completion of Abeona’s Late Cycle Review Meeting with the
FDA in March 2024. At the Late Cycle Review Meeting and in a subsequent information request, the FDA noted that certain additional information
needed to satisfy Chemistry Manufacturing and Controls (“CMC”) requirements must be satisfactorily resolved before the application
can be approved. In response, we submitted plans to the FDA with the commitment to provide CMC data prior to BLA approval, and full validation
reports after approval in mid-2024. In addition, the Company discussed these plans with the FDA in a subsequent informal meeting. In
the CRL, the FDA indicated that the proposed timing of the data submission by us would not allow sufficient time for the FDA to complete
its review by the May 25, 2024 PDUFA date.
The
information needed to satisfy the CMC requests in the CRL pertains to validation requirements for certain manufacturing and release testing
methods, including some that were captured in the observations during the FDA’s pre-license inspection (“PLI”). The
CRL did not identify any deficiencies related to the clinical efficacy or clinical safety data in the BLA, and the FDA did not request
any new clinical trials or clinical data to support the approval of pz-cel. We anticipate completing and submitting the requested CMC
information in the second half of 2024.
We
have continued to prepare our current Good Manufacturing Practices (“cGMP”) commercial facility in Cleveland, Ohio for manufacturing
pz-cel drug product to support our planned commercial launch of pz-cel, if approved. Pz-cel study drug product for all our VIITAL™
study participants has been manufactured at our Cleveland facility. As part of our commercial planning, we continue to engage with stakeholders
across the healthcare system, including public and private payors, and healthcare providers to better understand market access and potential
pricing for pz-cel. We have also begun discussions with high volume treatment centers of excellence to onboard them for pz-cel application
upon potential FDA approval.
Our
development portfolio also features adeno-associated virus (“AAV”) based gene therapies designed to treat ophthalmic diseases
using the novel AIM™ capsid platform that we have exclusively licensed from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and
internal AAV vector research programs.
Preclinical
Pipeline
Our
preclinical programs are investigating the use of novel AAV capsids in AAV-based therapies for serious genetic eye diseases, including
ABO-504 for Stargardt disease, ABO-503 for X-linked retinoschisis (“XLRS”) and ABO-505 for autosomal dominant optic atrophy
(“ADOA”). We have completed pre-Investigational New Drug Application meetings with the FDA regarding our preclinical development
plans and regulatory requirements to support first-in-human trials.
Company
Information
We
were incorporated in 1974. On October 24, 2014, we changed our name to PlasmaTech Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., and on June 19, 2015, we
changed our name to Abeona Therapeutics Inc. to reflect our broader rare disease commitment. Our principal executive office is located
at 6555 Carnegie Avenue, 4th Floor, Cleveland, Ohio 44103, and our telephone number is (646) 813-4701. Our website address
is www.abeonatherapeutics.com. We do not incorporate by reference into this prospectus the information on our website, and you should
not consider it as part of this prospectus.
THE
OFFERING
Common
Stock Offered |
|
Shares
of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $75,000,000. |
|
|
|
Manner
of Offering |
|
“At
the market offering” that may be made from time to time through the Agent, as sales agent. See “Plan of Distribution”
on page S-10 of this prospectus for a more complete description of the manner of offering. |
|
|
|
Sales
Agent |
|
Jefferies
LLC |
|
|
|
Use
of Proceeds |
|
We
intend to use the net proceeds from this offering primarily to fund preparations for resubmission of our BLA and for commercialization
of our product candidate pz-cel, as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes. The amounts and timing of our use
of the net proceeds from the sale of securities in this offering will depend on a number of factors, such as regulatory approvals,
commercial infrastructure expansion, the timing and progress of our pre-clinical product candidates and our development efforts,
technological advances and the competitive environment for our product candidates. See “Use of Proceeds” on page S-6
of this prospectus for a more complete description of the intended use of proceeds from this offering. |
|
|
|
Risk
Factors |
|
Investing
in our securities involves significant risks. Please read the information contained in or incorporated by reference under the heading
“Risk Factors” beginning on page S-5 of this prospectus, and under similar headings in other documents filed after
the date hereof and incorporated by reference into this prospectus. |
|
|
|
Nasdaq
Capital Market symbol |
|
ABEO |
RISK
FACTORS
An
investment in our securities involves risks. We urge you to consider carefully the risks described below, and in the documents incorporated
by reference in this prospectus, before making an investment decision, including those risks identified under “Item IA. Risk Factors”
in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 2024, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus and which may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time
to time by other reports that we subsequently file with the SEC. Additional risks, including those that relate to any particular securities
we offer, may be included in a future prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus that we authorize from time to time, or incorporated
by reference into this prospectus in connection with this offering. If any of these risks actually occur, our business, financial condition,
results of operations or cash flow could be seriously harmed. This could cause the trading price of our common stock to decline, resulting
in a loss of all or part of your investment. Please also read carefully the section below entitled “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements.”
Risks
Related to this Offering
Sales
of our common stock in this offering, or the perception that such sales may occur, could cause the market price of our common stock to
fall.
The
issuance and sale from time to time of shares of common stock, or our ability to issue these new shares of common stock in this offering,
could have the effect of depressing the market price of our common stock. We cannot predict the effect that future sales of our common
stock would have on the market price of our common stock.
Our
management will have broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds from this offering, you may not agree with how we use the proceeds,
and the proceeds may not be invested successfully.
Our
management will have broad discretion as to the use of the net proceeds from any offering by us and could use them for purposes other
than those contemplated at the time of this offering. Accordingly, you will be relying on the judgment of our management with regard
to the use of these net proceeds, and you will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to assess whether the proceeds
are being used appropriately. It is possible that the proceeds will be invested in a way that does not yield a favorable, or any, return
for Abeona.
You
may experience immediate and substantial dilution in the book value per share of the common stock you purchase in the offering.
The
offering price per share in this offering may exceed the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our common stock outstanding
prior to this offering. Based on an assumed public offering price of $4.46 per share, which was the last reported sale price of our common
stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on June 10, 2024, you will experience immediate dilution of $3.12 per share, representing the
difference between our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2024, after giving effect to this offering
and the assumed offering price. The exercise of outstanding stock options will result in further dilution of your investment. See the
section below entitled “Dilution” for a more detailed illustration of the dilution you would incur if you participate in
this offering.
We
will require additional capital funding, the receipt of which may impair the value of our common stock.
Our
future capital requirements depend on many factors, including our research, development, sales, and marketing activities. We will need
to raise additional capital through public or private equity or debt offerings or through arrangements with strategic partners or other
sources in order to continue to develop our drug candidates. There can be no assurance that additional capital will be available when
needed or on terms satisfactory to us, if at all. To the extent we raise additional capital by issuing equity securities, our stockholders
may experience substantial dilution and the new equity securities may have greater rights, preferences, or privileges than our existing
common stock.
USE
OF PROCEEDS
We
intend to use the net proceeds from this offering primarily to fund preparations for resubmission of our BLA and for commercialization
of our product candidate pz-cel, as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes. The amounts and timing of our use of
the net proceeds from the sale of securities in this offering will depend on a number of factors, such as regulatory approvals, commercial
infrastructure expansion, the timing and progress of our pre-clinical product candidates and our development efforts, technological advances
and the competitive environment for our product candidates.
As
of the date of this prospectus, we cannot specify with certainty all of the particular uses for the net proceeds to us from this offering.
Accordingly, our management will have broad discretion in the timing and application of these proceeds. Pending application of the net
proceeds as described above, we may invest the net proceeds of this offering in a variety of capital preservation investments, including
but not limited to short-term, interest-bearing investment grade government securities, money market accounts, certificates of deposit
and direct or guaranteed obligations of the U.S. government.
DILUTION
If
you invest in this offering, your ownership interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the price per share you
pay in this offering and the net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after this offering. The net tangible
book value of our common stock as of March 31, 2024, was approximately $(13.1) million, or approximately $(0.48) per share of common
stock based upon 27,550,593 shares outstanding. Net tangible book value per share is equal to our total tangible assets, less our total
liabilities, divided by the total number of shares outstanding as of March 31, 2024.
Without
taking into account any other changes in net tangible book value after March 31, 2024, after giving effect to the sale of our common
stock pursuant to this prospectus in the aggregate amount of $75,000,000 at an assumed offering price of $4.46 per share, the last reported
sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on June 10, 2024, and after deducting commissions and estimated aggregate
offering expenses payable by us, our net tangible book value as of March 31, 2024 would have been $59.5 million, or $1.34
per share of common stock. This represents an immediate increase in the net tangible book value of $1.82 per share to our existing
stockholders and an immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $3.12 per share to new investors. The following table illustrates
this per share dilution:
Assumed offering price per share | |
| | | |
$ | 4.46 | |
Net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2024 | |
$ | (0.48 | ) | |
| | |
Increase per share attributable to new investors | |
$ | 1.82 | | |
| | |
As adjusted net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2024 after giving effect to this offering | |
| | | |
$ | 1.34 | |
Dilution per share to new investors purchasing shares in this offering | |
| | | |
$ | 3.12 | |
The
number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 27,550,593 shares of our common stock outstanding
as of March 31, 2024, which amount excludes:
|
● |
179,001
shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of March 31, 2024, at a weighted average exercise price of $38.58
per share; |
|
|
|
|
● |
42,700
shares of common stock issued under our equity
incentive plans after March 31, 2024; |
|
|
|
|
● |
1,717,591
shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our amended and restated 2023 equity incentive plan; |
|
|
|
|
● |
719,700
shares of common stock reserved for future issuance
under our inducement equity incentive plan; |
|
|
|
|
● |
9,397,897
shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants outstanding as of March 31, 2024, at a weighted average exercise price
of $5.70 per share, subject to customary adjustments thereunder; |
|
|
|
|
● |
2,919,140
shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of pre-funded warrants outstanding as of March 31, 2024, at an exercise price of
$0.0001; |
|
|
|
|
● |
589,681
shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants issued in connection with our credit facility entered into on January
8, 2024, at an exercise price of the lesser of $4.07 per share and the effective price per share of any bona fide equity financing
with gross proceeds in excess of $10,000,000 that occurs before September 30, 2024; |
|
|
|
|
● |
12,285,056
shares of common stock issued in connection with our underwritten offering that closed on May 7, 2024; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
6,142,656
shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of pre-funded warrants issued in connection with our underwritten offering that
closed on May 7, 2024, at an exercise price of $0.0001; |
DESCRIPTION
OF OUR COMMON STOCK
Our
authorized capital stock consists of 200,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, and 2,000,000 shares of preferred
stock, $0.01 par value per share, which may be issued in one or more series. The following summary of the terms of our common stock is
subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to our restated certificate of incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”)
and amended and restated bylaws (the “Bylaws”). Please refer to “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation
By Reference” below for directions on obtaining these documents.
As
of June 10, 2024, we had 40,962,694 shares of common stock outstanding and no shares of preferred stock outstanding.
General
Holders
of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders and have the right
to vote cumulatively for the election of directors. This means that in the voting at our annual meeting, each stockholder or his proxy
may multiply the number of his shares by the number of directors to be elected, then cast the resulting total number of votes for a single
nominee, or distribute such votes on the ballot among the nominees as desired. Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably
such dividends, if any, as may be declared by our Board of Directors (the “Board”) out of funds legally available therefor,
subject to any preferential dividend rights for our outstanding preferred stock.
Upon
our liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, the holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably our net assets available
after the payment of all debts and other liabilities and subject to the prior rights of any of our outstanding preferred stock. Holders
of our common stock have no preemptive, subscription, redemption, or conversion rights. The rights, preferences, and privileges of holders
of our common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of our preferred
stock which we may designate and issue in the future.
Our
common stockholders may not receive any assets or funds until our creditors have been paid in full and the preferential or participating
rights of our preferred stockholders have been satisfied. If we participate in a corporate merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition
of property or stock, or other reorganization, any payments or shares of stock allocated to our common stockholders will be distributed
pro rata to holders of our common stock on a per share basis. If we redeem, repurchase, or otherwise acquire for payment any shares of
our common stock, we will treat each share of common stock identically.
We
may issue additional shares of our common stock, if authorized by the Board, without the common stockholders’ approval, unless
required by Delaware law or a stock exchange on which our securities are traded. If we receive the appropriate payment, shares of our
common stock that we issue will be fully paid and nonassessable.
Anti-Takeover
Provisions
We
are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware (“DGCL”). Section 203 prohibits certain
publicly held Delaware corporations from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder,”
for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an “interested stockholder,” unless
the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. A “business combination” includes mergers, asset sales and other
transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Subject to certain exceptions, an “interested stockholder”
is a person or entity who, together with affiliates and associates, owns (or within the preceding three years, did own) 15% or more of
the corporation’s voting stock. The statute contains provisions enabling a corporation to avoid the statute’s restrictions
if the stockholders holding a majority of the corporation’s voting stock approve the transaction. Moreover, our Certificate of
Incorporation provides that our directors shall be divided into three classes, with the terms of each class to expire in different years.
In
addition, our Certificate of Incorporation, in order to combat “greenmail,” provides in general that any direct or indirect
purchase by us of any of our voting stock or rights to acquire voting stock known to be beneficially owned by any person or group which
holds more than five percent of a class of our voting stock and which has owned the securities being purchased for less than two years
must be approved by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of voting stock, subject
to certain exceptions. The prohibition of “greenmail” may tend to discourage or foreclose certain acquisitions of
our securities which might temporarily increase the price of our securities. Discouraging the acquisition of a large block of our securities
by an outside party may also have a potential negative effect on takeovers. Parties seeking control of us through large acquisitions
of our securities will not be able to resort to “greenmail” should their bid fail, thus making such a bid less attractive
to persons seeking to initiate a takeover effort.
Elimination
of Monetary Liability for Officers and Directors
Our
Certificate of Incorporation incorporates certain provisions permitted under DGCL relating to the liability of directors. The provisions
eliminate a director’s liability for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty, including gross negligence, except in circumstances
involving certain wrongful acts, such as the breach of director’s duty of loyalty or acts or omissions involving intentional misconduct
or a knowing violation of law. These provisions do not eliminate a director’s duty of care. Moreover, these provisions do not apply
to claims against a director for certain violations of law, including knowing violations of federal securities law. Our Certificate of
Incorporation also contains provisions to indemnify the directors, officers, employees, or other agents to the fullest extent permitted
by DGCL. We believe that these provisions will assist us in attracting and retaining qualified individuals to serve as directors.
Our
Certificate of Incorporation also contains provisions to indemnify the directors, officers, employees, or other agents to the fullest
extent permitted by DGCL. These provisions may have the practical effect in certain cases of eliminating the ability of stockholders
to collect monetary damages from directors. We believe that these provisions will assist us in attracting or retaining qualified individuals
to serve as our directors.
The
Nasdaq Capital Market
Our
common stock is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “ABEO.”
Transfer
Agent and Registrar
The
transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Odyssey Transfer and Trust Company, St. Paul, Minnesota.
PLAN
OF DISTRIBUTION
We
have entered into an Open Market Sale AgreementSM, as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto, dated as of November 19, 2021, with
Jefferies LLC (the “Agent”), under which we may issue and sell shares of our common stock from time to time through the Agent
acting as sales agent, subject to certain limitations, including the number of shares registered under the registration statement to
which the offering relates, we may offer and sell shares of our common stock under this prospectus having an aggregate offering price
of up to $75,000,000.
Sales
of our common stock, if any, under this prospectus may be made in sales deemed to be “at the market offerings” as defined
in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, including sales made directly on or through the Nasdaq Capital Market, the existing
trading market for our common stock, sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange or otherwise, in negotiated transactions
at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at prices related to such prevailing market prices, and/or any other method permitted
by law. We may instruct the Agent not to sell our common stock if the sales cannot be effected at or above the price designated by us
from time to time. We or the Agent may suspend the offering of our common stock upon notice and subject to other conditions. As an agent,
the Agent will not engage in any transactions that stabilize the price of our common stock. Our common stock to which this prospectus
relates will be sold through only one Agent on any given day.
Each
time we wish to issue and sell common stock under the Sale Agreement with the Agent, we will notify the Agent of the number of shares
to be issued, the dates on which such sales are anticipated to be made, any minimum price below which sales may not be made and other
sales parameters as we deem appropriate. Once we have so instructed the Agent, unless the Agent declines to accept the terms of the notice,
the Agent has agreed to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such shares
up to the amount specified on such terms. The Agent’s obligations under the Sale Agreement to sell our common stock are subject
to a number of conditions that we must meet.
We
will pay the Agent commissions for its services in acting as agent in the sale of our common stock. The Agent will be entitled to compensation
at a commission rate equal to 3.0% of the gross sales price per share sold. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a
condition to closing this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions, and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable
at this time. In addition, we reimbursed the Agent for $50,000 of fees and disbursements paid to its legal counsel in connection with
each of the original Sale Agreement and Amendment No. 1 thereto. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5110, these reimbursed fees and expenses
are deemed sales compensation for this offering.
We
estimate that the total expenses for the offering, excluding compensation and reimbursed fees and expenses payable to Agent under the
terms of the Sale Agreement and Amendment No. 1 thereto, will be approximately $178,000.
Settlement
for sales of our common stock will occur on the second business day following the date on which any sales are made, or on some other
date that is agreed upon by us and the Agent in connection with a particular transaction, in return for payment of the net proceeds to
us. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust, or similar arrangement.
In
connection with the sale of the common stock on our behalf, the Agent may, and will with respect to sales effected in an “at the
market offering,” be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the Agent’s
compensation may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to
the Agent against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
The
offering pursuant to the Sale Agreement will terminate upon the earlier of (i) the issuance and sale of all shares of our common stock
subject to the Sale Agreement, or (ii) the termination of the Sale Agreement as permitted therein.
The
Agent and its affiliates may in the future provide various investment banking and other financial services for us and our affiliates,
for which services they may in the future receive customary fees. To the extent required by Regulation M, the Agent will not engage in
any market making activities involving our common stock while the offering is ongoing under this prospectus.
WHERE
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
We
file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website at www.sec.gov
that contains reports, statements, and other information about issuers, such as us, who file electronically with the SEC. We maintain
a website at www.abeonatherapeutics.com. However, the information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus
and any prospectus supplement and you should not consider it a part of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.
The
SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information in other documents that we file with it.
This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference
is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and information in documents that we file later with the SEC will automatically update
and supersede information contained in documents filed earlier with the SEC or contained in this prospectus. We incorporate by reference
into this prospectus the documents listed below; provided, however, that we are not incorporating, in each case, any documents or information
deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules:
|
● |
our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed on March 18, 2024; |
|
|
|
|
● |
our
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 filed on May 15, 2024; |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
portions of our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed on March 19, 2024 that are incorporated by reference into Part III
of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023; |
|
|
|
|
● |
our
Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 8, 2024, April 22, 2024, April 24, 2024, and May 3, 2024; and |
|
|
|
|
● |
the
description of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A, dated and filed with
the SEC on November 4, 2014, as updated by Exhibit 4.4 to our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, and including
any amendments or reports filed with the SEC for the purpose of updating such description. |
All
reports and other documents we subsequently file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination
of this offering, including all such documents we may file with the SEC after the date of this initial registration statement and prior
to the effectiveness of this registration statement, but excluding any information furnished to and not filed with, the SEC, will also
be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and deemed to be part of this prospectus from the date of the filing of such reports
and documents.
You
may obtain a copy of any or all of the documents referred to above which may have been or may be incorporated by reference into this
prospectus, except for exhibits to those documents (unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into those documents)
at no cost to you by contacting us at the following address and telephone number: Investor Relations, Abeona Therapeutics Inc., 6555
Carnegie Avenue, 4th Floor, Cleveland, Ohio 44103, telephone (646) 813-4701.
LEGAL
MATTERS
The
validity of the common stock offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, New York, New York. Covington
& Burling LLP, New York, New York, will act as counsel to the Agent in connection with this offering.
EXPERTS
The
financial statements of Abeona Therapeutics, Inc. as of December 31, 2023, and for the year ended December 31, 2023, incorporated by
reference in this prospectus by reference to Abeona Therapeutics, Inc.’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2023, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their
report. Such financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of such firm given their authority as experts
in accounting and auditing.
The
consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, incorporated by reference from the Company’s Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, have been audited by Whitley Penn LLP, an independent registered public
accounting firm, as stated in its report filed with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December
31, 2023, which is also incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report
of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
$75,000,000

COMMON
STOCK
PROSPECTUS
Jefferies
LLC
,
2024.
PART
II
INFORMATION
NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item
14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
We
estimate that expenses payable by us in connection with the offering described in this registration statement will be as follows:
SEC Registration Fee | |
$ | 17,406 | |
Legal Fees and Expenses | |
$ | 125,000 | * |
Accounting Fees and Expenses | |
$ | 35,000 | * |
Total | |
$ | 177,406 | * |
* |
Estimated
as permitted under Item 511 of Regulation S-K. |
Item
15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Section
145 of DGCL empowers a Delaware corporation to indemnify its officers and directors and certain other persons to the extent and under
the circumstances set forth therein.
Our
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws provide for indemnification of our officers and directors and certain other persons against liabilities
and expenses incurred by any of them in certain stated proceedings and under certain stated conditions.
The
above discussion of our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, Bylaws and Section 145 of DGCL is not intended to be exhaustive and
is qualified in its entirety by such Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, and statute.
The
Company maintains a general liability insurance policy that covers certain liabilities of the Company’s directors and officers
arising out of claims based on acts or omissions in their capacities as directors or officers.
In
any underwriting agreement that the Company enters into in connection with the sale of common stock being registered hereby, the underwriters
will agree to indemnify, under certain conditions, the Company, its directors, its officers, and persons who control the Company within
the meaning of the Securities Act, against certain liabilities.
Item
16. Exhibits
See
Exhibit Index below, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item
17. Undertakings.
(a)
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1)
To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
(i)
To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act 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 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;
(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 (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective
amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by Registrant pursuant to Section 13
and Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained
in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2)
That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act 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)
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 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.
(5)
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;
(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 Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where
applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to 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, or otherwise, 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 Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is
asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication
of such issue.
(e)
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to
act under subsection (a) of section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act (“Act”) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed
by the Commission under section 305(b)(2) of the Act.
INDEX
TO EXHIBITS
1.1* |
|
Form
of Underwriting Agreement |
|
|
|
3.1 |
|
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Abeona Therapeutics Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2019). |
|
|
|
3.2 |
|
Amended and Restated Bylaws of Abeona Therapeutics Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 of our Form 10-K filed on March 29, 2023). |
|
|
|
3.3* |
|
Form
of Certificate of Designations, Rights and Preferences |
|
|
|
4.1 |
|
Form of Indenture |
|
|
|
4.2 |
|
Form of stock certificate evidencing shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Form S-3 filed on May 14, 2015) |
|
|
|
4.3* |
|
Form
of stock certificate evidencing shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company |
|
|
|
4.4* |
|
Form
of Common Stock Warrant Agreement and Warrant Certificate |
|
|
|
4.5* |
|
Form
of Preferred Stock Warrant Agreement and Warrant Certificate |
|
|
|
4.6* |
|
Form
of Debt Securities Warrant Agreement and Warrant Certificate |
|
|
|
10.1 |
|
Director Designation Agreement dated November 15, 2007, between the Company and SCO Capital Partners LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.26 of the Company’s Form S-1 filed on March 11, 2008) |
|
|
|
10.2 |
|
Form of Warrant Agreement between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Pre-effective Amendment No. 1 to Form S-1 filed October 24, 2014) |
|
|
|
10.3 |
|
Open Market Sale Agreement, dated August 17, 2018, by and between the Company and Jefferies LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 of Form 8-K filed on August 20, 2018) |
|
|
|
10.4 |
|
Amendment No. 1 to Open Market Sale Agreement, dated November 19, 2021, amending the Open Market Agreement, by and between the Company and Jefferies LLC, dated August 17, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.2 of Form 8-K filed on November 19, 2021) |
|
|
|
5.1 |
|
Opinion of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP (filed herewith) |
|
|
|
23.1 |
|
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP (filed herewith) |
|
|
|
23.2 |
|
Consent of Whitley Penn LLP (filed herewith) |
|
|
|
23.3 |
|
Consent of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1) |
|
|
|
24.1 |
|
Powers of Attorney (included on signature page) |
|
|
|
25.1* |
|
Form
T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee Under Indenture |
* |
To
be filed, if necessary, subsequent to the effectiveness of this Registration Statement by an amendment to this Registration Statement
or incorporated by reference pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K in connection with an offering of securities, as appropriate. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe
that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Morristown, in the state of New Jersey, on the 12th day
of June, 2024.
|
ABEONA
THERAPEUTICS INC. |
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/
Joseph Vazzano |
|
|
Joseph
Vazzano |
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer |
|
|
(Principal
Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) |
POWER
OF ATTORNEY
Each
person whose signature appears below hereby appoints Vishwas Seshadri and Joseph Vazzano and each of them, severally, as his or her true
and lawful attorney or attorneys-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 and all amendments to this Registration Statement (including all pre-effective
and post-effective amendments and registration statements filed pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended), and
to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each act and thing requisite and necessary to
be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorney-in-fact and agent, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Name |
|
Title |
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
Vishwas Seshadri
Vishwas
Seshadri |
|
Chief
Executive Officer and Director
(principal
executive officer) |
|
June
12, 2024 |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
Joseph Vazzano
Joseph
Vazzano |
|
Chief
Financial Officer
(principal
financial and accounting officer) |
|
June
12, 2024 |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
Leila Alland
Leila
Alland |
|
Director |
|
June
12, 2024 |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
Mark Alvino
Mark
Alvino |
|
Director |
|
June
12, 2024 |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
Michael Amoroso
Michael
Amoroso |
|
Director |
|
June
12, 2024 |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
Faith Charles
Faith
Charles |
|
Director |
|
June
12, 2024 |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
Christine Berni Silverstein
Christine
Berni Silverstein |
|
Director |
|
June
12, 2024 |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/
Donald Wuchterl
Donald
Wuchterl |
|
Director |
|
June
12, 2024 |
Exhibit
4.1
ABEONA
THERAPEUTICS INC.
Issuer
AND
[TRUSTEE],
Trustee
INDENTURE
Dated
as of ___________, 20
Debt
Securities
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
|
Page |
|
|
ARTICLE
1 DEFINITIONS |
1 |
Section
1.01 |
Definitions
of Terms |
1 |
ARTICLE
2 ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES |
5 |
Section
2.01 |
Designation
and Terms of Securities |
5 |
Section
2.02 |
Form
of Securities and Trustee’s Certificate |
7 |
Section
2.03 |
Denominations:
Provisions for Payment |
8 |
Section
2.04 |
Execution
and Authentications |
9 |
Section
2.05 |
Registration
of Transfer and Exchange |
10 |
Section
2.06 |
Temporary
Securities |
11 |
Section
2.07 |
Mutilated,
Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities |
11 |
Section
2.08 |
Cancellation |
12 |
Section
2.09 |
Benefits
of Indenture |
12 |
Section
2.10 |
Authenticating
Agent |
13 |
Section
2.11 |
Global
Securities |
13 |
Section
2.12 |
CUSIP
Numbers |
14 |
ARTICLE
3 REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS |
14 |
Section
3.01 |
Redemption |
14 |
Section
3.02 |
Notice
of Redemption |
15 |
Section
3.03 |
Payment
Upon Redemption |
16 |
Section
3.04 |
Sinking
Fund |
16 |
Section
3.05 |
Satisfaction
of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities |
16 |
Section
3.06 |
Redemption
of Securities for Sinking Fund |
16 |
ARTICLE
4 COVENANTS |
17 |
Section
4.01 |
Payment
of Principal, Premium and Interest |
17 |
Section
4.02 |
Maintenance
of Office or Agency |
17 |
Section
4.03 |
Paying
Agents |
18 |
Section
4.04 |
Appointment
to Fill Vacancy in Office of Trustee |
18 |
ARTICLE
5 SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE |
19 |
Section
5.01 |
Company
to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Securityholders |
19 |
Section
5.02 |
Preservation
of Information; Communications with Securityholders |
19 |
Section
5.03 |
Reports
by the Company |
19 |
Section
5.04 |
Reports
by the Trustee |
20 |
ARTICLE
6 REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT |
20 |
Section
6.01 |
Events
of Default |
20 |
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Section
6.02 |
Collection
of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee |
22 |
Section
6.03 |
Application
of Moneys Collected |
23 |
Section
6.04 |
Limitation
on Suits |
24 |
Section
6.05 |
Rights
and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver |
24 |
Section
6.06 |
Control
by Securityholders |
25 |
Section
6.07 |
Undertaking
to Pay Costs |
25 |
ARTICLE
7 CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE |
26 |
Section
7.01 |
Certain
Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee |
26 |
Section
7.02 |
Certain
Rights of Trustee |
27 |
Section
7.03 |
Trustee
Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance or Securities |
29 |
Section
7.04 |
May
Hold Securities |
29 |
Section
7.05 |
Moneys
Held in Trust |
29 |
Section
7.06 |
Compensation
and Reimbursement |
30 |
Section
7.07 |
Reliance
on Officer’s Certificate |
30 |
Section
7.08 |
Disqualification;
Conflicting Interests |
31 |
Section
7.09 |
Corporate
Trustee Required; Eligibility |
31 |
Section
7.10 |
Resignation
and Removal; Appointment of Successor |
31 |
Section
7.11 |
Acceptance
of Appointment By Successor |
32 |
Section
7.12 |
Merger,
Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business |
34 |
Section
7.13 |
Preferential
Collection of Claims Against the Company |
34 |
Section
7.14 |
Notice
of Default |
34 |
ARTICLE
8 CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS |
34 |
Section
8.01 |
Evidence
of Action by Securityholders |
34 |
Section
8.02 |
Proof
of Execution by Securityholders |
35 |
Section
8.03 |
Who
May be Deemed Owners |
35 |
Section
8.04 |
Certain
Securities Owned by Company Disregarded |
35 |
Section
8.05 |
Actions
Binding on Future Securityholders |
36 |
ARTICLE
9 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES |
36 |
Section
9.01 |
Supplemental
Indentures Without the Consent of Securityholders |
36 |
Section
9.02 |
Supplemental
Indentures With Consent of Securityholders |
37 |
Section
9.03 |
Effect
of Supplemental Indentures |
37 |
Section
9.04 |
Securities
Affected by Supplemental Indentures |
38 |
Section
9.05 |
Execution
of Supplemental Indentures |
38 |
ARTICLE
10 SUCCESSOR ENTITY |
39 |
Section
10.01 |
Company
May Consolidate, Etc |
39 |
Section
10.02 |
Successor
Entity Substituted |
39 |
ARTICLE
11 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE |
40 |
Section
11.01 |
Satisfaction
and Discharge of Indenture |
40 |
Section
11.02 |
Discharge
of Obligations |
40 |
Section
11.03 |
Deposited
Moneys to be Held in Trust |
40 |
Section
11.04 |
Payment
of Moneys Held by Paying Agents |
40 |
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Section
11.05 |
Repayment
to Company |
41 |
ARTICLE
12 IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS |
41 |
Section
12.01 |
No
Recourse |
41 |
ARTICLE
13 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS |
41 |
Section
13.01 |
Effect
on Successors and Assigns |
41 |
Section
13.02 |
Actions
by Successor |
41 |
Section
13.03 |
Surrender
of Company Powers |
42 |
Section
13.04 |
Notices |
42 |
Section
13.05 |
Governing
Law; Jury Trial Waiver |
42 |
Section
13.06 |
Treatment
of Securities as Debt |
42 |
Section
13.07 |
Certificates
and Opinions as to Conditions Precedent |
42 |
Section
13.08 |
Payments
on Business Days |
43 |
Section
13.09 |
Conflict
with Trust Indenture Act |
43 |
Section
13.10 |
Counterparts |
43 |
Section
13.11 |
Separability |
43 |
Section
13.12 |
Compliance
Certificates |
43 |
Section
13.13 |
U.S.A
Patriot Act |
43 |
Section
13.14 |
Force
Majeure |
43 |
Section
13.15 |
Table
of Contents; Headings |
43 |
INDENTURE
INDENTURE,
dated as of _____, 20 ____, among Abeona Therapeutics Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and [TRUSTEE],
as trustee (the “Trustee”):
WHEREAS,
for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance
of debt securities (hereinafter referred to as the “Securities”), in an unlimited aggregate principal amount to be issued
from time to time in one or more series as in this Indenture provided, as registered Securities without coupons, to be authenticated
by the certificate of the Trustee;
WHEREAS,
to provide the terms and conditions upon which the Securities are to be authenticated, issued and delivered, the Company has duly authorized
the execution of this Indenture; and
WHEREAS,
all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted
and agreed as follows for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of Securities:
ARTICLE
1
DEFINITIONS
Section
1.01 Definitions of Terms. The terms defined in this Section (except as in this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto otherwise
expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto
shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section and shall include the plural as well as the singular. All other terms used
in this Indenture that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or that are by reference in such Trust Indenture Act
defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (except as herein or any indenture supplemental hereto otherwise expressly provided
or unless the context otherwise requires), shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in said Trust Indenture Act and in said Securities
Act as in force at the date of the execution of this instrument.
“Authenticating
Agent” means the Trustee or an authenticating agent with respect to all or any of the series of Securities appointed by
the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.10.
“Bankruptcy
Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
“Board
of Directors” means the Board of Directors (or the functional equivalent thereof) of the Company or any duly authorized
committee of such Board of Directors.
“Board
Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been
duly adopted by the Board of Directors (or duly authorized committee thereof) and to be in full force and effect on the date of such
certification.
“Business
Day” means, with respect to any series of Securities, any day other than a day on which federal or state banking institutions
in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, or in the city of the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, are authorized or obligated
by law, executive order or regulation to close.
“Commission”
means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after
the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture
Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.
“Company”
means Abeona Therapeutics Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and, subject to the
provisions of Article 10, shall also include its successors and assigns.
“Corporate
Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business shall be principally
administered, which office at the date hereof is located at ___________________________.
“Custodian”
means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
“Defaulted
Interest” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03.
“Depositary”
means, with respect to Securities of any series for which the Company shall determine that such Securities will be issued as a Global
Security, The Depository Trust Company, another clearing agency, or any successor registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange
Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, which, in each case, shall be designated by the Company pursuant to either Section 2.01
or 2.11.
“Event
of Default” means, with respect to Securities of a particular series, any event specified in Section 6.01, continued for
the period of time, if any, therein designated.
“Exchange
Act” means the United States Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated
by the Commission thereunder.
“Global
Security” means a Security issued to evidence all or a part of any series of Securities which is executed by the Company
and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance
with the Indenture, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.
“Governmental
Obligations” means securities that are (a) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which
its full faith and credit is pledged or (b) 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 that, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof at any time prior to the stated
maturity of the Securities, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to
any such Governmental Obligation or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Governmental Obligation held by such custodian
for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt; provided, however, that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized
to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect
of the Governmental Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Governmental Obligation evidenced by such depositary
receipt.
“herein”,
“hereof” and “hereunder”, and other words of similar import, refer to this Indenture
as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.
“Indenture”
means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental
hereto entered into in accordance with the terms hereof and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as
contemplated by Section 2.01.
“Interest
Payment Date”, when used with respect to any installment of interest on a Security of a particular series, means the date
specified in such Security or in a Board Resolution or in an indenture supplemental hereto with respect to such series as the fixed date
on which an installment of interest with respect to Securities of that series is due and payable.
“Officer”
means, with respect to the Company, the chairman of the Board of Directors, a chief executive officer, a president, a chief financial
officer, a chief operating officer, any executive vice president, any senior vice president, any vice president, the treasurer or any
assistant treasurer, the controller or any assistant controller or the secretary or any assistant secretary.
“Officer’s
Certificate” means a certificate signed by any Officer. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for
in Section 13.07, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.
“Opinion
of Counsel” means an opinion in writing subject to customary exceptions of legal counsel, who may be an employee of or
counsel for the Company, that is delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof. Each such opinion shall include the statements
provided for in Section 13.07, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.
“Outstanding”,
when used with reference to Securities of any series, means, subject to the provisions of Section 8.04, as of any particular time, all
Securities of that series theretofore authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except (a) Securities theretofore
canceled by the Trustee or any paying agent, or delivered to the Trustee or any paying agent for cancellation or that have previously
been canceled; (b) Securities or portions thereof for the payment or redemption of which moneys or Governmental Obligations in the necessary
amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside
and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying agent); provided, however, that if such Securities
or portions of such Securities are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as provided
in Article 3, or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; and (c) Securities in lieu of or
in substitution for which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.07.
“Person”
means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, joint-stock company, limited liability company, association, trust, unincorporated
organization, any other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.
“Predecessor
Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that
evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section
2.07 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Security.
“Responsible
Officer” when used with respect to the Trustee means any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee (or any
successor group of the Trustee) or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any
of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such
matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and in each case who shall have direct
responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
“Securities”
has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered
under this Indenture.
“Securities
Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Securityholder”,
“holder of Securities”, “registered holder”, or other similar term, means the Person
or Persons in whose name or names a particular Security is registered on the Security Register kept for that purpose in accordance with
the terms of this Indenture.
“Security
Register” and “Security Registrar” shall have the meanings as set forth in Section 2.05.
“Subsidiary”
means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, association, partnership or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total
voting power of shares of capital stock or other interests (including partnership interests) entitled (without regard to the occurrence
of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers, general partners or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled,
directly or indirectly, by (i) such Person; (ii) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person; or (iii) one or more Subsidiaries
of such Person.
“Trust
Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
“Trustee”
means ____________________ and, subject to the provisions of Article 7, shall also include its successors and assigns, and, if at any
time there is more than one Person acting in such capacity hereunder, “Trustee” shall mean each such Person. The term “Trustee”
as used with respect to a particular series of the Securities shall mean the trustee with respect to that series.
“U.S.A.
Patriot Act” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct
Terrorism Act of 2001, Pub. L. 107-56, as amended and signed into law October 26, 2001.
ARTICLE
2
ISSUE,
DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES
Section
2.01 Designation and Terms of Securities.
(a)
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 up to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of that series from time to time authorized by
or pursuant to a Board Resolution or pursuant to one or more indentures supplemental hereto. Prior to the initial issuance of Securities
of any series, there shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, or established
in one or more indentures supplemental hereto:
(1)
the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of that series from all other Securities);
(2)
any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture
(except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities
of that series);
(3)
the maturity date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable;
(4)
the form of the Securities of the series including the form of the certificate of authentication for such series;
(5)
whether or not the Securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt;
(6)
whether the Securities rank as senior debt, senior subordinated debt, subordinated debt or any combination thereof, and the terms of
any subordination;
(7)
if the price (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount thereof) at which such Securities will be issued is a price
other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount thereof payable upon declaration of acceleration of the
maturity thereof, or if applicable, the portion of the principal amount of such Securities that is convertible into another security
or the method by which any such portion shall be determined;
(8)
the interest rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, or the method for determining the rate and the date interest will begin to
accrue, the dates interest will be payable and the regular record dates for interest payment dates or the method for determining such
dates;
(9)
the Company’s right, if any, to defer the payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period;
(10)
if applicable, the date or dates after which, or the period or periods during which, and the price or prices at which, the Company may
at its option, redeem the series of Securities pursuant to any optional or provisional redemption provisions and the terms of those redemption
provisions;
(11)
the date or dates, if any, on which, and the price or prices at which the Company is obligated, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund
or analogous fund provisions or otherwise, to redeem, or at the Securityholder’s option to purchase, the series of Securities and
the currency or currency unit in which the Securities are payable;
(12)
the denominations in which the Securities of the series shall be issuable, if other than denominations of one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000)
or any integral multiple thereof;
(13)
any and all terms, if applicable, relating to any auction or remarketing of the Securities of that series and any security for the obligations
of the Company with respect to such Securities and any other terms which may be advisable in connection with the marketing of Securities
of that series;
(14)
whether the Securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security or Securities; the terms and
conditions, if any, upon which such Global Security or Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual Securities;
and the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities;
(15)
if applicable, the provisions relating to conversion or exchange of any Securities of the series and the terms and conditions upon which
such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, including the conversion or exchange price, as applicable, or how it will be
calculated and may be adjusted, any mandatory or optional (at the Company’s option or the holders’ option) conversion or
exchange features, the applicable conversion or exchange period and the manner of settlement for any conversion or exchange, which may,
without limitation, include the payment of cash as well as the delivery of securities;
(16)
if other than the full principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series which shall be payable
upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01;
(17)
additions to or changes in the covenants applicable to the series of Securities being issued, including, among others, the consolidation,
merger or sale covenant;
(18)
additions to or changes in the Events of Default with respect to the Securities and any change in the right of the Trustee or the Securityholders
to declare the principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, with respect to such Securities to be due and payable;
(19)
additions to or changes in or deletions of the provisions relating to covenant defeasance and legal defeasance;
(20)
additions to or changes in the provisions relating to satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture;
(21)
additions to or changes in the provisions relating to the modification of this Indenture both with and without the consent of Securityholders
of Securities issued under this Indenture;
(22)
the currency of payment of Securities if other than U.S. dollars and the manner of determining the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars;
(23)
whether interest will be payable in cash or additional Securities at the Company’s or the Securityholders’ option and the
terms and conditions upon which the election may be made;
(24)
the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the Company shall pay amounts in addition to the stated interest, premium, if any, and principal
amounts of the Securities of the series to any Securityholder that is not a “United States person” for federal tax purposes;
(25)
any restrictions on transfer, sale or assignment of the Securities of the series; and
(26)
any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the Securities, any other additions or changes in
the provisions of this Indenture, and any terms that may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations.
All
Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to any such Board Resolution
or in any indentures supplemental hereto.
If
any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution of the Company, a copy of an appropriate
record of such action shall be certified by the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or
prior to the delivery of the Officer’s Certificate of the Company setting forth the terms of the series.
Securities
of any particular series may be issued at various times, with different dates on which the principal or any installment of principal
is payable, with different rates of interest, if any, or different methods by which rates of interest may be determined, with different
dates on which such interest may be payable and with different redemption dates.
Section
2.02 Form of Securities and Trustee’s Certificate. The Securities of any series and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication
to be borne by such Securities shall be substantially of the tenor and purport as set forth in one or more indentures supplemental hereto
or as provided in a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, and they may have such letters, numbers or other
marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements printed, lithographed or engraved thereon as the Company may
deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with
any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any securities exchange on which Securities of that series
may be listed, or to conform to usage.
Section
2.03 Denominations: Provisions for Payment. The Securities shall be issuable as registered Securities and in the denominations of
one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof, subject to Section 2.01(a)(13). The Securities of a particular series
shall bear interest payable on the dates and at the rate specified with respect to that series. Subject to Section 2.01(a)(23), the principal
of and the interest on the Securities of any series, as well as any premium thereon in case of redemption or repurchase thereof prior
to maturity, and any cash amount due upon conversion or exchange thereof, shall be payable in the coin or currency of the United States
of America that at the time is legal tender for public and private debt, at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose.
Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. Interest on the Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year
composed of twelve 30-day months.
The
interest installment on any Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities
of that series shall be paid to the Person in whose name said Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close
of business on the regular record date for such interest installment. In the event that any Security of a particular series or portion
thereof is called for redemption and the redemption date is subsequent to a regular record date with respect to any Interest Payment
Date and prior to such Interest Payment Date, interest on such Security will be paid upon presentation and surrender of such Security
as provided in Section 3.03.
Any
interest on any Security that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities
of the same series (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered holder on the
relevant regular record date by virtue of having been such holder; and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company, at its election,
as provided in clause (1) or clause (2) below:
(1)
The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective
Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest,
which shall be fixed in the following manner: the Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed
to be paid on each such Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee
an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements
satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust
for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special
record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall not be more than 15 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the
proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall
promptly notify the Company of such special record date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the
proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Securityholder
at his or her address as it appears in the Security Register (as hereinafter defined), not less than 10 days prior to such special record
date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid,
such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are
registered on such special record date.
(2)
The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Securities in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements
of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after
notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable
by the Trustee.
Unless
otherwise set forth in a Board Resolution or one or more indentures supplemental hereto establishing the terms of any series of Securities
pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof, the term “regular record date” as used in this Section with respect to a series of Securities
and any Interest Payment Date for such series shall mean either the fifteenth day of the month immediately preceding the month in which
an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the
first day of a month, or the first day of the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section
2.01 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the fifteenth day of a month, whether or not such date is a Business Day.
Subject
to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Security of a series delivered under this Indenture upon transfer of or in exchange
for or in lieu of any other Security of such series shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, that were carried
by such other Security.
Section
2.04 Execution and Authentications. The Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Company by one of its Officers. Signatures may
be in the form of a manual or facsimile signature.
The
Company may use the facsimile signature of any Person who shall have been an Officer (at the time of execution), notwithstanding the
fact that at the time the Securities shall be authenticated and delivered or disposed of such Person shall have ceased to be such an
officer of the Company. The Securities may contain such notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage.
Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication by the Trustee.
A
Security shall not be valid until authenticated manually by an authorized signatory of the Trustee, or by an Authenticating Agent. Such
signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that
the holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this
Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with
a written order of the Company for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, signed by an Officer, and the Trustee in accordance
with such written order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities.
Upon
the Company’s delivery of any such authentication order to the Trustee at any time after the initial issuance of Securities under
this Indenture, the Trustee shall be provided with, and (subject to Sections 315(a) through 315(d) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall
be fully protected in relying upon, (1) an Opinion of Counsel or reliance letter and (2) an Officer’s Certificate stating that
all conditions precedent to the execution, authentication and delivery of such Securities are in conformity with the provisions of this
Indenture.
The
Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect
the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner that is not reasonably
acceptable to the Trustee.
Section
2.05 Registration of Transfer and Exchange. Securities of any series may be exchanged upon presentation thereof at the office or
agency of the Company designated for such purpose, for other Securities of such series of authorized denominations, and for a like aggregate
principal amount, upon payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, all as provided
in this Section. In respect of any Securities so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate
and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange therefor the Security or Securities of the same series that the Securityholder making
the exchange shall be entitled to receive, bearing numbers not contemporaneously outstanding.
(a)
The Company shall keep, or cause to be kept, at its office or agency designated for such purpose a register or registers (herein referred
to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall register
the Securities and the transfers of Securities as in this Article provided and which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection
by the Trustee. The registrar for the purpose of registering Securities and transfer of Securities as herein provided shall be appointed
as authorized by Board Resolution (the “Security Registrar”).
Upon
surrender for transfer of any Security at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose, the Company shall execute,
the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Security or
Securities of the same series as the Security presented for a like aggregate principal amount.
All
Securities presented or surrendered for exchange or registration of transfer, as provided in this Section, shall be accompanied (if so
required by the Company or the Security Registrar) by a written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company
or the Security Registrar, duly executed by the registered holder or by such holder’s duly authorized attorney in writing.
(b)
Except as provided pursuant to Section 2.01 pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, or established
in one or more indentures supplemental to this Indenture, no service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer
of Securities, or issue of new Securities in case of partial redemption of any series or repurchase, conversion or exchange of less than
the entire principal amount of a Security, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental
charge in relation thereto, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 2.06, Section 3.03(b) and Section 9.04 not involving any transfer.
(c)
The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, exchange or register the transfer of any Securities during a period beginning at the
opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of less than all the Outstanding Securities of the
same series and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, nor (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Securities
of any series or portions thereof called for redemption or surrendered for repurchase, but not validly withdrawn, other than the unredeemed
portion of any such Securities being redeemed in part or not surrendered for repurchase, as the case may be. The provisions of this Section
2.05 are, with respect to any Global Security, subject to Section 2.11 hereof.
The
Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed
under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between
or among depositary participants or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates
and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture,
and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
Section
2.06 Temporary Securities. Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and the Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities (printed, lithographed or typewritten) of any authorized denomination. Such temporary
Securities shall be substantially in the form of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, but with such omissions,
insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be determined by the Company. Every temporary Security
of any series shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the
same manner, and with like effect, as the definitive Securities of such series. Without unnecessary delay the Company will execute and
will furnish definitive Securities of such series and thereupon any or all temporary Securities of such series may be surrendered in
exchange therefor (without charge to the holders), at the office or agency of the Company designated for the purpose, and the Trustee
shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange for such temporary Securities an equal aggregate principal amount
of definitive Securities of such series, unless the Company advises the Trustee to the effect that definitive Securities need not be
executed and furnished until further notice from the Company. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of such series shall be entitled
to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series authenticated and delivered hereunder.
Section
2.07 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities. In case any temporary or definitive Security shall become mutilated or be destroyed,
lost or stolen, the Company (subject to the next succeeding sentence) shall execute, and upon the Company’s request the Trustee
(subject as aforesaid) shall authenticate and deliver, a new Security of the same series, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding,
in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Security, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Security so destroyed, lost or stolen.
In every case the applicant for a substituted Security shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may
be required by them to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish
to the Company and the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of the applicant’s Security and
of the ownership thereof. The Trustee may authenticate any such substituted Security and deliver the same upon the written request or
authorization of any officer of the Company. Upon the issuance of any substituted Security, the Company may require the payment of a
sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including
the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
In
case any Security that has matured or is about to mature shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead
of issuing a substitute Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated
Security) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as they may require
to save them harmless, and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to the satisfaction of the Company and the Trustee of the
destruction, loss or theft of such Security and of the ownership thereof.
Every
replacement Security issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company
whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be found at any time, or be enforceable by anyone, and shall be
entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of the same series duly
issued hereunder. All Securities shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with
respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities, and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) any
and all other rights or remedies, notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the
replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.
Section
2.08 Cancellation. All Securities surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption, repurchase, exchange, registration of transfer
or conversion shall, if surrendered to the Company or any paying agent (or any other applicable agent), be delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation, or, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be cancelled by it, and no Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as
expressly required or permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. On request of the Company at the time of such surrender,
the Trustee shall deliver to the Company canceled Securities held by the Trustee. In the absence of such request the Trustee may dispose
of canceled Securities in accordance with its standard procedures and deliver a certificate of disposition to the Company. If the Company
shall otherwise acquire any of the Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness
represented by such Securities unless and until the same are delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section
2.09 Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give or be construed to give
to any Person, other than the parties hereto and the holders of the Securities any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or
in respect of this Indenture, or under any covenant, condition or provision herein contained; all such covenants, conditions and provisions
being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and of the holders of the Securities.
Section
2.10 Authenticating Agent. So long as any of the Securities of any series remain Outstanding there may be an Authenticating Agent
for any or all such series of Securities which the Trustee shall have the right to appoint. Said Authenticating Agent shall be authorized
to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon exchange, transfer or partial redemption, repurchase
or conversion thereof, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory
for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. All references in this Indenture to the authentication of Securities by
the Trustee shall be deemed to include authentication by an Authenticating Agent for such series. Each Authenticating Agent shall be
acceptable to the Company and shall be a corporation that has a combined capital and surplus, as most recently reported or determined
by it, sufficient under the laws of any jurisdiction under which it is organized or in which it is doing business to conduct a trust
business, and that is otherwise authorized under such laws to conduct such business and is subject to supervision or examination by federal
or state authorities. If at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with these provisions, it shall
resign immediately.
Any
Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may
at any time (and upon request by the Company shall) terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of termination
to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon resignation, termination or cessation of eligibility of any Authenticating Agent,
the Trustee may appoint an eligible successor Authenticating Agent acceptable to the Company. Any successor Authenticating Agent, upon
acceptance of its appointment hereunder, shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder as if
originally named as an Authenticating Agent pursuant hereto.
Section
2.11 Global Securities.
(a)
If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 2.01 that the Securities of a particular series are to be issued as a Global Security,
then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with Section 2.04, authenticate and deliver, a Global Security that
(i) shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, all of the Outstanding Securities
of such series, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to the
Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction (or if the Depositary names the Trustee as its custodian, retained by the
Trustee), and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: “Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.11 of
the Indenture, this Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor
Depositary or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.”
(b)
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.05, the Global Security of a series may be transferred, in whole but not in part and in the
manner provided in Section 2.05, only to another nominee of the Depositary for such series, or to a successor Depositary for such series
selected or approved by the Company or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.
(c)
If at any time the Depositary for a series of the Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary
for such series or if at any time the Depositary for such series shall no longer be registered or in good standing under the Exchange
Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, and a successor Depositary for such series is not appointed by the Company within 90
days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such condition, as the case may be, or if an Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing and the Company has received a request from the Depositary or from the Trustee, this Section 2.11 shall no longer be
applicable to the Securities of such series and the Company will execute, and subject to Section 2.04, the Trustee will authenticate
and deliver the Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate
principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security. In addition,
the Company may at any time determine that the Securities of any series shall no longer be represented by a Global Security and that
the provisions of this Section 2.11 shall no longer apply to the Securities of such series. In such event the Company will execute and,
subject to Section 2.04, the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officer’s Certificate evidencing such determination by the Company, will
authenticate and deliver the Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and
in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security.
Upon the exchange of the Global Security for such Securities in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations,
the Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee. Such Securities in definitive registered form issued in exchange for the Global
Security pursuant to this Section 2.11(c) shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary, pursuant
to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such Securities
to the Depositary for delivery to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.
Section
2.12 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 Securityholders; 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. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee
of any change in the “CUSIP” numbers.
ARTICLE
3
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS
Section
3.01 Redemption. The Company may redeem the Securities of any series issued hereunder on and after the dates and in accordance with
the terms established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof.
Section
3.02 Notice of Redemption. In case the Company shall desire to exercise such right to redeem all or, as the case may be, a portion
of the Securities of any series in accordance with any right the Company reserved for itself to do so pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof,
the Company shall, or shall cause the Trustee to, give notice of such redemption to holders of the Securities of such series to be redeemed
by mailing, first class postage prepaid (or with regard to any Global Security held in book entry form, by electronic mail), a notice
of such redemption not less than 30 days and not more than 90 days before the date fixed for redemption of that series to such holders
at their last addresses as they shall appear upon the Security Register, unless a shorter period is specified in the Securities to be
redeemed. Any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or
not the registered holder receives the notice. In any case, failure duly to give such notice to the holder of any Security of any series
designated for redemption in whole or in part, or any defect in the notice, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the
redemption of any other Securities of such series or any other series. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration
of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish
the Trustee with an Officer’s Certificate evidencing compliance with any such restriction.
Each
such notice of redemption shall identify the Securities to be redeemed (including CUSIP numbers, if any), specify the date fixed for
redemption and the redemption price at which Securities of that series are to be redeemed, and shall state that payment of the redemption
price of such Securities to be redeemed will be made at the office or agency of the Company, upon presentation and surrender of such
Securities, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, that from and after said
date interest will cease to accrue and that the redemption is from a sinking fund, if such is the case. If less than all the Securities
of a series are to be redeemed, the notice to the holders of Securities of that series to be redeemed in part shall specify the particular
Securities to be so redeemed.
In
case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice that relates to such Security shall state the portion of the principal amount
thereof to be redeemed, and shall state that on and after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities
of such series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.
If
less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the Company shall give the Trustee at least 45 days’ notice (unless
a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) in advance of the date fixed for redemption as to the aggregate principal amount
of Securities of the series to be redeemed, and thereupon the Trustee shall select, by lot or in such other manner as it shall deem appropriate
and fair in its discretion and that may provide for the selection of a portion or portions (equal to one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000)
or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of such Securities of a denomination larger than $1,000, the Securities to
be redeemed and shall thereafter promptly notify the Company in writing of the numbers of the Securities to be redeemed, in whole or
in part. The Company may, if and whenever it shall so elect, by delivery of instructions signed on its behalf by an Officer, instruct
the Trustee or any paying agent to call all or any part of the Securities of a particular series for redemption and to give notice of
redemption in the manner set forth in this Section, such notice to be in the name of the Company or its own name as the Trustee or such
paying agent may deem advisable. In any case in which notice of redemption is to be given by the Trustee or any such paying agent, the
Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to, or permit to remain with, the Trustee or such paying agent, as the case may be, such
Security Register, transfer books or other records, or suitable copies or extracts therefrom, sufficient to enable the Trustee or such
paying agent to give any notice by mail that may be required under the provisions of this Section.
Section
3.03 Payment Upon Redemption.
(a)
If the giving of notice of redemption shall have been completed as above provided, the Securities or portions of Securities of the series
to be redeemed specified in such notice shall become due and payable on the date and at the place stated in such notice at the applicable
redemption price, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption and interest on such Securities or portions of Securities
shall cease to accrue on and after the date fixed for redemption, unless the Company shall default in the payment of such redemption
price and accrued interest with respect to any such Security or portion thereof. On presentation and surrender of such Securities on
or after the date fixed for redemption at the place of payment specified in the notice, said Securities shall be paid and redeemed at
the applicable redemption price for such series, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption (but if the
date fixed for redemption is an Interest Payment Date, the interest installment payable on such date shall be payable to the registered
holder at the close of business on the applicable record date pursuant to Section 2.03).
(b)
Upon presentation of any Security of such series that is to be redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate and the office or agency where the Security is presented shall deliver to the holder thereof, at the expense of the Company,
a new Security of the same series of authorized denominations in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security so
presented.
Section
3.04 Sinking Fund. The provisions of Sections 3.04, 3.05 and 3.06 shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities
of a series, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.01 for Securities of such series.
The
minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory
sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any 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 3.05. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied
to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.
Section
3.05 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities. The Company (i) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series and (ii)
may apply as a credit Securities of a series that have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such
Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case
in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of such series required to be made pursuant
to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such series, provided that such Securities have not been previously so
credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the redemption 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.
Section
3.06 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund. Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities
(unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate
specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of the series, the portion thereof,
if any, that is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 3.05 and the basis for such
credit and will, together with such Officer’s Certificate, deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than
30 days 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 3.02 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 3.02. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be
made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 3.03.
ARTICLE
4
COVENANTS
Section
4.01 Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest. The Company will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of (and
premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of that series at the time and place and in the manner provided herein and established
with respect to such Securities. Payments of principal on the Securities may be made at the time provided herein and established with
respect to such Securities by U.S. dollar check drawn on and mailed to the address of the Securityholder entitled thereto as such address
shall appear in the Security Register, or U.S. dollar wire transfer to, a U.S. dollar account if such Securityholder shall have furnished
wire instructions to the Trustee no later than 15 days prior to the relevant payment date. Payments of interest on the Securities may
be made at the time provided herein and established with respect to such Securities by U.S. dollar check mailed to the address of the
Securityholder entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register, or U.S. dollar wire transfer to, a U.S. dollar
account if such Securityholder shall have furnished wire instructions in writing to the Security Registrar and the Trustee no later than
15 days prior to the relevant payment date.
Section
4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency. So long as any series of the Securities remain Outstanding, the Company agrees to maintain
an office or agency with respect to each such series and at such other location or locations as may be designated as provided in this
Section 4.02, where (i) Securities of that series may be presented for payment, (ii) Securities of that series may be presented as herein
above authorized for registration of transfer and exchange, and (iii) notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities
of that series and this Indenture may be given or served, such designation to continue with respect to such office or agency until the
Company shall, by written notice signed by any officer authorized to sign an Officer’s Certificate and delivered to the Trustee,
designate some other office or agency for such purposes or any of them. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required
office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, 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,
notices and demands. The Company initially appoints the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as its paying agent with respect to the
Securities.
Section
4.03 Paying Agents.
(a)
If the Company shall appoint one or more paying agents for all or any series of the Securities, other than the Trustee, the Company will
cause each such paying agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject
to the provisions of this Section:
(1)
that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities
of that series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor of such Securities) in trust for the benefit
of the Persons entitled thereto;
(2)
that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor of such Securities) to make any payment of
the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of that series when the same shall be due and payable;
(3)
that it will, at any time during the continuance of any failure referred to in the preceding paragraph (a)(2) above, upon the written
request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such paying agent; and
(4)
that it will perform all other duties of paying agent as set forth in this Indenture.
(b)
If the Company shall act as its own paying agent with respect to any series of the Securities, it will on or before each due date of
the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on Securities of that series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit
of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay such principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due on Securities
of that series until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the
Trustee of such action, or any failure (by it or any other obligor on such Securities) to take such action. Whenever the Company shall
have one or more paying agents for any series of Securities, it will, prior to each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any)
or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with the paying agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any)
or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest,
and (unless such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of this action or failure so to act.
(c)
Notwithstanding anything in this Section to the contrary, (i) the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section is subject
to the provisions of Section 11.05, and (ii) the Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge
of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or direct any paying agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company
or such paying agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same terms and conditions as those upon which such sums were held
by the Company or such paying agent; and, upon such payment by the Company or any paying agent to the Trustee, the Company or such paying
agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.
Section
4.04 Appointment to Fill Vacancy in Office of Trustee. The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of
Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 7.10, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.
ARTICLE
5
SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE
Section
5.01 Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Securityholders. The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the
Trustee (a) within 15 days after each regular record date (as defined in Section 2.03) a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably
require, of the names and addresses of the holders of each series of Securities as of such regular record date, provided that the Company
shall not be obligated to furnish or cause to furnish such list at any time that the list shall not differ in any respect from the most
recent list furnished to the Trustee by the Company and (b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing within 30 days
after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to
the time such list is furnished; provided, however, that, in either case, no such list need be furnished for any series for which the
Trustee shall be the Security Registrar.
Section
5.02 Preservation of Information; Communications with Securityholders.
(a)
The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the holders
of Securities contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 and as to the names and addresses of holders
of Securities received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar (if acting in such capacity).
(b)
The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
(c)
Securityholders may communicate as provided in Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other Securityholders with respect to their
rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and, in connection with any such communications, the Trustee shall satisfy its obligations
under Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the provisions of Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section
5.03 Reports by the Company. The Company will at all times comply with Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. The Company covenants
and agrees to provide (which delivery may be via electronic mail) to the Trustee within 30 days, after the Company files the same with
the Commission, 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 Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company is required to file with the
Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, the Company shall not be required to deliver
to the Trustee any correspondence filed with the Commission or any materials for which the Company has sought and received confidential
treatment by the Commission; and provided further, that so long as such filings by the Company are available on the Commission’s
Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (EDGAR), or any successor system, such filings shall be deemed to have been
filed with the Trustee for purposes hereof without any further action required by the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, a failure
by the Company to file annual reports, information and other reports with the Commission within the time period prescribed thereof by
the Commission shall not be deemed a breach of this Section 5.03.
(a)
Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under Section 5.03 is for informational purposes only and the information
and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein, or determinable
from information contained therein including the Company’s compliance with any of their covenants thereunder (as to which the Trustee
is entitled to rely exclusively on an Officer’s Certificate). The Trustee is under no duty to examine any such reports, information
or documents delivered to the Trustee or filed with the SEC via EDGAR to ensure compliance with the provision of this Indenture or to
ascertain the correctness or otherwise of the information or the statements contained therein. The Trustee shall have no responsibility
or duty whatsoever to ascertain or determine whether the above referenced filings with the SEC on EDGAR (or any successor system) has
occurred.
Section
5.04 Reports by the Trustee.
(a)
If required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee, within sixty (60) days after each May 1, shall transmit by mail,
first class postage prepaid, to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register, a brief report dated
as of such May 1, which complies with Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(b)
The Trustee shall comply with Section 313(b) and 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(c)
A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Securityholders, be filed by the Trustee with the Company, with
each securities exchange upon which any Securities are listed (if so listed) and also with the Commission. The Company agrees to notify
the Trustee when any Securities become listed on any securities exchange.
ARTICLE
6
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT
Section
6.01 Events of Default.
(a)
Whenever used herein with respect to Securities of a particular series, “Event of Default” means any one or more of the following
events that has occurred and is continuing:
(1)
the Company defaults in the payment of any installment of interest upon any of the Securities of that series, as and when the same shall
become due and payable, and such default continues for a period of 90 days; provided, however, that a valid extension of an interest
payment period by the Company in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental hereto shall not constitute a default in the
payment of interest for this purpose;
(2)
the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any of the Securities of that series as and when the
same shall become due and payable whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise, or in any payment required by any
sinking or analogous fund established with respect to that series; provided, however, that a valid extension of the maturity of such
Securities in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental hereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of principal
or premium, if any;
(3)
the Company fails to observe or perform any other of its covenants or agreements with respect to that series contained in this Indenture
or otherwise established with respect to that series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof (other than a covenant or agreement
that has been expressly included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Securities other than such series)
for a period of 90 days after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied and stating that such
notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder, shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee, by registered or certified
mail, or to the Company and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities of that series at the time
Outstanding;
(4)
the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law (i) commences a voluntary case, (ii) consents to the entry of an
order for relief against it in an involuntary case, (iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially
all of its property or (iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or
(5)
a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order under any Bankruptcy Law that (i) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary
case, (ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company for all or substantially all of its property or (iii) orders the liquidation of the Company,
and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days.
(b)
In each and every such case (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (4) or clause (5) above), unless the principal of all
the Securities of that series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate
principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee
if given by such Securityholders), may declare the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and accrued and unpaid interest on all the
Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately
due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in clause (4) or clause (5) above occurs, the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest
on all the Securities of that series shall automatically be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part
of the Trustee or the holders of the Securities.
(c)
At any time after the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities of that series shall have
been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered
as hereinafter provided, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder,
by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if: (i) the Company has
paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the Securities of that series
and the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any and all Securities of that series that shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration
(with interest upon such principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent that such payment is enforceable under applicable law, upon
overdue installments of interest, at the rate per annum expressed in the Securities of that series to the date of such payment or deposit)
and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.06, and (ii) any and all Events of Default under the Indenture with respect to
such series, other than the nonpayment of principal on (and premium, if any, on) and accrued and unpaid interest on Securities of that
series that shall not have become due by their terms, shall have been remedied or waived as provided in Section 6.06.
No
such rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.
(d)
In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right with respect to Securities of that series under this Indenture and such
proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have been
determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceedings, the Company and the
Trustee shall be restored respectively to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company
and the Trustee shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken.
Section
6.02 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.
(a)
The Company covenants that (i) in case it shall default in the payment of any installment of interest on any of the Securities of a series,
or in any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to that series as and when the same shall have become
due and payable, and such default shall have continued for a period of 90 days, or (ii) in case it shall default in the payment of the
principal of (or premium, if any, on) any of the Securities of a series when the same shall have become due and payable, whether upon
maturity of the Securities of a series or upon redemption or upon declaration or otherwise then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company
will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the holders of the Securities of that series, the whole amount that then shall have been
become due and payable on all such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) or interest, or both, as the case may be, with interest
upon the overdue principal (and premium, if any) and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law)
upon overdue installments of interest at the rate per annum expressed in the Securities of that series; and, in addition thereto, such
further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section
7.06.
(b)
If the Company shall fail to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust,
shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and
unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree
against the Company or other obligor upon the Securities of that series and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the
manner provided by law or equity out of the property of the Company or other obligor upon the Securities of that series, wherever situated.
(c)
In case of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, readjustment, arrangement, composition or judicial
proceedings affecting the Company, or its creditors or property, the Trustee shall have power to intervene in such proceedings and take
any action therein that may be permitted by the court and shall (except as may be otherwise provided by law) be entitled to file such
proofs of claim and other papers and documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and of the
holders of Securities of such series allowed for the entire amount due and payable by the Company under the Indenture at the date of
institution of such proceedings and for any additional amount that may become due and payable by the Company after such date, and to
collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claim, and to distribute the same after the deduction
of the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.06; and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby
authorized by each of the holders of Securities of such series to make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee
shall consent to the making of such payments directly to such Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it under Section
7.06.
(d)
All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the terms established with respect to Securities of
that series, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of such Securities, or the production thereof at any trial
or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or 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 payment to the Trustee of any amounts due under Section
7.06, be for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Securities of such series.
In
case of an Event of Default hereunder, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this
Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights,
either at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained
in the Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested
in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.
Nothing
contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder
any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities of that series or the rights of any holder
thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder in any such proceeding.
Section
6.03 Application of Moneys Collected. Any moneys collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article with respect to a particular series
of Securities shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of
such moneys on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, upon presentation of the Securities of that series, and notation
thereon of the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
FIRST:
To the payment of costs and expenses of collection and of all amounts payable to the Trustee under Section 7.06;
SECOND:
To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon Securities of such series for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, 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 premium, if any) and interest, respectively; and
THIRD:
To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company or any other Person lawfully entitled thereto.
Section
6.04 Limitation on Suits. No holder of any Security of any series shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision
of this Indenture to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Indenture or
for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless (i) such holder previously shall have given to
the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default and of the continuance thereof with respect to the Securities of such series specifying
such Event of Default, as hereinbefore provided; (ii) the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities
of such series then Outstanding shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action, suit or proceeding in its
own name as Trustee hereunder; (iii) such holder or holders shall have offered to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to it against the
costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request; (iv) the Trustee for 90 days after its receipt of such
notice, request and offer of indemnity, shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or proceeding and (v) during such 90 day
period, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of that series do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent
with the request.
Notwithstanding
anything contained herein to the contrary or any other provisions of this Indenture, the right of any holder of any Security to receive
payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Security, as therein provided, on or after the respective due
dates expressed in such Security (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), or to institute suit for the enforcement of
any such payment on or after such respective dates or redemption date, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such
holder and by accepting a Security hereunder it is expressly understood, intended and covenanted by the taker and holder of every Security
of such series with every other such taker and holder and the Trustee, that no one or more holders of Securities of such series shall
have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the
rights of the holders of any other of such Securities, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such holder,
or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all
holders of Securities of such series. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section, each and every Securityholder
and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.
Section
6.05 Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
(a)
Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.07, all powers and remedies given by this Article to the Trustee or to the Securityholders
shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee
or the holders of the Securities, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and
agreements contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to such Securities.
(b)
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any holder of any of the Securities to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Event
of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such
default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.04, every power and remedy given by this Article or by
law to the Trustee or the Securityholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee
or by the Securityholders.
Section
6.06 Control by Securityholders. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time
Outstanding, determined in accordance with Section 8.04, 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 such series;
provided, however, that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture or subject the Trustee in
its sole discretion to personal liability. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to
follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer or officers of the Trustee, determine that the
proceeding so directed, subject to the Trustee’s duties under the Trust Indenture Act, would involve the Trustee in personal liability
or might be unduly prejudicial to the Securityholders not involved in the proceeding. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding affected thereby, determined in accordance with Section 8.04, may on behalf
of the holders of all of the Securities of such series waive any past default in the performance of any of the covenants contained herein
or established pursuant to Section 2.01 with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal
of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any of the Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due by the terms of such
Securities otherwise than by acceleration (unless such default has been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of
interest and principal and any premium has been deposited with the Trustee (in accordance with Section 6.01(c)). Upon any such waiver,
the default covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of this Indenture and the Company, the Trustee and the holders
of the Securities of such series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall
extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section
6.07 Undertaking to Pay Costs. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each holder of any Securities by such holder’s 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 or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party
litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs,
including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and
good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted
by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding more than 10% in aggregate principal
amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment
of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series, on or after the respective due dates expressed in
such Security or established pursuant to this Indenture.
ARTICLE
7
CONCERNING
THE TRUSTEE
Section
7.01 Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee.
(a)
The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series and after the curing of all Events
of Default with respect to the Securities of that series that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform with respect to the Securities
of such series such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants shall be read
into this Indenture against the Trustee. In case an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series has occurred (that has
not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise with respect to Securities of that series such of the rights and powers vested
in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the
circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
(b)
No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent
failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i)
prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series and after the curing or waiving of all such
Events of Default with respect to that series that may have occurred:
(A)
the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall with respect to the Securities of such series be determined solely by the express provisions
of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to the Securities of such series except for the performance of such
duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this
Indenture against the Trustee; and
(B)
in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may with respect to the Securities of such series conclusively rely,
as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished
to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any
provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine
whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture;
(ii)
the Trustee shall not be liable to any Securityholder or to any other Person for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible
Officer or Responsible Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent
facts;
(iii)
the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction
of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding 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 that series;
(iv)
none of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal
financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if there is reasonable
ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Indenture
or adequate indemnity against such risk is not reasonably assured to it;
(v)
The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers or duties hereunder;
(vi)
The permissive right of the Trustee to do things enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty of the Trustee; and
(vii)
No Trustee shall have any duty or responsibility for any act or omission of any other Trustee appointed with respect to a series of Securities
hereunder.
Section
7.02 Certain Rights of Trustee. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01:
(a)
The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement,
instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, security or other paper or document believed by it to be
genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
(b)
Any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution or an instrument
signed in the name of the Company by any authorized officer of the Company (unless other evidence in respect thereof is specifically
prescribed herein);
(c)
The Trustee may consult with counsel and the opinion or written advice of such counsel or, if requested, any Opinion of Counsel shall
be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or suffered or omitted hereunder in good faith and in
reliance thereon;
(d)
The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order
or direction of any of the Securityholders pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall have offered
to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably acceptable to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities that may be incurred
therein or thereby; nothing contained herein shall, however, relieve the Trustee of the obligation, upon the occurrence of an Event of
Default with respect to a series of the Securities (that has not been cured or waived), to exercise with respect to Securities of that
series such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and to 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 or her own affairs;
(e)
The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or
within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;
(f)
The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement,
instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, security, or other papers or documents or inquire as to
the performance by the Company of one of its covenants under this Indenture, unless requested in writing so to do by the holders of not
less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of the particular series affected thereby (determined as provided
in Section 8.04); provided, however, that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities
likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee
by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require security or indemnity reasonably acceptable to
the Trustee against such costs, expenses or liabilities as a condition to so proceeding. The reasonable expense of every such examination
shall be paid by the Company or, if paid by the Trustee, shall be repaid by the Company upon demand;
(g)
The Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents
or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed
with due care by it hereunder;
(h)
In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising
out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents,
acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or
malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use
reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable
under the circumstances;
(i)
In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever
(including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or
damage and regardless of the form of action; and
(j)
The Trustee agrees to accept and act upon instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by unsecured e-mail, facsimile transmission
or other similar unsecured electronic methods; provided, however, that (a) the party providing such written instructions, subsequent
to such transmission of written instructions, shall provide the originally executed instructions or directions to the Trustee in a timely
manner, and (b) such originally executed instructions or directions shall be signed by an authorized representative of the party providing
such instructions or directions. If the party elects to give the Trustee e-mail or facsimile instructions (or instructions by a similar
electronic method) and the Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such instructions, the Trustee’s understanding of such
instructions shall be deemed controlling. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly
from the Trustee’s reliance upon and compliance with such instructions notwithstanding such instructions conflict or are inconsistent
with a subsequent written instruction. The party providing electronic instructions agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use
of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee
acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk or interception and misuse by third parties. The Trustee may request that the Company
deliver an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to furnish
the Trustee with Officer’s Certificates, Company Orders and any other matters or directions pursuant to this Indenture.
(k)
The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified,
are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder.
(l)
The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default (other than an Event of Default relating to the
failure to pay the interest on, or the principal of, the Securities) until the Trustee shall have received written notification in the
manner set forth in this Indenture or a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have obtained actual knowledge.
Section
7.03 Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance or Securities.
(a)
The recitals contained herein and in the Securities shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility
for the correctness of the same. The Trustee shall not be responsible for any statement in any registration statement, prospectus, or
any other document in connection with the sale of Securities. The Trustee shall not be responsible for any rating on the Securities or
any action or omission of any rating agency.
(b)
The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities.
(c)
The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any of the Securities or of the proceeds of such Securities,
or for the use or application of any moneys paid over by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture or established
pursuant to Section 2.01, or for the use or application of any moneys received by any paying agent other than the Trustee.
Section
7.04 May Hold Securities. The Trustee or any paying agent or Security Registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become
the owner or pledgee of Securities with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, paying agent or Security Registrar.
Section
7.05 Moneys Held in Trust. Subject to the provisions of Section 11.05, all moneys received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied
as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except
to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any moneys received by it hereunder except such
as it may agree with the Company to pay thereon.
Section
7.06 Compensation and Reimbursement.
(a)
The Company shall pay to the Trustee for each of its capacities hereunder from time to time compensation for its services as the Company
and the Trustee shall from time to time agree upon in writing. The Trustee’s 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 Trustee’s agents and counsel.
(b)
The Company shall indemnify each of the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder against any loss, liability or expense (including
the cost of defending itself and including the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel) incurred
by it except as set forth in Section 7.06(c) in the exercise or performance of its powers, rights or 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 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.
(c)
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.
(d)
To ensure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities on all funds
or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of or interest on particular Securities. When
the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(4) or (a)(5), the
expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for services in connection therewith are to
constitute expenses of administration under any bankruptcy law. The provisions of this Section 7.06 shall survive the termination of
this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.
Section
7.07 Reliance on Officer’s Certificate. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01, whenever in the administration of the
provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it reasonably necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior
to taking or suffering or omitting to take any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically
prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established
by an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part
of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it under the provisions
of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.
Section
7.08 Disqualification; Conflicting Interests. If the Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting interest” within the
meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee and the Company shall in all respects comply with the provisions of
Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section
7.09 Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility. There shall at all times be a Trustee with respect to the Securities issued hereunder
which shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any state or
territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or a corporation or other Person permitted to act as trustee by the Commission, authorized
under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least fifty million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000),
and subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial, or District of Columbia authority.
If
such corporation or other Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid
supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation or other
Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. The Company
may not, nor may any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company, serve as Trustee.
In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall resign
immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 7.10.
Section
7.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.
(a)
The Trustee or any successor hereafter appointed may at any time resign with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving
written notice thereof to the Company and by transmitting notice of resignation by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Securityholders
of such series, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company
shall promptly appoint a successor trustee with respect to Securities of such series by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by
order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor
trustee. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the mailing of such
notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee
with respect to Securities of such series, or any Securityholder of that series who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities
for at least six months may on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a
successor trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.
(b)
In case at any time any one of the following shall occur:
(i)
the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 7.08 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Securityholder
who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months; or
(ii)
the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.09 and shall fail to resign after written request
therefor by the Company or by any such Securityholder; or
(iii)
the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or commence a voluntary bankruptcy proceeding,
or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or consented to, or any public officer shall take charge or control
of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation;
then,
in any such case, the Company may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities and appoint a successor trustee by written instrument,
in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed
and one copy to the successor trustee, or any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least
six months may, on behalf of that holder and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal
of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper
and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee.
(c)
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding may at any time remove
the Trustee with respect to such series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company and may appoint a successor Trustee for such series
with the consent of the Company.
(d)
Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of a series pursuant
to any of the provisions of this Section shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in
Section 7.11.
(e)
Any successor trustee appointed pursuant to this Section may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more series or all
of such series, and at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series.
Section
7.11 Acceptance of Appointment By Successor.
(a)
In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor trustee so appointed
shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon
the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or
conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company
or the successor trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to
such successor trustee all the rights, powers, and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such
successor trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.
(b)
In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company,
the retiring Trustee and each successor trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture
supplemental hereto wherein each successor trustee shall accept such appointment and which (i) shall contain such provisions as shall
be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties
of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates,
(ii) shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties
of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall
continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (iii) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary
to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein
or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust, that each such Trustee shall be trustee
of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee and that
no Trustee shall be responsible for any act or failure to act on the part of any other Trustee hereunder; and upon the execution and
delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided
therein, such retiring Trustee shall with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor
trustee relates have no further responsibility for the exercise of rights and powers or for the performance of the duties and obligations
vested in the Trustee under this Indenture, and each such successor trustee,without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become
vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series
to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor trustee, such retiring Trustee
shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor trustee, to the extent contemplated by such supplemental indenture, the property
and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of
such successor trustee relates.
(c)
Upon request of any such successor trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in
and confirming to such successor trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, as the
case may be.
(d)
No successor trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor trustee shall be qualified and
eligible under this Article.
(e)
Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided in this Section, the Company shall transmit notice of the succession
of such trustee hereunder by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the
Security Register. If the Company fails to transmit such notice within ten days after acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee,
the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be transmitted at the expense of the Company.
Section
7.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business. Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted
or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee
shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, including the
administration of the trust created by this Indenture, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided that such corporation
shall be qualified under the provisions of Section 7.08 and eligible under the provisions of Section 7.09, without the execution or filing
of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding. In case any
Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation
to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such
successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.
Section
7.13 Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company. The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act,
excluding any creditor relationship described in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed
shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent included therein.
Section
7.14 Notice of Default. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if such Event of Default is known to a Responsible Officer
of the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust
Indenture Act notice of the Event of Default within the earlier of 90 days after it occurs and 30 days after it is known to a Responsible
Officer of the Trustee or written notice of it is received by the Trustee, unless such Event of Default has been cured; provided, however
, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security, the Trustee
shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that
the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Securityholders.
ARTICLE
8
CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS
Section
8.01 Evidence of Action by Securityholders. Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the holders of a majority or specified
percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series may take any action (including the making of any demand
or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such
action the holders of such majority or specified percentage of that series have joined therein may be evidenced by any instrument or
any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by such holders of Securities of that series in person or by agent or proxy appointed
in writing.
If
the Company shall solicit from the Securityholders of any series any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other action, the Company may, at its option, as evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate, fix in advance a record date for such
series for the determination of Securityholders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action may be given before or after the record date, but only the Securityholders of record
at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Securityholders for the purposes of determining whether Securityholders
of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities of that series have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities of that series shall
be computed as of the record date; provided, however, that no such authorization, agreement or consent by such Securityholders on the
record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six
months after the record date.
Section
8.02 Proof of Execution by Securityholders. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, proof of the execution of any instrument by
a Securityholder (such proof will not require notarization) or his or her agent or proxy and proof of the holding by any Person of any
of the Securities shall be sufficient if made in the following manner:
(a)
The fact and date of the execution by any such Person of any instrument may be proved in any reasonable manner acceptable to the Trustee.
(b)
The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register of such Securities or by a certificate of the Security Registrar
thereof.
The
Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section as it shall deem necessary.
Section
8.03 Who May be Deemed Owners. Prior to the due presentment for registration of transfer of any Security, the Company, the Trustee,
any paying agent and any Security Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name such Security shall be registered upon the books
of the Security Registrar as the absolute owner of such Security (whether or not such Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any
notice of ownership or writing thereon made by anyone other than the Security Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on
account of the principal of, premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.03) interest on such Security and for all other purposes; and
neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Security Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
Section
8.04 Certain Securities Owned by Company Disregarded. In determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount
of Securities of a particular series have concurred in any direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture, the Securities of that
series that are owned by the Company or any other obligor on the Securities of that series or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling
or controlled by or under common control with the Company or any other obligor on the Securities of that series shall be disregarded
and deemed not to be Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination, except that for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee
shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent or waiver, only Securities of such series that the Trustee actually knows
are so owned shall be so disregarded. The Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding for
the purposes of this Section, if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with
respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not a Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or
indirect common control with the Company or any such other obligor. In case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee
taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee.
Section
8.05 Actions Binding on Future Securityholders. At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in
Section 8.01, of the taking of any action by the holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities
of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any holder of a Security of that series that is shown
by the evidence to be included in the Securities the holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with
the Trustee, and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 8.02, revoke such action so far as concerns such Security. Except as aforesaid
any such action taken by the holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and
owners of such Security, and of any Security issued in exchange therefor, on registration of transfer thereof or in place thereof, irrespective
of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Security. Any action taken by the holders of the majority or percentage
in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall
be conclusively binding upon the Company, the Trustee and the holders of all the Securities of that series.
ARTICLE
9
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section
9.01 Supplemental Indentures Without the Consent of Securityholders. In addition to any supplemental indenture otherwise authorized
by this Indenture, the Company and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental
hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect), without the consent of the Securityholders,
for one or more of the following purposes:
(a)
to cure any ambiguity, defect, or inconsistency herein or in the Securities of any series;
(b)
to comply with Article 10;
(c)
to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;
(d)
to add to the covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions relating to the Company for the benefit of the holders of all or any
series of Securities (and if such covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions are to be for the benefit of less than all series
of Securities, stating that such covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions are expressly being included solely for the benefit
of such series), to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and the continuance, of a default in any such additional covenants, restrictions,
conditions or provisions an Event of Default, or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company;
(e)
to add to, delete from, or revise the conditions, limitations, and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms, or purposes of issue,
authentication, and delivery of Securities, as herein set forth;
(f)
to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder in any material respect;
(g)
to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the Securities of any series as provided in Section
2.01, to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or any series of Securities,
or to add to the rights of the holders of any series of Securities;
(h)
to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor trustee; or
(i)
to comply with any requirements of the Commission or any successor in connection with the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust
Indenture Act.
The
Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and to make any further appropriate
agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental
indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Any
supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent
of the holders of any of the Securities at the time Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.02.
Section
9.02 Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Securityholders. With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 8.01) of the holders
of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture or
indentures at the time Outstanding, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at
any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act
as then in effect) 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 not covered by Section 9.01 the rights of the holders of the
Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of
the holders of each Security then Outstanding and affected thereby, (a) extend the fixed maturity of any Securities of any series, or
reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any premium payable
upon the redemption thereof or (b) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any
such supplemental indenture.
It
shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders of any series affected thereby under this Section to approve the particular
form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.
Section
9.03 Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article
or of Section 10.01, this Indenture shall, with respect to such series, be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith
and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company
and the holders of Securities of the series affected thereby shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject
in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and
be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
Section
9.04 Securities Affected by Supplemental Indentures. Securities of any series affected by a supplemental indenture, authenticated
and delivered after the execution of such supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Section 10.01, may
bear a notation in form approved by the Company, provided such form meets the requirements of any securities exchange upon which such
series may be listed, as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities
of that series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, to any modification of this Indenture contained in
any such supplemental indenture may be prepared by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Securities
of that series then Outstanding.
Section
9.05 Execution of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by its Board Resolutions authorizing the
execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Securityholders required
to consent thereto as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such
supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case
the Trustee may in its discretion but shall not be obligated to enter into such supplemental indenture. The Trustee, subject to the provisions
of Section 7.01, shall receive an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture
executed pursuant to this Article is authorized or permitted by the terms of this Article and that all conditions precedent to the execution
of the supplemental indenture have been complied with; provided, however, that such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel
need not be provided in connection with the execution of a supplemental indenture that establishes the terms of a series of Securities
pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof.
Promptly
after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Company
shall (or shall direct the Trustee to) transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, a notice, setting forth in general terms the substance
of such supplemental indenture, to the Securityholders of all series affected thereby .as their names and addresses appear upon the Security
Register. Any failure of the Company to mail, or cause the mailing of, such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any
way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.
ARTICLE
10
SUCCESSOR ENTITY
Section
10.01 Company May Consolidate, Etc. Nothing contained in this Indenture shall prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company
with or into any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company) or successive consolidations or mergers in which the Company
or its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of the
property of the Company or its successor or successors as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to any other Person (whether
or not affiliated with the Company or its successor or successors); provided, however, the Company hereby covenants and agrees that,
upon any such consolidation or merger (in each case, if the Company is not the survivor of such transaction) or any such sale, conveyance,
transfer or other disposition (other than a sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition to a Subsidiary of the Company), the due
and punctual payment of the principal of (premium, if any) and interest on all of the Securities of all series in accordance with the
terms of each series, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions
of this Indenture with respect to each series or established with respect to such series pursuant to Section 2.01 to be kept or performed
by the Company shall be expressly assumed, by supplemental indenture (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act,
as then in effect) reasonably satisfactory in form to the Trustee executed and delivered to the Trustee by the entity formed by such
consolidation, or into which the Company shall have been merged, or by the entity which shall have acquired such property.
Section
10.02 Successor Entity Substituted.
(a)
In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition and upon the assumption by the successor entity
by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the obligations set forth
under Section 10.01 on all of the Securities of all series Outstanding, such successor entity shall succeed to and be substituted for
the Company with the same effect as if it had been named as the Company herein, and thereupon the predecessor corporation shall be relieved
of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.
(b)
In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, such changes in phraseology and form (but
not in substance) may be made in the Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.
(c)
Nothing contained in this Article shall require any action by the Company in the case of a consolidation or merger of any Person into
the Company where the Company is the survivor of such transaction, or the acquisition by the Company, by purchase or otherwise, of all
or any part of the property of any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company).
ARTICLE
11
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section
11.01 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. If at any time: (a) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee for cancellation
all Securities of a series theretofore authenticated and not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (other than any Securities that
shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.07 and Securities for whose
payment money or Governmental Obligations have theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and
thereupon repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 11.05); or (b) all such Securities of a particular
series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due
and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the
giving of notice of redemption, and the Company shall deposit or cause to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds the entire amount
in moneys or Governmental Obligations or a combination thereof, 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 at maturity or upon redemption all Securities
of that series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal (and premium, if any) and interest due
or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and if the Company shall also pay or cause
to be paid all other sums payable hereunder with respect to such series by the Company then this Indenture shall thereupon cease to be
of further effect with respect to such series except for the provisions of Sections 2.03, 2.05, 2.07, 4.01, 4.02, 4.03 and 7.10, that
shall survive until the date of maturity or redemption date, as the case may be, and Sections 7.06 and 11.05, that shall survive to such
date and thereafter, and the Trustee, on demand of the Company and at the cost and expense of the Company shall execute proper instruments
acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture with respect to such series.
Section
11.02 Discharge of Obligations. If at any time all such Securities of a particular series not heretofore delivered to the Trustee
for cancellation or that have not become due and payable as described in Section 11.01 shall have been paid by the Company by depositing
irrevocably with the Trustee as trust funds moneys or an amount of Governmental Obligations sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption
all such Securities of that series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal (and premium, if any)
and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and if the Company shall
also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to such series, then after the date such moneys
or Governmental Obligations, as the case may be, are deposited with the Trustee the obligations of the Company under this Indenture with
respect to such series shall cease to be of further effect except for the provisions of Sections 2.03, 2.05, 2.07, 4,01, 4.02, 4,03,
7.06, 7.10 and 11.05 hereof that shall survive until such Securities shall mature and be paid.
Thereafter,
Sections 7.06 and 11.05 shall survive.
Section
11.03 Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust. All moneys or Governmental Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Sections
11.01 or 11.02 shall be held in trust and shall be available for payment as due, either directly or through any paying agent (including
the Company acting as its own paying agent), to the holders of the particular series of Securities for the payment or redemption of which
such moneys or Governmental Obligations have been deposited with the Trustee.
Section
11.04 Payment of Moneys Held by Paying Agents. In connection with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture all moneys or
Governmental Obligations then held by any paying agent under the provisions of this Indenture shall, upon demand of the Company, be paid
to the Trustee and thereupon such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental
Obligations.
Section
11.05 Repayment to Company. Any moneys or Governmental Obligations deposited with any paying agent or the Trustee, or then held by
the Company, in trust for payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of a particular series that are not
applied but remain unclaimed by the holders of such Securities for at least two years after the date upon which the principal of (and
premium, if any) or interest on such Securities shall have respectively become due and payable, or such other shorter period set forth
in applicable escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property law, shall be repaid to the Company on May 31 of each year or upon the Company’s
request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and thereupon the paying agent and the Trustee shall be
released from all further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations, and the holder of any of the Securities
entitled to receive such payment shall thereafter, as a general creditor, look only to the Company for the payment thereof.
ARTICLE
12
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Section
12.01 No Recourse. No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this Indenture, or of any Security, or for
any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, past,
present or future as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any
such predecessor or successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any
assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that this Indenture and the obligations issued hereunder are solely
corporate obligations, and that no such personal liability whatever shall attach to, or is or shall be incurred by, the incorporators,
stockholders, officers or directors as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, or any of them, because of
the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this
Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom; and that any and all such personal liability of every name and nature, either
at common law or in equity or by constitution or statute, of, and any and all such rights and claims against, every such incorporator,
stockholder, officer or director as such, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the
obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom, are hereby expressly
waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issuance of such Securities.
ARTICLE
13
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section
13.01 Effect on Successors and Assigns. All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture made by or on
behalf of the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
Section
13.02 Actions by Successor. Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed
by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the corresponding
board, committee or officer of any corporation that shall at the time be the lawful successor of the Company.
Section
13.03 Surrender of Company Powers. The Company by instrument in writing executed by authority of its Board of Directors and delivered
to the Trustee may surrender any of the powers reserved to the Company, and thereupon such power so surrendered shall terminate both
as to the Company and as to any successor corporation.
Section
13.04 Notices. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any notice, request or demand that by any provision of this Indenture
is required or permitted to be given, made or served by the Trustee, the Security Registrar, any paying or other agent under this Indenture
or by the holders of Securities or by any other Person pursuant to this Indenture to or on the Company may be given or served by being
deposited in first class mail, postage prepaid,addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Trustee),
as follows: . Any notice, election, request or demand by the Company or any Securityholder or by any other Person pursuant to this Indenture
to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the
Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.
Section
13.05 Governing Law; Jury Trial Waiver. This Indenture and each Security, and any claim, controversy or dispute under or related
to this Indenture or any Security, shall be deemed to be a contract made under the internal laws of the State of New York, and for all
purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of said State, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act is applicable.
EACH
PARTY HERETO, AND EACH HOLDER OF A SECURITY BY ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW,
ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH
THIS INDENTURE.
Section
13.06 Treatment of Securities as Debt. It is intended that the Securities will be treated as indebtedness and not as equity for federal
income tax purposes. The provisions of this Indenture shall be interpreted to further this intention.
Section
13.07 Certificates and Opinions as to Conditions Precedent.
(a)
Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company
shall furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture (other
than the certificate to be delivered pursuant to Section 13.12) relating to the proposed action have been complied with and, if requested,
an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent have been complied with, except that
in the case of any such application or demand as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision
of this Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.
(b)
Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or
covenant in this Indenture (other than the certificate to be delivered pursuant to Section 13.12 or Section 314(a)(1) of the Trust Indenture
Act) shall include (i) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (ii) 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; (iii) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he has made such examination or investigation as is reasonably
necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (iv)
a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
Section
13.08 Payments on Business Days. Except as provided pursuant to Section 2.01 pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an
Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental to this Indenture, in any case where the date of maturity
of interest or principal of any Security or the date of redemption of any Security shall not be a Business Day, then payment of interest
or principal (and premium, if any) may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the nominal
date of maturity or redemption, and no interest shall accrue for the period after such nominal date.
Section
13.09 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act. If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts
with the duties imposed by Section 318(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control.
Section
13.10 Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts
shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile
or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu
of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their
original signatures for all purposes.
Section
13.11 Separability. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in the Securities of any series shall
for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall
not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of such Securities, but this Indenture and such Securities shall be construed as
if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.
Section
13.12 Compliance Certificates. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year during
which any Securities of any series were outstanding, an officer’s certificate stating whether or not the signers know of any Event
of Default that occurred during such fiscal year. Such certificate shall contain a certification from the principal executive officer,
principal financial officer or principal accounting officer of the Company that a review has been conducted of the activities of the
Company and the Company’s performance under this Indenture and that the Company has complied with all conditions and covenants
under this Indenture. For purposes of this Section 13.12, such compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or
requirement of notice provided under this Indenture. If the officer of the Company signing such certificate has knowledge of such an
Event of Default, the certificate shall describe any such Event of Default and its status.
Section
13.13 U.S.A Patriot Act. The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee,
like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify,
and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee.
The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee
to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.
Section
13.14 Force Majeure. In no event shall the Trustee, the Security Registrar, any paying agent or any other agent under this Indenture
be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly
or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism,
civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions or utilities,
communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee, the Security Registrar, any paying
agent or any other agent under this Indenture shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking
industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
Section
13.15 Table of Contents; Headings. The table of contents and headings of the articles and sections of this Indenture have been inserted
for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof, and will not modify or restrict any of the terms
or provisions hereof.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed all as of the day and year first above written.
ABEONA THERAPEUTICS INC. |
|
|
|
By: |
|
|
Name: |
|
|
Title: |
|
|
[TRUSTEE], as Trustee |
|
|
|
By: |
|
|
Name: |
|
|
Title: |
|
|
Section
of Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as Amended |
|
Section
of Indenture |
310(a) |
|
7.09 |
310(b) |
|
7.08 |
|
|
7.10 |
311(a) |
|
7.13 |
311(b) |
|
7.13 |
312(a) |
|
5.01 |
|
|
5.02(a) |
312(b) |
|
5.02(c) |
312(c) |
|
5.02(c) |
313(a) |
|
5.04(a) |
313(b) |
|
5.04(b) |
313(c) |
|
5.04(a) |
|
|
5.04(b) |
313(d) |
|
5.04(c) |
314(a) |
|
5.03 |
|
|
13.12 |
314(b) |
|
Inapplicable |
314(c) |
|
13.07(a) |
314(d) |
|
Inapplicable |
314(e) |
|
13.07(b) |
314(f) |
|
Inapplicable |
315(a) |
|
7.01(a) |
|
|
7.01(b) |
315(b) |
|
7.14 |
315(c) |
|
7.01 |
315(d) |
|
7.01(b) |
315(e) |
|
6.07 |
316(a) |
|
6.06 |
|
|
8.04 |
316(b) |
|
6.04 |
316(c) |
|
8.01 |
317(a) |
|
6.02 |
317(b) |
|
4.03 |
318(a) |
|
13.09 |
(1) |
This
Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Indenture and shall not have any bearing on the interpretation of any of its
terms or provisions. |
Exhibit
5.1
 |
787
Seventh Avenue
New
York, NY 10019-6099
Tel:
212 728 8000
Fax:
212 728 8111 |
June
12, 2024
Abeona
Therapeutics Inc.
6555
Carnegie Avenue, 4th Floor
Cleveland,
OH 44103
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
We
have acted as counsel for Abeona Therapeutics Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the
Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 to which this opinion is filed as an exhibit (the “Registration Statement”)
including the prospectus that is part of the Registration Statement (the “Base Prospectus”) and the Open Market Sale
Agreement prospectus that is part of the Registration Statement (the “ATM Prospectus”), filed on the date hereof,
with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The
Base Prospectus provides that it will be supplemented in the future by one or more prospectus supplements (each, a “Prospectus
Supplement”)., The Base Prospectus, as supplemented by the various Prospectus Supplements, will provide for the issuance and
sale from time to time by the Company of up to an aggregate of $300,000,000 (i) shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par
value (the “Common Stock”), (ii) shares of the Company’s preferred stock, $0.01 par value (the “Preferred
Stock”), (iii) warrants to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Debt Securities (as defined below) (the “Warrants”),
(iv) one or more series of the Company’s debt securities (collectively, the “Debt Securities”), and (v) any
combination of the Securities described in clauses (i)-(iv) (together with the ATM Shares (as defined below), the “Securities”).
The
ATM Prospectus relates to the sale by the Company of shares of Common Stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $75,000,000 (the
“ATM Shares”), pursuant to the Open Market Sale Agreement, dated August 17, 2018, as amended on November 19, 2021,
with Jefferies LLC (the “ATM Agreement”).
This
opinion letter is furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act.
As
counsel to the Company, in rendering the opinions hereinafter expressed, we have examined and relied upon originals or copies of such
corporate records, agreements, documents and instruments as we have deemed necessary or advisable for purposes of this opinion, including
(i) the certificate of incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) and bylaws (the “Bylaws”)
of the Company, (ii) the Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto filed with the Commission, (iii) the Base Prospectus, (iv) the
ATM Prospectus, (v) the ATM Agreement, and (vi) the resolutions and written actions of the board of directors referenced above.
Brussels Chicago Dallas Frankfurt Houston London Los Angeles Milan
Munich New York Palo Alto Paris Rome San Francisco Washington
Abeona
Therapeutics Inc.
June
12, 2024
Page
2
In
our examination of the above-referenced documents, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents,
certificates and instruments submitted to us as originals and the conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies.
For the purpose of the opinions set forth below, we have also assumed, without independent investigation or verification, that:
A.
the issuance, sale, number or amount, as the case may be, and terms of Securities to be offered from time to time will be duly authorized
and established (other than the ATM Shares which have been duly authorized and established by proper action of the board of directors),
in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and applicable Delaware law (each, a “Corporate Action”),
and will not conflict with or constitute a breach of the terms of any agreement or instrument to which the Company is subject;
B.
prior to the issuance of shares of one or more series of Preferred Stock, an appropriate certificate of designation relating to each
such series of Preferred Stock will have been duly authorized by Corporate Action and filed with the Secretary of State of the State
of Delaware;
C.
any series of the Debt Securities will be issued under a senior indenture and/or a subordinated indenture relating to such Debt Securities
(together with the supplemental indentures relating thereto, the “Indenture”) that shall be entered into, in each case, between
the Company and a trustee (the “Trustee”), a form of which has been attached as an exhibit to the Registration Statement,
as such Indenture may further be supplemented, in connection with the issuance of each such series, by a supplemental indenture or other
appropriate action of the Company creating such series (each, a “Supplemental Indenture”) (the Indenture and any Supplemental
Indenture are collectively referred to as the “Indentures”);
D.
to the extent that the obligations of the Company under the Indentures may depend upon such matters, (i) the Trustee will be (A) duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and (B) duly qualified to engage
in the activities contemplated by the Indentures; (ii) a Form T-1 will be filed with the Commission with respect to the trustee executing
any Indenture or any Supplemental Indenture; (iii) the Indentures will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee
and will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Trustee, enforceable against the Trustee in accordance with their
respective terms; (iv) the Trustee will be in compliance, generally and with respect to acting as a trustee under the Indentures, with
all applicable laws and regulations; and (v) the Trustee will have the requisite organizational and legal power and authority to perform
its obligations under the Indentures;
E.
the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) will have become effective and such effectiveness
shall not have been terminated or rescinded and will comply with all applicable federal and state laws at the time the Securities are
offered and issued as contemplated by the Registration Statement;
Abeona
Therapeutics Inc.
June
12, 2024
Page
3
F.
a Prospectus Supplement will have been prepared, delivered (including through compliance with Rule 172 of the General Rules and Regulations
promulgated under the Act) and filed with the Commission describing the Securities offered thereby and will comply with all applicable
laws at the time the Securities are offered and issued as contemplated by the Registration Statement;
G.
all Securities will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws; and
H.
a definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement (each, a “Definitive Agreement”) with respect to any Securities
offered or issued will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto (other
than with respect to the ATM Shares, for which the ATM Agreement has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company).
Subject
to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof:
1.
The ATM Shares, to be issued and sold by the Company, have been duly authorized for issuance and, when issued, sold and delivered for
consideration (of not less than par value per share of the Common Stock) and in the manner contemplated by the ATM Agreement and the
ATM Prospectus and in accordance with the resolutions duly adopted by the Board, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
2.
Upon due authorization by Corporate Action of the issuance and sale of shares of Common Stock and upon issuance and delivery of such
shares of Common Stock against payment for such shares in accordance with the terms and provisions of the applicable Definitive Agreement,
the terms of the Corporate Action and as contemplated by the Registration Statement and the applicable Prospectus Supplement, and, if
applicable, upon the conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Securities in accordance with their respective terms, the terms of
the Corporate Action and as contemplated by the Registration Statement and the applicable Prospectus Supplement, such shares of Common
Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
3.
Upon due authorization by Corporate Action of the issuance and sale of shares of a series of Preferred Stock and upon issuance and delivery
of such shares of Preferred Stock against payment for such shares in accordance with the terms and provisions of the applicable Definitive
Agreement, the terms of the Corporate Action and as contemplated by the Registration Statement and the applicable Prospectus Supplement,
and, if applicable, upon the conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Securities in accordance with their respective terms, the
terms of the Corporate Action and as contemplated by the Registration Statement and the applicable Prospectus Supplement, such shares
of such series of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
4.
With respect to the Warrants, when both (a) upon due authorization by Corporate Action of the issuance and terms of the Warrants and
related matters, and (b) the Warrants have been duly executed and delivered against payment therefor, pursuant to the applicable definitive
placement agency, underwriting, subscription, warrant or similar agreement duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and
any applicable warrant agent and the certificates for the Warrants have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and any applicable
warrant agent, then the Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance
with their terms.
Abeona
Therapeutics Inc.
June
12, 2024
Page
4
5.
When the particular series of Debt Securities has been duly established in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture, the
specific terms of a particular issuance of Debt Securities have been duly authorized by Corporate Action and are in accordance with the
terms of the applicable Indenture, the applicable Indenture is duly executed and delivered by the Company, and such Debt Securities have
been duly executed, authenticated, completed, issued and delivered, against payment for such Debt Securities, in accordance with the
terms and provisions of the applicable Definitive Agreement, the terms of the Corporate Action and as contemplated by the Registration
Statement and the applicable Prospectus Supplement, and, if applicable, upon the conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Securities
in accordance with their respective terms, the terms of the Corporate Action and as contemplated by the Registration Statement and the
applicable Prospectus Supplement, such Debt Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company.
The
opinions expressed herein are limited to the laws of the State of New York, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and
the federal securities laws of the United States of America, and we express no opinion with respect to the laws of any other country,
state or jurisdiction. The opinions expressed herein that are based on the laws of the State of New York are limited to the laws generally
applicable in transactions of the type covered by the Registration Statement.
The
opinions set forth in paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 above are qualified in that the legality or enforceability of the documents referred to therein
may be (a) subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights
generally, (b) limited insofar as the remedies of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject
to equitable defenses and the discretion of the court before which any enforcement thereof may be sought and (c) subject to general principles
of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) including principles of commercial
reasonableness or conscionability and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Insofar as provisions of any of the documents
referenced in this opinion letter provide for indemnification or contribution, the enforcement thereof may be limited by public policy
considerations.
We
express no opinion as to the application of the securities or blue sky laws of the several states to the sale of the securities. The
opinions expressed herein are limited to matters expressly set forth herein, and no opinion is to be implied or may be inferred beyond
the matters expressly stated herein.
The
opinions expressed herein are given as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to update or supplement such opinions after the
date hereof. The opinions expressed herein are rendered as of the date first written above and we disclaim any obligation to advise you
of facts, circumstances, events or developments that hereafter may be brought to our attention and that may alter, affect or modify the
opinions expressed herein. The opinions expressed herein are expressly limited to the matters set forth above and we render no opinion,
whether by implication or otherwise, as to any other matters.
We
hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name
under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement and in the Base Prospectus, the ATM Prospectus or any supplemental
prospectus thereto. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required
under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
|
Very
truly yours, |
|
|
|
/s/
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP |
Exhibit
23.1
CONSENT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We
consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated March 15, 2024 relating to the
financial statements of Abeona Therapeutics Inc., appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Abeona Therapeutics Inc. for the year
ended December 31, 2023. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Morristown,
New Jersey
June
12, 2024
Exhibit
23.2
CONSENT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We
consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Abeona Therapeutics Inc. of our report dated
March 29, 2023, relating to the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2022, appearing in the Annual
Report on Form 10-K of Abeona Therapeutics Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2023. We also consent to the reference to our firm
under the heading “Experts” in this Registration Statement on Form S-3.
/s/
Whitley Penn LLP
Plano,
Texas
June
12, 2024
Exhibit 107
Calculation
of Filing Fee Table
Form
S-3
(Form
Type)
Abeona
Therapeutics Inc.
(Exact
Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Newly
Registered and Carry Forward Securities
CALCULATION
OF REGISTRATION FEE
| |
Security
Type | |
Security
Class Title | |
Fee
Calculation or Carry Forward Rule | | |
Amount
Registred | | |
Proposed
Maximum Offering Price Per Unit | | |
Maximum
Aggregate Offering Price | | |
Fee
Rate | | |
Amount
of Registration Fee | | |
Carry
Forward Form Type | | |
Carry
Forward File Number | | |
Carry
Forward Initial Effective Date | | |
Filing
Fee Previously Paid in Connection with Unsold Securities to be Carried Forward | |
| |
Newly
Registered Securities | |
Fees
to Be Paid | |
Equity | |
Common
Stock, $0.01 par value per share | |
| 457 | (o) | |
| (2 | )(3) | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Fees
to Be Paid | |
Equity | |
Preferred
Stock, $0.01 par value per share | |
| 457 | (o) | |
| (2 | )(3) | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Fees
to Be Paid | |
Debt | |
Debt
securities | |
| 457 | (o) | |
| (2 | )(3) | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Fees
to Be Paid | |
Equity | |
Warrants | |
| 457 | (o) | |
| (2 | )(3) | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Fees
to Be Paid | |
Unallocated
(Universal Shelf) | |
Unallocated
(Universal Shelf)(1) | |
| 457 | (o) | |
| (2 | )(3) | |
| - | | |
| 300,000,000 | | |
$ | 0.00014760 | | |
$ | 44,280 | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
Fees
Previously Paid | |
- | |
- | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | | |
| - | |
| |
Carry
Forward Securities | |
Carry
Forward Securities | |
Equity | |
Common
Stock, $0.01 par value per share | |
| 415 | (a)(6) | |
| (1 | )(2)(3) | |
| | | |
| (1 | )(3) | |
| | | |
| (1 | ) | |
| S-3 | | |
| 333-256850 | | |
| October
22, 2021 | | |
| (1 | ) |
Carry
Forward Securities | |
Equity | |
Preferred
Stock, $0.01 par value per share | |
| 415 | (a)(6) | |
| (1 | )(2)(3) | |
| | | |
| (1 | )(3) | |
| | | |
| (1 | ) | |
| S-3 | | |
| 333-256850 | | |
| October
22, 2021 | | |
| (1 | ) |
Carry
Forward Securities | |
Debt | |
Debt
securities | |
| 415 | (a)(6) | |
| (1 | )(2)(3) | |
| | | |
| (1 | )(3) | |
| | | |
| (1 | ) | |
| S-3 | | |
| 333-256850 | | |
| October
22, 2021 | | |
| (1 | ) |
Carry
Forward Securities | |
Equity | |
Warrants | |
| 415 | (a)(6) | |
| (1 | )(2)(3) | |
| | | |
| (1 | )(3) | |
| | | |
| (1 | ) | |
| S-3 | | |
| 333-256850 | | |
| October
22, 2021 | | |
| (1 | ) |
Carry
Forward Securities | |
Unallocated
(Universal Shelf) | |
Unallocated
(Universal Shelf)(1) | |
| 415 | (a)(6) | |
| (1 | )(2)(3) | |
| | | |
$ | 250,000,000 | (1)(3) | |
$ | 0.00010910 | | |
| (1 | ) | |
| S-3 | | |
| 333-256850 | | |
| October
22, 2021 | | |
$ | 11,390.04 | (1) |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Carry
Forward Securities | |
Equity | |
Common
Stock, $0.01 par value per share | |
| 415 | (a)(6) | |
| (1 | )(2)(3) | |
| | | |
| (1 | )(3) | |
| | | |
| (1 | ) | |
| S-3 | | |
| 333-224867 | | |
| June
7, 2018 | | |
| (1 | ) |
Carry
Forward Securities | |
Equity | |
Preferred
Stock, $0.01 par value per share | |
| 415 | (a)(6) | |
| (1 | )(2)(3) | |
| | | |
| (1 | )(3) | |
| | | |
| (1 | ) | |
| S-3 | | |
| 333-224867 | | |
| June
7, 2018 | | |
| (1 | ) |
Carry
Forward Securities | |
Debt | |
Debt
securities | |
| 415 | (a)(6) | |
| (1 | )(2)(3) | |
| | | |
| (1 | )(3) | |
| | | |
| (1 | ) | |
| S-3 | | |
| 333-224867 | | |
| June
7, 2018 | | |
| (1 | ) |
Carry
Forward Securities | |
Equity | |
Warrants | |
| 415 | (a)(6) | |
| (1 | )(2)(3) | |
| | | |
| (1 | )(3) | |
| | | |
| (1 | ) | |
| S-3 | | |
| 333-224867 | | |
| June
7, 2018 | | |
| (1 | ) |
Carry
Forward Securities | |
Unallocated
(Universal Shelf) | |
Unallocated
(Universal Shelf)(1) | |
| 415 | (a)(6) | |
| (1 | )(2)(3) | |
| | | |
$ | 500,000,000 | (1)(3) | |
$ | 0.00012450 | | |
| (1 | ) | |
| S-3 | | |
| 333-224867 | | |
| June
7, 2018 | | |
$ | 15,484.69 | (1) |
| |
| |
| |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Carry
Forward Securities | |
Total
Offering Amounts | | |
$ | 300,000,000 | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Carry
Forward Securities | |
Total
Fees Previously Paid | | |
| - | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Carry
Forward Securities | |
Total
Fee Offsets | |
$ | 26,874.73 | (1) | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Carry
Forward Securities | |
Net
Fee Due | | |
$ | 17,405.27 | (1) | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
(1) The
Registrant previously registered $500,000,000 in aggregate offering price of securities pursuant to the Registration Statement on Form
S-3 (File No. 333-224867) filed on May 11, 2018, and initially declared effective on June 7, 2018, as amended from time
to time (the “First Registration Statement”), approximately $124,375,000 of which remains unsold as of the date of filing
of this registration statement (the “First Registration Statement Unsold Securities”). The Registrant also previously registered
$250,000,000 in aggregate offering price of securities pursuant to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-256850) filed
on June 7, 2021, and declared effective on October 22, 2021 (the “Second Registration Statement” and, together with the First
Registration Statement, the “Prior Registration Statements”), approximately $104,400,000 of which remains unsold as of the
date of filing of this registration statement (the “Second Registration Statement Unsold Securities” and, together with the
First Registration Statement Unsold Securities, the “Unsold Securities”). The Registrant expects to carry forward to this
registration statement the Unsold Securities pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Registrant
previously paid a registration fee of $62,250 in connection with the filing of the First Registration Statement. The Registrant used
$27,275 of the unused filing fees from $250,000,000 of the unsold securities from the First Registration Statement to offset the full
registration fee payable in connection with the Second Registration Statement. The $26,874.73 previously paid filing fees relating to
the Unsold Securities under the Prior Registration Statements will continue to be applied to such Unsold Securities registered on this
registration statement. For reasons stated above, the net registration fee paid in connection with the Unsold Securities is $17,405.27.
(2) Pursuant to Rule 416 of the Securities Act, this
Registration Statement also includes additional shares of common stock issuable upon stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.
These offered securities may be sold separately, together or as units with other offered securities. An unspecified number of securities
or aggregate principal amount, as applicable, is being registered as may from time to time be offered at unspecified prices.
(3) Pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act,
which permits the registration fee to be calculated on the basis of the maximum offering price of all the securities listed, the table
does not specify by each class information as to the amount to be registered, proposed maximum offering price per unit or proposed maximum
aggregate offering price. The aggregate public offering price of securities sold by the Registrant (including newly listed securities
and carry-forward securities) will not exceed $300,000,000.
(4) To the extent that, after the filing date hereof
and prior to the effectiveness of this registration statement, the Registrant sells any Unsold Securities pursuant to the Prior Registration
Statements, the Registrant will identify in a pre-effective amendment to this registration statement the updated amount of Unsold Securities
from the Prior Registration Statements to be included in this registration statement pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6). Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6),
the offering of the Unsold Securities under the Prior Registration Statements will be deemed terminated as of the date of effectiveness
of this registration statement.
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