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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM F-10

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

BALLARD POWER SYSTEMS INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

British Columbia, Canada   3620   Not Applicable
(Province or other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
 

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification

Number, if applicable)

9000 Glenlyon Parkway, Burnaby, British Columbia V5J 5J8

(604) 454-0900

(Address and telephone number of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

Puglisi & Associates

850 Library Avenue, Suite 204

Newark, Delaware 19711

(302) 7328-6680

(Name, address (including zip code) and telephone number (including area code) of agent for service in the United States)

 

 

Copies to:

 

Kate Igbalode

Ballard Power Systems Inc.

9000 Glenlyon Parkway

Burnaby, British Columbia

Canada V5J 5J8

(604) 454-0900

 

Daniel M. Miller

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

1095 West Pender Street, Suite 855

Vancouver, British Columbia

Canada V6E 2M6

(604) 630-5199

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale of the securities to the public:

From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

Province of British Columbia, Canada

(Principal jurisdiction regulating this offering)

 

 

It is proposed that this filing shall become effective (check appropriate box below):

 

A. ☐

upon filing with the Commission, pursuant to Rule 467(a) (if in connection with an offering being made contemporaneously in the United States and Canada).

 

B. ☒

at some future date (check the appropriate box below)

 

  1. ☐

pursuant to Rule 467(b) on ( ) at ( ) (designate a time not sooner than 7 calendar days after filing).

 

  2. ☐

pursuant to Rule 467(b) on ( ) at ( ) (designate a time 7 calendar days or sooner after filing) because the securities regulatory authority in the review jurisdiction has issued a receipt or notification of clearance on (__).

 

  3. ☒

pursuant to Rule 467(b) as soon as practicable after notification of the Commission by the Registrant or the Canadian securities regulatory authority of the review jurisdiction that a receipt or notification of clearance has been issued with respect hereto.

 

  4. ☐

after the filing of the next amendment to this Form (if preliminary material is being filed).

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to the home jurisdiction’s shelf prospectus offering procedures, check the following box. ☒

 

 
 


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PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED TO BE DELIVERED TO OFFEREES OR PURCHASERS


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This short form base shelf prospectus has been filed under legislation in each of the provinces and territories of Canada that permits certain information about these securities to be determined after this prospectus has become final and that permits the omission from this prospectus of that information. The legislation requires the delivery to purchasers of a prospectus supplement containing the omitted information within a specified period of time after agreeing to purchase any of these securities, except where an exemption from such delivery requirements is available. This short form base shelf prospectus is filed in reliance on an exemption from the preliminary base shelf prospectus requirement for a well-known seasoned issuer.

No securities regulatory authority has expressed an opinion about these securities and it is an offence to claim otherwise. This short form base shelf prospectus constitutes a public offering of these securities only in those jurisdictions where they may be lawfully offered for sale and therein only by persons permitted to sell such securities.

Information has been incorporated by reference in this short form base shelf prospectus from documents filed with securities commissions or similar regulatory authorities in Canada. Copies of the documents incorporated herein by reference may be obtained on request without charge from the Corporate Secretary at 9000 Glenlyon Parkway, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5J 5J8 or by calling the Investor Relations Department at 604-454-0900, and are also available electronically at www.sedarplus.ca.

SHORT FORM BASE SHELF PROSPECTUS

 

New Issue and/or Secondary Offering    June 11, 2025

 

LOGO

BALLARD POWER SYSTEMS INC.

Common Shares

Preferred Shares

Warrants

Debt Securities

Units

 

 

Ballard Power Systems Inc. (“Ballard”, the “Company”, “we” or “us”) may offer and issue from time to time common shares of the Company (“Common Shares”), preferred shares of the Company (“Preferred Shares”), warrants to purchase Common Shares (“Warrants”), debt securities (“Debt Securities”) and units (“Units”) comprised of one or more of any of the other securities that are described in this Prospectus, or any combination of such securities (all of the foregoing collectively, the “Securities” and individually, a “Security”) at offering prices, as the case may be, denominated in U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars or any other currencies, in one or more transactions during the 25-month period that this short form base shelf prospectus (this “Prospectus”), including any amendments hereto, remains effective. Securities may be offered in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined based on market conditions at the time of sale and set forth in one or more accompanying prospectus supplements (collectively or individually, as the case may be, a “Prospectus Supplement”).

 

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As of the date hereof, the Company has determined that it qualifies as a “well-known seasoned issuer” under the WKSI Blanket Orders (as defined below). All information required to be included in a short form prospectus but permitted under applicable securities laws, including as permitted under the WKSI Blanket Orders, to be omitted from this Prospectus will be contained, as required, in one or more Prospectus Supplements that will be delivered to purchasers together with this Prospectus, except where an exemption from such delivery requirements is available. See “Well-Known Seasoned Issuer”. Each Prospectus Supplement will be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus for the purposes of applicable securities legislation as of the date of the Prospectus Supplement and only for the purposes of the distribution of the Securities to which the Prospectus Supplement pertains. You should read this Prospectus and any applicable Prospectus Supplement carefully before you invest in any Securities offered pursuant to this Prospectus.

The outstanding Common Shares are listed and posted for trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) and on the Nasdaq Global Market (“NASDAQ”) under the symbol “BLDP”. The closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX and NASDAQ on June 10, 2025 was CDN$2.28 and US$1.67, respectively. See “Price Range and Trading Volumes”. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, Securities other than Common Shares will not be listed on any securities exchange. There is no market through which the Securities, other than the Common Shares, may be sold and purchasers may not be able to resell such Securities purchased under this Prospectus and any applicable Prospectus Supplement. This may affect the pricing of such Securities in the secondary market, the transparency and availability of trading prices, the liquidity of the Securities, and the extent of issuer regulation. See “Risk Factors”. The offering of Securities hereunder is subject to approval of certain legal matters on behalf of the Company by Stikeman Elliott LLP, with respect to Canadian legal matters, and by Dorsey & Whitney LLP, with respect to U.S. legal matters.

Investing in the Securities involves significant risks. Investors should carefully read the “Risk Factors” section in this Prospectus beginning on page 11, in the documents incorporated by reference herein, and in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.

This offering is made by a Canadian issuer that is permitted, under a multijurisdictional disclosure system adopted by the United States and Canada (“MJDS”), to prepare this Prospectus in accordance with Canadian disclosure requirements. Prospective investors should be aware that such requirements are different from those of the United States. Financial statements included or incorporated by reference herein have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) and may not be comparable to financial statements of United States companies. Our financial statements are subject to audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and our auditor is subject to both Canadian auditor independence standards and the auditor independence standards of the PCAOB and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

The enforcement by investors of civil liabilities under United States federal securities laws may be affected adversely by the fact that we are incorporated or organized under the laws of a foreign country, that some or all of our officers and directors may be residents of a foreign country, that some or all of the underwriters or experts named in this Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement may by residents of a foreign country and that all or a substantial portion of the assets of the Company and said persons may be located outside the United States.

THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY CANADIAN SECURITIES REGULATOR APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENCE.

 

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The specific terms of the Securities with respect to a particular offering will be set out in the applicable Prospectus Supplement and may include, where applicable: (i) in the case of Common Shares, the number of shares offered, the offering price, the currency, dividend rate, if any, and any other terms specific to the Common Shares being offered; (ii) in the case of Preferred Shares, the designation of the particular class and, if applicable, series, the number of shares offered, the offering price, the currency, dividend rate, if any, and any other terms specific to the Preferred Shares being offered; (iii) in the case of Warrants, the designation, number and terms of the Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, the offering price, the currency, any procedures that will result in the adjustment of these numbers, the exercise price, dates and periods of exercise, and any other terms specific to the Warrants being offered; (iv) in the case of Debt Securities, the designation of the Debt Securities, any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities, the maturity date, whether payment on the Debt Securities will be senior or subordinated to the Company’s other liabilities and obligations, whether the Debt Securities will be secured by any of the Company’s assets or guaranteed by any other person and any other terms specific to the Debt Securities being offered, whether the Debt Securities will bear interest, the interest rate or method of determining the interest rates, any conversion or exchange rates attached to the Debt Securities, whether the Company may redeem the Debt Securities at its option and any other specific terms; and (v) in the case of Units, the designation and number of Securities comprising the Units, the offering price, the currency and any other terms specific to the Units being offered. A Prospectus Supplement may include specific variable terms pertaining to the Securities that are not within the alternatives and parameters set forth in this Prospectus. Where required by statute, regulation or policy, and where Securities are offered in currencies other than Canadian dollars, appropriate disclosure of foreign exchange rates applicable to the Securities will be included in the Prospectus Supplement describing the Securities.

Investors should be aware that the acquisition, holding or disposition of the Securities described herein may have tax consequences both in the United States and in Canada. Such consequences for investors who are resident in, or citizens of, the United States and Canada may not be described fully herein or in any applicable Prospectus Supplement. You should read the tax discussion contained in the applicable Prospectus Supplement with respect to a particular offering of Securities and consult your own tax advisor with respect to your own particular circumstances.

No underwriter has been involved in the preparation of this Prospectus nor has any underwriter performed any review of the contents of this Prospectus. The Company may sell the Securities to or through underwriters or dealers purchasing as principals and may also sell the Securities to one or more purchasers directly subject to obtaining any required exemptive relief or through agents. The Prospectus Supplement relating to a particular offering of Securities will identify each underwriter, dealer or agent, if any, engaged by the Company in connection with the offering and sale of Securities and will set forth the terms of the offering of such Securities, the method of distribution of such Securities including, to the extent applicable, the proceeds to us, and any fees, discounts or any other compensation payable to underwriters, dealers or agents and any other material terms of the plan of distribution. Securities may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or fixed prices, or at non-fixed prices. If offered on a non-fixed price basis, Securities may be offered at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at prices to be negotiated with purchasers at the time of sale, which prices may vary between purchasers and during the period of distribution. If Securities are offered on a non-fixed price basis, the underwriters’, dealers’ or agents’ compensation will be increased or decreased by the amount by which the aggregate price paid for Securities by the purchasers exceeds or is less than the gross proceeds paid by the underwriters, dealers or agents to us. See “Plan of Distribution”.

This Prospectus constitutes a public offering of Securities only in those jurisdictions where they may be lawfully offered for sale and only by persons permitted to sell the Securities. The Company may offer and sell Securities to, or through, underwriters and also may offer and sell certain Securities directly to other purchasers or through agents pursuant to exemptions from registration or qualification under applicable securities laws. A Prospectus Supplement relating to each issue of Securities offered thereby will set forth the names of any underwriters or agents involved in the offering and sale of the Securities and will set forth the terms of the offering of the

 

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Securities, the method of distribution of the Securities including, to the extent applicable, the proceeds to the Company and any fees, discounts, concessions or any other compensation payable to the underwriters, dealers, or agents, and any other material terms of the plan of distribution.

This Prospectus may qualify an “at-the-market distribution” (as defined in National Instrument 44-102Shelf Distributions (“NI 44-102”)). In connection with any offering of the Securities other than an at-the-market distribution, unless otherwise specified in a Prospectus Supplement and subject to applicable law, the underwriters or agents may over-allot or effect transactions which stabilize or maintain the market price of the Securities offered at a higher level than that which might exist in the open market. Such transactions, if commenced, may be interrupted or discontinued at any time. No underwriter or dealer involved in an at-the-market distribution under this Prospectus, no affiliate of such an underwriter or dealer and no person or company acting jointly or in concert with such an underwriter or dealer will over-allot securities in connection with such distribution or effect any other transactions that are intended to stabilize or maintain the market price of the Securities sold in the at-the-market distribution. See “Plan of Distribution”.

The financial information of the Company contained in the documents incorporated by reference herein are presented in United States dollars. References in this Prospectus to “$” and “US$” are to United States dollars. Canadian dollars are indicated by the symbol “CDN$”.

The Company’s registered office is located at Suite 1700, Park Place, 666 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6C 2X8 and the Company’s principal executive and head office is located at 9000 Glenlyon Parkway, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5J 5J8.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

Information has been incorporated by reference in this Prospectus from documents filed with securities commissions or similar authorities in each of the provinces and territories of Canada. Copies of the documents incorporated herein by reference may be obtained on request without charge from the Corporate Secretary at 9000 Glenlyon Parkway, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5J 5J8, or by telephone at 604-454-0900, and are also available electronically at www.sedarplus.ca.

The Company is subject to the information requirements of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “U.S. Exchange Act”), as amended, and in accordance therewith files reports and other information with the SEC. Under MJDS, such reports and other information may be prepared in accordance with the disclosure requirements of Canada, which requirements are different from those of the United States. Prospective investors may read any document the Company files with or furnishes to the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room at Room 1580, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C., 20549. Copies of the same documents may also be obtained from the public reference room of the SEC by paying a fee. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 or access its website at www.sec.gov for further information on the public reference room. The Company’s filings are also electronically available from the SEC’s Electronic Document Gathering and Retrieval System, which is commonly known by the acronym EDGAR and which may be accessed at www.sec.gov, as well as from commercial document retrieval services.

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

DESCRIPTION

   PAGE NO.  

GENERAL MATTERS

     2  

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     2  

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

     2  

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     4  

NOTE TO UNITED STATES READERS REGARDING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN UNITED STATES AND CANADIAN FINANCIAL REPORTING PRACTICES

     7  

NON-IFRS MEASURES

     8  

FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND CURRENCY

     8  

THE COMPANY

     9  

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

     10  

RISK FACTORS

     11  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     15  

CONSOLIDATED CAPITALIZATION

     15  

EARNINGS COVERAGE RATIO

     15  

DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL

     15  

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

     16  

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

     19  

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

     21  

PRICE RANGE AND TRADING VOLUMES

     22  

PRIOR SALES

     22  

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     23  

CANADIAN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

     25  

CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

     25  

DOCUMENTS FILED AS PART OF THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

     25  

INTERESTS OF EXPERTS

     26  

TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR

     26  

LEGAL MATTERS

     26  

AUDITORS

     26  

AGENT FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS

     27  

WELL-KNOWN SEASONED ISSUER

     27  

EXEMPTIONS

     27  

CONTRACTUAL RIGHT OF RECISSION

     28  

ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES

     28  

 

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GENERAL MATTERS

In this Prospectus, “Ballard”, the “Company”, “we”, “us” and “our” refers, collectively, to Ballard Power Systems Inc. and our wholly owned subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise.

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

We are a British Columbia company that is a reporting issuer under Canadian securities laws in each of the provinces and territories of Canada. In addition, our Common Shares are registered under Section 12(b) of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Our Common Shares are traded in Canada on the TSX and in the United States on NASDAQ under the symbol “BLDP”.

This Prospectus is a base shelf prospectus that:

 

   

we have filed with the securities commissions in each of the provinces and territories of Canada in order to qualify the offering of the Securities described in this Prospectus in accordance with NI 44-102; and

 

   

forms part of a registration statement on Form F-10 (the “Registration Statement”) that we have or will file with the SEC under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, under MJDS.

This Prospectus provides you with a general description of the Securities that we may offer. Each time we sell Securities under this Prospectus we will provide a Prospectus Supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that specific offering. The specific terms of the Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered will be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement.

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and in any applicable Prospectus Supplement. The Company has not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. The Company is not making any offer of these Securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted by law.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Information has been incorporated by reference in this Prospectus from documents filed with securities commissions or similar regulatory authorities in Canada. Copies of the documents incorporated by reference herein may be obtained on request without charge from the Corporate Secretary at 9000 Glenlyon Parkway, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5J 5J8 or by calling the Investor Relations Department at (604) 454-0900, and are also available electronically from the website of Canadian Securities Administrators at www.sedarplus.ca (“SEDAR+”) and from the SEC’s EDGAR website at www.sec.gov. The Company’s filings through SEDAR+ and EDGAR are not incorporated by reference in the Prospectus except as specifically set out herein.

The following documents (“documents incorporated by reference” or “documents incorporated herein by reference”) have been filed by us with various securities commissions or similar authorities in the provinces and territories of Canada in which we are a reporting issuer, are specifically incorporated herein by reference and form an integral part of this Prospectus:

 

(a)

the annual information form of the Company dated March 12, 2025, for the year ended December 31, 2024;

 

(b)

the audited consolidated statements of financial position of the Company as at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 and the related consolidated statements of loss and comprehensive income (loss), changes in equity and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, together with the notes thereto, and the reports of the independent registered public accounting firm thereon;

 

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(c)

the management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations of the Company dated March 12, 2025, for the year ended December 31, 2024;

 

(d)

the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company, and the notes thereto for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024;

 

(e)

the management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations of the Company dated May 5, 2025, for the three months ended March 31, 2025; and

 

(f)

the management proxy circular of the Company dated April 7, 2025, in connection with the annual meeting of shareholders held on June 4, 2025.

Any statement contained in this Prospectus or in any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded, for purposes of this Prospectus, to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is, or is deemed to be, incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such prior statement. The modifying or superseding statement need not state that it has modified or superseded a prior statement or include any other information set forth in the document that it modifies or supersedes. The making of a modifying or superseding statement shall not be deemed an admission for any purposes that the modified or superseded statement when made, constituted a misrepresentation, an untrue statement of a material fact or an omission to state a material fact that is required to be stated or that is necessary to prevent a statement that is made from being false or misleading in the circumstances in which it was made. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute part of this Prospectus.

Any document of the type referred to above or similar material and any documents required by National Instrument 44-101Short Form Prospectus Distributions (“NI 44-101”) to be incorporated by reference into a short form prospectus, including any annual information forms, all material change reports (excluding confidential reports, if any), all annual and interim financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis relating thereto, or information circular or amendments thereto filed by the Company with any securities commissions or similar regulatory authority in Canada after the date of this Prospectus and during the period that this Prospectus is effective, will be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, will automatically update and supersede information contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, and the previous documents of the type referred to above will no longer be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus. The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by reference contain meaningful and material information relating to the Company and readers should review all information contained in this Prospectus, and the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein.

Documents and information in an annual report on Form 40-F filed by the Company with the SEC under the U.S. Exchange Act from the date of this Prospectus and until all of the Securities are sold shall be deemed incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and the registration statement of which this Prospectus forms a part. To the extent that any document or information incorporated by reference into this Prospectus is included in any report on Form 20-F, 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K or 6-K (or any respective successor form) that is filed with or furnished to the SEC after the date of this Prospectus, such document or information shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this Prospectus forms a part (in the case of a report on Form 6-K, if and to the extent expressly provided in such report). In addition, we may incorporate by reference into this Prospectus, or the registration statement of which it forms a part, other information from documents that we file with or furnish to the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, if and to the extent expressly provided therein.

References to our website in any documents that are incorporated by reference into this Prospectus do not incorporate by reference the information on such website into this Prospectus, and we disclaim any such incorporation by reference.

 

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain certain “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” as defined under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) which are based upon the Company’s current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs and may not be based on historical fact. Such statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “expect”, “likely”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “intend”, or “anticipate”, “potential”, “proposed”, “estimate”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “forecasts”, and other similar words, including negative and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions “may” or “will” happen, or by discussions of strategy. Forward-looking statements include estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, targets, guidance or other statements that are not statements of fact. Such forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this Prospectus, or in the case of any document incorporated by reference herein, as of the date of each such document, and the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required under applicable securities legislation. By their very nature forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. The Company provides no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this Prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to:

 

   

our objectives, goals, liquidity, sources and uses of capital, outlook, strategy, order backlog, order book of expected deliveries, future product costs and selling prices, future product sales, future production volumes, the markets for our products, expenses / costs, contributions and cash requirements to and from joint venture operations and research and development activities;

 

   

our plan to build value for our shareholders by developing, manufacturing, selling and servicing industry-leading fuel cell products to meet the needs of our customers in select target markets;

 

   

our ability to develop commercially viable fuel cell products on the timetable we anticipate, or at all;

 

   

our ability to achieve, sustain and increase profitability;

 

   

demand and market acceptance for our products;

 

   

our limited experience manufacturing fuel cell products and powertrain integration solutions on a commercial basis;

 

   

warranty claims may negatively impact our gross margins and financial performance;

 

   

our ability to successfully execute our business plan;

 

   

our dependence on a single customer in certain of our markets including our engineering services market and materials handling market;

 

   

the impact of global economic conditions on our business and our key suppliers and customers;

 

   

our ability to predict future revenues or results of operations;

 

   

the expansion of our business through acquisitions;

 

   

our focus on bolstering our cash reserves and our continued efforts on both product cost reduction and managing our operating expense base;

 

   

the risks inherent in international operations;

 

   

risks related to trade tariffs;

 

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the impact of exchange rate fluctuations on our business, operating results, financial condition and profitability;

 

   

commodity price fluctuations, and in particular, the price of platinum, are beyond our control and may have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, financial condition and profitability;

 

   

our dependence on system integrators and original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”);

 

   

ongoing relationships between us and third-party suppliers and our dependence on them for the supply of key materials and components for our products and services;

 

   

our dependence on a limited number of customers for the majority of our revenues;

 

   

our ability to compete with our competitors and their technologies;

 

   

our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel;

 

   

the effect of public policy and regulatory changes on the market for our products;

 

   

the effect of geopolitical events beyond our control that may have an adverse impact on our business, our joint venture, our key suppliers, and/or customers;

 

   

our ability to protect, expand and exploit our intellectual property;

 

   

our compliance with increasingly stringent environmental laws and regulations including liability for environmental damages resulting from our research and development or manufacturing operations;

 

   

the potential exposure of our products to product liability claims including the use of flammable fuels in our products, some of which generate high voltages;

 

   

emerging diseases may adversely affect our operations (including our joint venture in China), our suppliers, our customers and/or partners; and

 

   

the completion of and our use of the proceeds of any offering.

The forward-looking statements are based on a number of key expectations and assumptions made by our management, including, but not limited to:

 

   

our ability to generate new sales;

 

   

our ability to produce, deliver and sell the expected product volumes at the expected prices;

 

   

our ability to control costs;

 

   

market demand for our products;

 

   

the successful execution of our business plan;

 

   

achievement of current timetables for product development programs and sales;

 

   

the availability and cost of raw materials, labour and supplies;

 

   

the availability of additional capital; and

 

   

general economic and financial market conditions.

Forward-looking statements contained in or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus are based on the assumptions described in this Prospectus. Although management believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors, both known and unknown, that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. These risk factors include, but are not limited to:

 

   

the condition of the global economy, including trade, public health and other geopolitical risks;

 

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the rate of mass commercial adoption of our products, or related ecosystem, including the availability of cost-effective hydrogen;

 

   

changes in product or service pricing or cost;

 

   

changes in our customers’ requirements, the competitive environment and/or related market conditions;

 

   

the relative strength of the value proposition that we offer our customers with our products or services;

 

   

changes in competitive technologies, including battery and fuel cell technologies;

 

   

product safety, liability or warranty issues;

 

   

product development delays;

 

   

product safety, liability or warranty issues;

 

   

challenges or delays in our technology and product development activities;

 

   

changes in the availability or price of raw materials, labour and supplies;

 

   

our ability to attract and retain business partners, suppliers, employees and customers;

 

   

changing government or environmental regulations, including subsidies, credits or incentives associated with the adoption of clean energy products, including hydrogen and fuel cells;

 

   

potential fluctuations in our financial and business results make forecasting difficult and may restrict our access to funding for our commercialization plan;

 

   

we are subject to risks inherent in international operations, including tariffs;

 

   

our access to funding and our ability to provide the capital required for product development, operations and marketing efforts, working capital requirements, and joint venture capital contributions;

 

   

our ability to protect our intellectual property;

 

   

our ability to extract value from joint venture operations;

 

   

currency fluctuations, including the magnitude of the rate of change of the Canadian dollar versus the United States dollar;

 

   

potential merger and acquisition activities, including risks related to integration, loss of key personnel, disruptions to operations, costs of integration, and the integration failing to achieve the expected benefits of the transaction; and

 

   

those risks discussed in this Prospectus under the heading “Risk Factors”.

Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of risk factors is not exhaustive, and it is recommended that prospective investors consult the more complete discussion of risks and uncertainties facing the Company that could cause actual events or results to materially differ from our current expectations included in this Prospectus under the heading “Risk Factors”, as well as those set out in our most recently filed annual information form under the heading “Risk Factors” and in our most recently filed management discussion and analysis, each of which documents are incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. Readers are urged to consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, or described in forward looking statements. Material factors or assumptions involved in developing forward-looking statements include, without limitation, publicly available information from governmental sources as well as from market research and industry analysis and on assumptions based on data and knowledge of the industry in which the Company operates which the Company believes to be reasonable. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on any

 

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such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Although Ballard has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described or intended.

A number of factors could cause actual events, performance or results to differ materially from what is projected in forward-looking statements. The purpose of forward-looking statements is to provide the reader with a description of management’s expectations, and such forward-looking statements may not be appropriate for any other purpose. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this Prospectus or in any document incorporated by reference herein. Although the Company believes that the expectations conveyed by the forward-looking statements are reasonable based on the information available to the Company on the date hereof, it can give no assurance as to future results, approvals or achievements, or that such expectations will prove to have been correct. The Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this Prospectus except as required by applicable law.

We qualify all the forward-looking statements contained in this Prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein by the foregoing cautionary statements.

NOTE TO UNITED STATES READERS REGARDING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN UNITED STATES AND CANADIAN FINANCIAL REPORTING PRACTICES

We prepare our financial statements in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB, which differs from U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). Accordingly, our financial statements and other financial information included or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus may not be comparable to financial statements of United States companies prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

 

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NON-IFRS MEASURES

The information presented in this Prospectus, including certain documents incorporated by reference herein, may include non-IFRS measures that are used by us as indicators of financial performance. These financial measures do not have standardized meanings prescribed under IFRS and our computation may differ from similarly-named computations as reported by other entities and, accordingly, may not be comparable. These financial measures should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, measures of financial performance as determined in accordance with IFRS as an indicator of performance. We believe these measures may be useful supplemental information to assist investors in assessing our operational performance and our ability to generate cash through operations. The non-IFRS measures also provide investors with insight into our decision making as we use these non-IFRS measures to make financial, strategic and operating decisions.

Because non-IFRS measures do not have a standardized meaning and may differ from similarly named computations as reported by other entities, securities regulations require that non-IFRS measures be clearly defined and qualified, reconciled with their nearest IFRS measure and given no more prominence than the closest IFRS measure. If non-IFRS measures are included in documents incorporated by reference herein, information regarding these non-IFRS measures are presented in the sections dealing with these financial measures in such documents.

Non-IFRS measures are not audited. These non-IFRS measures have important limitations as analytical tools and investors are cautioned not to consider them in isolation or place undue reliance on ratios or percentages calculated using these non-IFRS measures.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND CURRENCY

The Company’s financial statements and the related management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations of the Company that are incorporated by reference in this Prospectus are reported in United States dollars. The Company’s consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, as incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, have been prepared in accordance with IFRS.

References in this Prospectus to “$” and “US$” are to United States dollars. Canadian dollars are indicated by the symbol “CDN$”.

The following table sets forth (i) the rate of exchange for the Canadian dollar, expressed in U.S. dollars, in effect at the end of the periods indicated; (ii) the average exchange rates for the Canadian dollar, on the last day of each month during such periods; and (iii) the high and low exchange rates for the Canadian dollar, expressed in U.S. dollars, during such periods, each based on the daily rates of exchange, as applicable, as reported by the Bank of Canada for conversion of Canadian dollars into U.S. dollars:

 

            Fiscal Year Ended December 31  
     January 1 to June 10, 2025         2024            2023     

Rate at the end of period

   $ 0.7307      $ 0.6950      $ 0.7561  

Average rate during period

   $ 0.7070      $ 0.7302      $ 0.7411  

Highest rate during period

   $ 0.7321      $ 0.7510      $ 0.7617  

Lowest rate during period

   $ 0.6848      $ 0.6937      $ 0.7207  

On June 10, 2025, the closing exchange rate for Canadian dollars in terms of the United States dollar, as quoted by the Bank of Canada, was CDN$1.00= US$0.7307.

 

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THE COMPANY

This summary does not contain all the information about the Company that may be important to you. Prospective purchasers of Securities should read the more detailed information, public filings and financial statements and related notes that are incorporated by reference into this Prospectus.

At Ballard, our vision is to deliver fuel cell power for a sustainable planet. We are recognized as a world leader in proton exchange membrane (“PEM”) fuel cell and power system development and commercialization.

Our principal business is the design, development, manufacture, sale and service of PEM fuel cell products for a variety of applications, focusing on our market verticals of bus, truck, rail, marine, stationary power, and emerging markets, as well as offering engineering services, product and systems integration services, and related technology transfer for a variety of PEM fuel cell applications.

A fuel cell is an environmentally clean electrochemical device that combines hydrogen fuel with oxygen (from the air) to produce electricity. The hydrogen fuel can be obtained from natural gas, kerosene, methanol or other hydrocarbon fuels, or from water through electrolysis. Ballard’s PEM fuel cell products feature high fuel efficiency, low operating temperature, low noise and vibration, compact size, quick response to changes in electrical demand and modular design. Embedded in each Ballard PEM fuel cell product lies a stack of unit cells designed with Ballard’s proprietary technology, which include membrane electrode assemblies, catalysts, plates, and other key components, and which draw on intellectual property from our patent portfolio together with our extensive experience and know-how, in key areas of PEM fuel cell stack design, operation, production processes and system integration.

We strive to build value for our shareholders by developing, manufacturing, selling and servicing zero-emission, industry-leading PEM fuel cell technology products and services to meet the needs of our customers in select target markets. More specifically, our business plan is to leverage our core competencies of PEM fuel cell stack technology and engine development and manufacturing, our investments in advanced manufacturing and production capacity, and our product portfolio by marketing our products and services across select large and attractive addressable market applications and select geographic regions.

We typically select our target market applications based on use cases where the comparative user value propositions for PEM fuel cells powered by hydrogen are strongest – such as where operators value low emission vehicles that require high utilization, long driving range, heavy payload, fast refueling, and similar user experiences to legacy diesel vehicles – and where the barriers to entry for hydrogen refueling infrastructure are lowest – such as use cases where vehicles typically return to a depot for centralized refueling and do not require a distributed refueling network.

We select our target geographic markets based on a variety of factors, including addressable market sizes of the target market applications in the geographic markets, historic deployments and expected market adoption rates for hydrogen and fuel cells, supportive government policies, existing and potential partner, customer, and end user relationships, and competitive dynamics.

We believe offering the same core PEM fuel cell technologies and substantially similar derivative PEM fuel cell products across multiple mobility and power market applications and across select geographic regions will significantly expand and strengthen our long-term business prospects. We believe this business model approach will increase volume scaling in our operations, enable lower product and production costs for the benefit of all markets, improve our competitive positioning and market share, and enhance our returns on investments in our technology, product development and manufacturing.

 

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RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Over the past few years, there has been a material change in the outlook and sentiment for the hydrogen and fuel cell industry resulting from a variety of factors, including: an uncertain macroeconomic outlook; a dynamic geopolitical environment; prolonged policy uncertainty in the U.S., Europe and China; uncertain election cycles in key countries; rising interest rates, inflation and material costs; and various funding challenges. These changes have adversely impacted and delayed hydrogen projects across key global markets. We believe there is a multi-year push-out of the hydrogen and fuel industry, impacting hydrogen project development, the availability of low-cost hydrogen, the availability of hydrogen refueling infrastructure, and the commercial adoption of PEM fuel cell applications.

In addition, over the past few years, there has been a negative change in investor sentiment towards pre-profitability clean energy companies with long-duration investment horizons. In the hydrogen and fuel cell industry, many companies have been struggling with compressed valuations, liquidity issues, and restricted access to capital.

In 2024, we observed further indicators of slowing hydrogen and fuel cell policy implementation and market adoption. We also noted a material weakening of the financial position of certain customers, increasing the risk regarding the ability of certain customers to continue with their product development programs and commercialization plans, in turn placing more risk on our sales order book and sales pipeline, as well as on certain of our development programs, trade receivables and inventory investments. We also observed a continued deterioration in the financing environment for certain customers and partners.

As this context represents a significant headwind to our corporate growth plan, we initiated a global corporate restructuring in September 2024 to further moderate our investment intensity and pacing to better align with delayed market adoption. Our restructuring included a sizeable workforce reduction, rationalization and consolidation of certain global operations and facilities, and a reduction in certain planned capital expenditures.

As we look to our long-term strategic plan, we continue to believe hydrogen and PEM fuel cells will play an important long-term role in decarbonizing select heavy mobility and stationary power applications. We believe there are certain use cases where customers will be attracted to the differentiated PEM fuel cell value proposition of long range, fast refueling, heavy payload, and zero tailpipe emissions.

However, given ongoing market uncertainties, we expect further industry rationalization, failures, restructurings and consolidation. We will continue to closely monitor various factors and circumstances that may impact the commercial adoption of our markets and products, including factors related to macroeconomic conditions and outlook, geopolitical context, climate change policies, hydrogen and fuel cell industry growth, capital markets, supply chain development, and customer conditions. We will continue to review our investment plans and cost structure based on these factors. We will also remain focused on our customers and our controllables, including our development of next-generation, low-cost fuel cell products, while maintaining disciplined spending and balance sheet strength for long-term competitiveness and sustainability.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Before making an investment decision, investors should carefully consider the information described in this Prospectus, any applicable Prospectus Supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein. There are certain risks inherent in an investment in the Securities, including the factors listed below, and any other risk factors described in a document incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and any applicable Prospectus Supplement, which investors should carefully consider before investing. Some of the following factors and the risk factors described in the documents incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and any applicable Prospectus Supplement are interrelated and, consequently, investors should treat such risk factors as a whole. The risks described in this Prospectus, any applicable Prospectus Supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein describe certain currently known material factors, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. If any of the following or other risks occur, it could have a material adverse effect on the business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations of the Company and on the trading price of the Common Shares, which could materially decline, and investors may lose all or part of their investment. It is also believed that these factors could cause actual results to be different from expected results. Additional risks and uncertainties of which the Company is currently unaware or that are unknown or that it currently deems to be immaterial could also have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. The Company cannot assure prospective purchasers that it will successfully address any or all of these risks. There is no assurance that any risk management steps taken will avoid future loss due to the occurrence of any of the risks described in this Prospectus, any applicable Prospectus Supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein, or other unforeseen risks. The market in which the Company currently competes is very competitive and changes rapidly. Sometimes new risks emerge and management may not be able to predict them, or be able to predict how they may cause actual results to be different from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Prospective purchasers should not rely upon forward-looking statements as a prediction of future results. In addition to the risks described elsewhere in this Prospectus and any applicable Prospectus Supplement, including in the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein, the following risks for the Company should be considered.

Prospective investors in a particular offering of the Securities should carefully consider the risks and other information contained in the Prospectus Supplement relating to that offering and the information incorporated by reference herein and therein for the purposes of that offering. In particular, see the section under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recently filed annual information form. Such risk disclosure forms an integral part of this Prospectus.

Investing in the Securities is speculative, and investors could lose their entire investment.

An investment in the Securities is speculative and may result in the loss of an investor’s entire investment. Only potential investors who are experienced in high risk investments and who can afford to lose their entire investment should consider an investment in the Securities.

We do not currently intend to pay cash dividends.

We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our Common Shares. We currently intend to retain future earnings to finance the operation, development and expansion of our business. We do not anticipate paying cash dividends on the Common Shares in the foreseeable future. Payment of future cash dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of Ballard’s board of directors and will depend on Ballard’s financial condition, results of operations, contractual restrictions, capital requirements, business prospects and other factors that our board of directors considers relevant. Accordingly, investors will only see a return on their investment if the value of our Securities appreciates.

 

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The market price for the Common Shares has been volatile in the past and may be subject to wide fluctuations in the future.

The market price of the Common Shares may be volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control. This volatility may affect the ability of holders of Common Shares to sell their securities at an advantageous price. Market price fluctuations in the Common Shares may be due to our operating results failing to meet expectations of securities analysts or investors in any period, downward revision in securities analysts’ estimates, adverse changes in general market conditions or economic trends, acquisitions, dispositions or other material public announcements by us or our competitors, along with a variety of additional factors. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of the Common Shares.

We cannot assure you that the market price of the Common Shares will not significantly fluctuate from its current level. In addition to general economic, political and market conditions, the price and trading volume of the Common Shares could fluctuate widely in response to many factors, including:

 

   

governmental approvals, delays in expected governmental approvals or withdrawals of any prior governmental approvals or public or regulatory agency concerns regarding the safety or effectiveness of our products;

 

   

changes in Canadian, U.S. or other foreign regulatory policy during the period of product development;

 

   

changes in Canadian, U.S. or foreign political environment and the passage of laws, including tax, environmental or other laws, affecting the product development business;

 

   

developments in patent or other proprietary rights, including any third-party challenges of our intellectual property rights;

 

   

announcements of technological innovations by us or our competitors;

 

   

actual or anticipated variations in our operating results due to the level of development expenses and other factors;

 

   

changes in financial estimates by securities analysts and whether our earnings meet or exceed the estimates; and

 

   

conditions and trends in energy and other industries.

Financial markets historically at times experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that have particularly affected the market prices of equity securities of companies and that have often been unrelated to the operating performance, underlying asset values or prospects of such companies. Accordingly, the market price of the Common Shares may decline even if our operating results, underlying asset values or prospects have not changed. Additionally, these factors, as well as other related factors, may cause decreases in asset values that are deemed to be other than temporary, which may result in impairment losses. There can be no assurance that continuing fluctuations in price and volume will not occur. If such increased levels of volatility and market turmoil continue, our operations could be adversely impacted and the trading price of the Common Shares may be materially adversely affected.

There is no market through which the Preferred Shares, Warrants, Debt Securities or Units may be sold.

There is no market through which the Preferred Shares, Warrants, Debt Securities or Units may be sold. There can be no assurance that an active trading market will develop for the aforementioned securities, or if developed, that such a market will be sustained at the price level at which it was offered. The liquidity of the trading market in those securities, and the market price quoted for those securities, may be adversely affected by, among other things:

 

   

changes in the overall market for those securities;

 

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changes in Ballard’s financial performance or prospects;

 

   

changes or perceived changes in Ballard’s creditworthiness;

 

   

the prospects for companies in the industry generally;

 

   

the number of holders of those securities;

 

   

the interest of securities dealers in making a market for those securities; and

 

   

prevailing interest rates.

We may not list the Preferred Shares, Warrants, Debt Securities or Units on any Canadian or U.S. securities exchange. There can be no assurance that fluctuations in the trading price will not materially adversely impact on our ability to raise equity funding without significant dilution to its existing shareholders, or at all.

The board of directors may issue, without shareholder approval, Preferred Shares that have rights and preferences potentially superior to those of the Common Shares. Such an issuance may delay or prevent a change of control.

While there are no Preferred Shares currently outstanding, Ballard’s articles allow the issuance of Preferred Shares in one or more series. Subject to TSX, NASDAQ and any applicable regulatory approvals, the board of directors may set the rights and preferences of any series of Preferred Shares in its sole discretion without shareholder approval. The rights and preferences of those Preferred Shares may be superior to those of the Common Shares. Accordingly, the issuance of Preferred Shares may adversely affect the rights of holders of Common Shares and could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control, which may deprive Ballard’s shareholders of a control premium that might otherwise have been realized in connection with an acquisition of Ballard.

Potential fluctuations in financial results make financial forecasting difficult.

Our revenues, cash flows and other operating results can vary from quarter to quarter. Sales and margins may be lower than anticipated due to general economic conditions, market-related factors, unanticipated changes in contractual arrangements and competitive factors. Cash receipts may also vary from quarter to quarter due to the timing of cash collections from customers. As a result, quarter-to-quarter comparisons of revenues, cash flows and other operating results may not be meaningful. In addition, due to the early stage of development of the market for hydrogen fuel cell products and our licensing and sales contracts with third parties, we cannot accurately predict its future revenues, cash flows or results of operations. It is likely that in one or more future quarters, financial results may fall below the expectations of securities analysts and investors. If this occurs, the trading price of the Securities may be materially and adversely affected.

United States investors may not be able to obtain enforcement of civil liabilities against us.

The enforcement by investors of civil liabilities under the United States federal or state securities laws may be affected adversely by the fact that we are governed by the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia), that the majority of our officers and directors are residents of Canada or otherwise reside outside the United States, and that all, or a substantial portion of their assets and a substantial portion of our assets, are located outside the United States. It may not be possible for investors to effect service of process within the United States on certain of our directors and officers or enforce judgments obtained in the United States courts against us or certain of our directors and officers based upon the civil liability provisions of United States federal securities laws or the securities laws of any state of the United States.

There is some doubt as to whether a judgment of a United States court based solely upon the civil liability provisions of United States federal or state securities laws would be enforceable in Canada against us or our directors and officers. There is also doubt as to whether an original action could be brought in Canada against us or our directors and officers to enforce liabilities based solely upon United States federal or state securities laws.

 

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As a foreign private issuer, we are subject to different U.S. securities laws and rules than a domestic U.S. issuer, which may limit the information publicly available to our U.S. shareholders.

We are a foreign private issuer under applicable U.S. federal securities laws and, therefore, we are not required to comply with all the periodic disclosure and current reporting requirements of the U.S. Exchange Act, as amended, and related rules and regulations. As a result, we do not file the same reports that a U.S. domestic issuer would file with the SEC, although we will be required to file with or furnish to the SEC the continuous disclosure documents that we are required to file in Canada under Canadian securities laws. In addition, our officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and “short swing” profit recovery provisions of Section 16 of the U.S. Exchange Act. Therefore, our shareholders may not know on as timely a basis when our officers, directors and principal shareholders purchase or sell Common Shares as the reporting periods under the corresponding Canadian insider reporting requirements are longer. In addition, as a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from the proxy rules under the U.S. Exchange Act.

We may lose our foreign private issuer status in the future, which could result in significant additional costs and expenses to us.

In order to maintain our current status as a foreign private issuer, a majority of our Common Shares must be either directly or indirectly owned by non-residents of the United States unless we also satisfy one of the additional requirements necessary to preserve this status. We may in the future lose our foreign private issuer status if a majority of the Common Shares are held in the United States and we fail to meet the additional requirements necessary to avoid loss of foreign private issuer status. The regulatory and compliance costs to us under U.S. federal securities laws as a U.S. domestic issuer may be significantly more than the costs we incur as a Canadian foreign private issuer eligible to use MJDS. If we are not a foreign private issuer, we would not be eligible to use the MJDS or other foreign issuer forms and would be required to file periodic and current reports and registration statements on U.S. domestic issuer forms with the SEC, which are more detailed and extensive than the forms available to a foreign private issuer. In addition, we may lose the ability to rely upon exemptions from NASDAQ corporate governance requirements that are available to foreign private issuers.

We will have broad discretion over the use of proceeds from sales of the Securities, and we may not use the proceeds in the desired manner.

Management will have discretion concerning the use of the proceeds from sales of the Securities as well as the timing of their expenditure. As a result, an investor will be relying on the judgment of management for the application of the proceeds from sales of the Securities. Management may use the net proceeds from sales of the Securities other than as described under the heading “Use of Proceeds” if they believe it would be in our best interest to do so and in ways that an investor may not consider desirable. The results and the effectiveness of the application of the proceeds are uncertain. If the proceeds are not applied effectively, our results of operations may suffer.

Prevailing interest rates will affect the market price or value of Debt Securities.

The market price or value of Debt Securities will decline as prevailing interest rates for comparable debt instruments rise, and increase as prevailing interest rates for comparable debt instruments decline.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Information regarding the use of the net proceeds from each offering of the Securities will be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating to the offering of the Securities. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of Securities for working capital requirements or for other general corporate purposes, including, but not limited to, investments in product development and market development activities necessary to commercialize our products and services. More detailed information regarding the use of proceeds from the sale of Securities will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. We may, from time to time, issue Common Shares or other securities otherwise than through the offering of Securities pursuant to this Prospectus.

We incurred operating losses and negative operating cash flow for the year ended December 31, 2024. We expect to use the net proceeds from the sale of Securities in pursuit of our ongoing general business objectives. To that end, a substantial portion of the net proceeds from the sale of Securities are expected to be allocated to working capital requirements and to the continuing development and marketing of our proprietary technologies and core products. To the extent that we have negative operating cash flows in future periods, we may need to deploy a portion of the net proceeds from the sale of Securities and/or existing working capital to fund such negative cash flow.

CONSOLIDATED CAPITALIZATION

The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe any material change, and the effect of such material change, on the share and loan capitalization of the Company that will result from the issuance of Securities pursuant to such Prospectus Supplement. As at the date of this Prospectus, there have been no material changes to the Company’s share and loan capitalization since December 31, 2024.

EARNINGS COVERAGE RATIO

Earnings coverage ratios will be provided as required in the applicable Prospectus Supplement with respect to the issuance of Preferred Shares or Debt Securities having a term to maturity in excess of one year pursuant to this Prospectus.

DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL

Common Shares

We are authorized to issue an unlimited number of Common Shares, without par value, of which 299,868,074 are issued and outstanding as at the date of this Prospectus. There are options outstanding to purchase up to 3,280,959 Common Shares at prices ranging from CDN$3.06 to CDN$32.66. There are up to 5,204,279 Common Shares issuable on the redemption of outstanding restricted share units, up to 4,661,264 Common Shares issuable on the redemption of outstanding performance share units and up to 1,068,283 Common Shares issuable on the redemption of outstanding deferred share units.

Holders of Common Shares are entitled to one vote per Common Share on all matters to be voted on by such shareholders and, subject to the rights and priorities of the holders of Preferred Shares, are entitled to receive such dividends as may be declared by the board of directors out of funds legally available therefor and, in the event of liquidation, wind-up or dissolution, to receive our remaining property, after the satisfaction of all outstanding liabilities.

 

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Dividend Record and Policy

To date, we have not paid any dividends on our shares and, because it is anticipated that all available cash will be needed to implement our business plans, we have no plans to pay dividends in the foreseeable future.

Preferred Shares

We are authorized to issue an unlimited number of Preferred Shares. As at the date of this Prospectus there are no Preferred Shares issued and outstanding.

The Preferred Shares are issuable in series and the board of directors is entitled to determine the designation, preferences, rights, conditions, restrictions, limitations and prohibitions to be attached to each series of such shares.

Escrowed Securities and Securities Subject to Contractual Restrictions on Transfer

There are no outstanding securities of Ballard in escrow or subject to contractual restrictions on transfer.

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable Prospectus Supplements, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the Warrants that we may offer under this Prospectus, which will consist of Warrants to purchase Common Shares and may be issued in one or more series. Warrants may be offered independently or together with other Securities, and may be attached to or separate from those Securities. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any Warrants that we may offer under this Prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of Warrants that we may offer in more detail in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. The terms of any Warrants offered under a Prospectus Supplement may differ from the terms described below.

General

Warrants may be issued under and governed by the terms of one or more warrant indentures (a “Warrant Indenture”) between us and a warrant trustee (the “Warrant Trustee”) that we will name in the relevant Prospectus Supplement, if applicable. Each Warrant Trustee will be a financial institution organized under the laws of Canada or any province thereof and authorized to carry on business as a trustee.

This summary of some of the provisions of the Warrants is not complete. The statements made in this Prospectus relating to any Warrant Indenture, if any, and Warrants to be issued under this Prospectus are summaries of certain anticipated provisions thereof and do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all provisions of the Warrant Indenture, if any, and the Warrant certificates. Prospective investors should refer to the Warrant Indenture, if any, and the Warrant certificate relating to the specific Warrants being offered for the complete terms of the Warrants. If applicable, we will file a Warrant Indenture describing the terms and conditions of Warrants we are offering concurrently with the filing of the applicable Prospectus Supplement under which such Warrants are offered.

The applicable Prospectus Supplement relating to any Warrants offered by us will describe the particular terms of those Warrants and include specific terms relating to the offering. This description will include, where applicable:

 

   

the designation and aggregate number of Warrants;

 

   

the price at which the Warrants will be offered;

 

   

the currency or currencies in which the Warrants will be offered;

 

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

 

   

the number of Common Shares that may be purchased upon exercise of each Warrant and the price at which and currency or currencies in which the Common Shares may be purchased upon exercise of each Warrant;

 

   

the designation and terms of any Securities with which the Warrants will be offered, if any, and the number of the Warrants that will be offered with each Security;

 

   

the date or dates, if any, on or after which the Warrants and the other Securities with which the Warrants will be offered will be transferable separately;

 

   

whether the Warrants will be subject to redemption and, if so, the terms of such redemption provisions;

 

   

whether the Company will issue the Warrants as global securities and, if so, the identity of the depositary of the global securities;

 

   

whether the Warrants will be listed on any exchange;

 

   

material United States and Canadian federal income tax consequences of owning the Warrants; and

 

   

any other material terms or conditions of the Warrants.

Rights of Holders Prior to Exercise

Prior to the exercise of their Warrants, holders of Warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants.

Exercise of Warrants

Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase Common Shares, as specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement at the exercise price that we describe therein. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, holders of the Warrants may exercise the Warrants at any time up to the specified time on the expiration date that we set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised Warrants will become void.

Holders of the Warrants may exercise the Warrants by delivering the Warrant certificate representing the Warrants to be exercised together with specified information, and paying the required amount to the Warrant Trustee, if any, or to us, as applicable, in immediately available funds, as provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. We will set forth on the Warrant certificate and in the applicable Prospectus Supplement the information that the holder of the Warrant will be required to deliver to the Warrant Trustee, if any, or to us, as applicable.

Upon receipt of the required payment and the Warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the Warrant Trustee, if any, to us at our principal offices, as applicable, or any other office indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, we will issue and deliver the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If fewer than all of the Warrants represented by the Warrant certificate are exercised, then we will issue a new Warrant certificate for the remaining amount of Warrants. If we so indicate in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, holders of the Warrants may surrender securities as all or part of the exercise price for Warrants.

Anti-Dilution

The Warrant Indenture, if any, and the Warrant certificate will specify that upon the subdivision, consolidation, reclassification or other material change of the Common Shares or any other reorganization, amalgamation, merger or sale of all or substantially all of our assets, the Warrants will thereafter evidence the right of the holder

 

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to receive the securities, property or cash deliverable in exchange for or on the conversion of or in respect of the Common Shares to which the holder of a Common Share would have been entitled immediately after such event. Similarly, any distribution to all or substantially all of the holders of Common Shares of rights, options, warrants, evidences of indebtedness or assets will result in an adjustment in the number of Common Shares to be issued to holders of Warrants.

Global Securities

We may issue Warrants in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities, which will be registered in the name of and be deposited with a depositary, or its nominee, each of which will be identified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. The global securities may be in temporary or permanent form. The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the terms of any depositary arrangement and the rights and limitations of owners of beneficial interests in any global security. The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the exchange, registration and transfer rights relating to any global security.

Modifications

The Warrant Indenture, if any, and the Warrant certificate will provide for modifications and alterations to the Warrants issued thereunder by way of a resolution of holders of Warrants at a meeting of such holders or a consent in writing from such holders. The number of holders of Warrants required to pass such a resolution or execute such a written consent will be specified in the Warrant Indenture, if any, and the Warrant certificate.

We may amend any Warrant Indenture and the Warrants, without the consent of the holders of the Warrants, to cure any ambiguity, to cure, correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent provision, or in any other manner that will not materially and adversely affect the interests of holders of outstanding Warrants.

Contractual Right of Rescission for Warrants

In addition to statutory rights of withdrawal and rescission, original purchasers of Warrants (if offered separately by the Company) will have a contractual right of rescission against the Company in respect of the exercise of such Warrants. The contractual right of rescission will entitle such original purchasers to receive, in addition to the amount paid on original purchase of the Warrants, the amount paid upon exercise upon surrender of the underlying Common Shares received on exercise of such Warrants, in the event that this Prospectus (as supplemented) contains a misrepresentation, and provided that:

 

  (a)

the exercise of the Warrants takes place within 180 days of the date of the purchase of the Warrants under this Prospectus; and

 

  (b)

the right to rescission is exercised within 180 days of the date of the purchase of the Warrants under this Prospectus.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable Prospectus Supplements, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the Debt Securities that we may offer under this Prospectus, which may be issued in one or more series. Debt Securities may be offered independently or together with other Securities.

General

The Debt Securities will be issued in one or more series under an indenture (the “Indenture”) to be entered into between the Company and one or more trustees that will be named in a Prospectus Supplement for a series of Debt Securities. To the extent applicable, the Indenture will be subject to and governed by the United States Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. A copy of the form of the Indenture to be entered into has been or will be filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement and will be filed with the securities commissions or similar authorities in Canada when it is entered into. The description of certain provisions of the Indenture in this section do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, the provisions of the Indenture. Terms used in this summary that are not otherwise defined herein have the meaning ascribed to them in the Indenture. The particular terms relating to Debt Securities offered by a Prospectus Supplement will be described in the related Prospectus Supplement. This description may include, but may not be limited to, any of the following, if applicable:

 

   

the designation and aggregate number of Debt Securities;

 

   

any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities;

 

   

the price at which the Debt Securities will be offered;

 

   

the currency or currencies in which the Debt Securities will be offered and in which the principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, will be paid;

 

   

the date or dates on which principal of the Debt Securities will be payable and the amount of principal which will be payable;

 

   

the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at which the Debt Securities will bear interest, if any, or contingent interest, if any, as well as the dates from which interest will accrue, the dates on which interest will be payable, the persons to whom interest will be payable, if other than the registered holders on the record date, and the record date for the interest payable on any payment date;

 

   

the dates on which and the price or prices at which the Debt Securities will, pursuant to any required repayment provisions, or may, pursuant to any repurchase or redemption provisions, be repurchased, redeemed or repaid and the other terms and provisions of any such optional repurchase or redemption or required repayment;

 

   

the covenants applicable to the Debt Securities;

 

   

the right, if any, of holders of the Debt Securities to convert them into Common Shares or other securities, including any contingent conversion provisions and any provisions intended to prevent dilution of those conversion rights;

 

   

the extent and manner, if any, to which payment on or in respect of the Debt Securities will be senior to, or will be subordinated to the prior payment of, other liabilities and obligations of the Company;

 

   

any special or modified events of default or covenants with respect to the Debt Securities, including any negative covenants which impose restrictions on the issuance of additional securities, indebtedness, dividends or the giving of security on the assets of the Company or its subsidiaries;

 

   

any index or formula used to determine the required payments of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any;

 

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the percentage of the principal amount of the Debt Securities which is payable if maturity of the Debt Securities is accelerated because of a default;

 

   

the effect of any merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of our business on the Debt Securities and Indenture, if any and as applicable;

 

   

whether the Debt Securities will be issuable in registered form or bearer form or both, and, if issuable in bearer form, the restrictions as to the offer, sale and delivery of the Debt Securities which are in bearer form and as to exchanges between registered form and bearer form;

 

   

whether the Company will issue the Debt Securities as global securities and, if so, the identity of the depositary of the global securities;

 

   

whether the Debt Securities will be secured or unsecured;

 

   

details on any financial arrangements between the Company and any of its affiliates that could affect the security, if any, of the Debt Securities;

 

   

whether the Debt Securities will be listed on any exchange;

 

   

if other than United States dollars, the currency in which the Debt Securities are denominated or the currency in which we will make payments on the Debt Securities;

 

   

material United States and Canadian federal income tax consequences of owning the Debt Securities; and

 

   

any other material terms or conditions of the Debt Securities.

We may issue Debt Securities with terms different from those of Debt Securities previously issued and, without the consent of the holders thereof, we may reopen a previous issue of a series of Debt Securities and issue additional Debt Securities of such series (unless the reopening was restricted when such series was created).

Rights of Holders Prior to Exercise

To the extent any Debt Securities are convertible into Common Shares or other securities of the Company, prior to the conversion of such Debt Securities, holders of such Debt Securities will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities into which the Debt Securities are convertible, including the right to receive payments of dividends or the right to vote such underlying securities.

Global Securities

We may issue Debt Securities in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities, which will be registered in the name of and be deposited with a depositary, or its nominee, each of which will be identified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. The global securities may be in temporary or permanent form. The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the terms of any depositary arrangement and the rights and limitations of owners of beneficial interests in any global security. The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the exchange, registration and transfer rights relating to any global security.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable Prospectus Supplements, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the Units that we may offer under this Prospectus. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any Units that we may offer under this Prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of Units in more detail in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. The terms of any Units offered under a Prospectus Supplement may differ from the terms described below.

We will file the form of unit agreement (“Unit Agreement”), if any, between us and a unit agent that describes the terms and conditions of the series of Units we are offering, and any supplemental agreements, concurrently with the filing of the applicable Prospectus Supplement under which such series of Units are offered. The following summaries of material terms and provisions of the Units are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the Unit Agreement, if any, and any supplemental agreements applicable to a particular series of Units. We urge you to read the applicable Prospectus Supplements related to the particular series of Units that we sell under this Prospectus, as well as the complete Unit Agreement, if any, and any supplemental agreements that contain the terms of the Units.

General

We may issue Units comprising one or more of the Securities otherwise described herein in any combination. Each Unit will be issued so that the holder of the Unit is also the holder of each security included in the Unit. Thus, the holder of a Unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The Unit Agreement under which a Unit may be issued may provide that the securities included in the Unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.

We will describe in the applicable Prospectus Supplement the terms of the series of Units, including:

 

   

the designation and terms of the Units and of the securities comprising the Units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;

 

   

provisions of the governing Unit Agreement, if any; and

 

   

any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the Units or of the securities comprising the Units.

The provisions described in this section, as well as those described under “Description of Share Capital”, “Description of Warrants” and “Description of Debt Securities” will apply to each Unit and to any Security included in each Unit, respectively, as applicable.

Issuance in Series

We may issue Units in such amounts and in numerous distinct series as we determine.

The Company has filed an undertaking that it will not distribute specified derivatives that, at the time of distribution, are novel without pre-clearing with applicable securities commissions in Canada the disclosure to be contained in the Prospectus Supplement pertaining to the distribution of such novel specified derivatives. For certainty, this Prospectus does not qualify the distribution of any asset-backed securities.

 

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PRICE RANGE AND TRADING VOLUMES

The outstanding Common Shares are listed and posted for trading on the TSX and NASDAQ under the symbol “BLDP”. The closing price of the Common Shares on the TSX and NASDAQ on June 10, 2025 was CDN$2.28 and US$1.67, respectively. Trading prices and volumes of the Common Shares on the TSX and NASDAQ for the previous 12-month period will be provided, as required, in each Prospectus Supplement.

PRIOR SALES

Information in respect of prior sales of Common Shares and other Securities distributed under this Prospectus and for securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares or such other Securities within the previous 12-month period will be provided, as required, in a Prospectus Supplement with respect to the issuance of Common Shares and/or other Securities pursuant to such Prospectus Supplement.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may offer and sell the Securities, separately or together: (a) to one or more underwriters; (b) through one or more agents; or (c) directly to one or more other purchasers. The Securities offered pursuant to any Prospectus Supplement may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions at: (i) a fixed price or prices, which may be changed from time to time; (ii) market prices prevailing at the time of sale; (iii) prices related to such prevailing market prices; or (iv) other negotiated prices, including sales in transactions that are deemed to be “at-the-market distributions”, including sales made directly on the TSX, NASDAQ or other existing trading markets for the Securities. We may only offer and sell the Securities pursuant to a Prospectus Supplement during the period that this Prospectus, including any amendments hereto, remains effective. The prices at which the Securities may be offered may vary between purchasers and during the period of distribution. The Prospectus Supplement for any of the Securities being offered thereby will set forth the plan of distribution and terms of the offering of such Securities, including the type of Security being offered, the name or names of any underwriters or agents, the purchase price of such Securities, the proceeds to us from such sale, any underwriting commissions or discounts and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation. Only underwriters so named in the Prospectus Supplement are deemed to be underwriters in connection with the Securities offered thereby.

By Underwriters

If underwriters are used in the sale, the Securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Unless otherwise set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto, the obligations of underwriters to purchase the Securities will be subject to certain conditions, but the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the Securities offered by the Prospectus Supplement if any of such Securities are purchased. We may offer the Securities to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. The Company may agree to pay the underwriters a fee or commission for various services relating to the offering of any Securities. Any such fee or commission will be paid out of our general corporate funds. We may use underwriters with whom we have a material relationship. We will describe in the Prospectus Supplement, naming the underwriter, the nature of any such relationship.

In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the maximum aggregate value of all compensation to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer will not exceed 8% of the gross proceeds from the sale of Securities pursuant to this Prospectus and any applicable Prospectus Supplement. If 5% or more of the net proceeds of any offering of Securities made under this Prospectus will be received by a FINRA member participating in the offering or affiliates or associated persons of such FINRA member, the offering will be conducted in accordance with FINRA Rule 5121 (or any successor rule).

By Agents

The Securities may also be sold through agents designated by us. Any agent involved will be named, and any fees or commissions payable by us to such agent will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Any such fees or commissions will be paid out of our general corporate funds. Unless otherwise indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

Direct Sales

Securities may also be sold directly by us in accordance with applicable securities laws at such prices and upon such terms as agreed to by us and the purchaser. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved in the offering.

 

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General Information

Underwriters or agents who participate in the distribution of Securities may be entitled under agreements to be entered into with us to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under Canadian provincial and United States securities legislation, or to contribution with respect to payments which such underwriters or agents may be required to make in respect thereof. Such underwriters or agents may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business. A purchaser’s rights and remedies under applicable securities legislation against the dealer underwriting or acting as an agent for the issuer in an at-the-market distribution will not be affected by that dealer’s decision to effect the distribution directly or through a selling agent.

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 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 parties 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 parties in such sale transactions will be identified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.

One or more firms, referred to as “remarketing firms,” may also offer or sell the Securities, if the 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 agents for us. These remarketing firms will offer or sell the Securities in accordance with the terms of the Securities. The Prospectus Supplement will identify any remarketing firm and the terms of its agreement, if any, with us and will describe the remarketing firm’s compensation. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters in connection with the Securities they remarket.

No underwriter or dealer involved in an “at-the-market distribution” as defined under applicable Canadian securities legislation, no affiliate of such underwriter or dealer and no person acting jointly or in concert with such underwriter or dealer may, in connection with the distribution, enter into any transaction that is intended to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities or securities of the same class as the securities distributed under the Prospectus, including selling an aggregate number or principal amount of securities that would result in the underwriter creating an over-allocation position in the securities.

In connection with any offering of Securities, other than an “at-the-market distribution”, underwriters may over-allot or effect transactions which stabilize or maintain the market price of the Securities offered at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. A purchaser who acquires any Securities forming part of the underwriters, dealers or agents’ over-allocation position acquires those securities under the applicable Prospectus Supplement, regardless of whether the over-allocation position is ultimately filled through the exercise of the overallotment option or secondary market purchases. Such transactions, if commenced, may be interrupted or discontinued at any time.

Each issue by the Company of Preferred Shares, Debt Securities, Warrants and Units will be a new issue of securities with no established trading market. Unless otherwise specified in a Prospectus Supplement relating to an offering of Preferred Shares, Debt Securities, Warrants and Units, such Securities will not be listed on any securities or stock exchange. Any underwriters, dealers or agents to or through whom such Securities are sold may make a market in such Securities, but they will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given that a trading market in any such Securities will develop or as to the liquidity of any trading market for such Securities.

 

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CANADIAN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The applicable Prospectus Supplement may describe certain Canadian federal income tax consequences to an investor acquiring any Securities offered thereunder. Investors should read the tax discussion in any Prospectus Supplement with respect to a particular offering and consult their own tax advisors with respect to their own particular circumstances.

CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The applicable Prospectus Supplement may describe certain U.S. federal income tax consequences to an investor acquiring any Securities offered thereunder. Investors should read the tax discussion in any Prospectus Supplement with respect to a particular offering and consult their own tax advisors with respect to their own particular circumstances.

DOCUMENTS FILED AS PART OF THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

The following documents have been or will be filed with the SEC as part of the registration statement of which this Prospectus is a part insofar as required by the SEC’s Form F-10:

 

   

the documents listed under “Documents Incorporated By Reference” in this Prospectus and in any Prospectus Supplement;

 

   

the consent of KPMG LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm;

 

   

powers of attorney of the Company’s directors and certain officers; and

 

   

the form of Indenture.

A copy of the form of any applicable underwriting agreement, warrant agreement, Warrant Indenture, subscription receipt agreement or supplemental Indenture will be filed by post-effective amendment or by incorporation by reference to documents filed with or furnished to the SEC under the U.S. Exchange Act.

 

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INTERESTS OF EXPERTS

As of the date hereof, the partners and associates of Stikeman Elliott LLP, as a group, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, less than 1% of our securities. None of the aforementioned persons have received or will receive a direct or indirect interest in any other property of the Company or any associate or affiliate of the Company.

TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR

The transfer agent and registrar for the Common Shares is Computershare Investor Services Inc., with an address at 510 Burrard Street, 3rd Floor, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3B9.

LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters relating to the offering of the Securities will be passed upon on behalf of the Company by Stikeman Elliott LLP, Vancouver, British Columbia, with respect to Canadian legal matters, and by Dorsey & Whitney LLP, Seattle, Washington, with respect to U.S. legal matters. Counsel named in the applicable Prospectus Supplement will pass upon legal matters for any underwriters or agents.

AUDITORS

Our financial statements as at December 31, 2024 and 2023 and for the years then ended incorporated by reference into this Prospectus have been audited by KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as indicated in their reports dated March 12, 2025, which are also incorporated by reference herein, and are incorporated herein in reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The Company’s auditors, KPMG LLP, have confirmed that they are independent with respect to the Company within the meaning of the relevant rules and related interpretations prescribed by the relevant professional bodies in Canada and any applicable legislation or regulations and that they are independent accountants with respect to the Company under all relevant U.S. professional and regulatory standards.

 

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AGENT FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS

Mr. Marty Neese, Mr. Hubertus Muehlhaeuser, Ms. Kathleen A. Bayless, Mr. Wenmiao (Michael) Chen, Ms. Jacqueline Dedo, and Mr. Yingbo Wang, directors of the Company, and Ms. Kate Igbalode, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, each reside outside of Canada and have each appointed the following agent for service of process in Canada:

 

   

Name of Persons

  

Name and Address of Agent

    
 

Mr. Marty Neese

 

Mr. Hubertus Muehlhaeuser

 

Ms. Kathleen A. Bayless

 

Mr. Wenmiao (Michael) Chen

 

Ms. Jacqueline Dedo

 

Mr. Yingbo Wang

 

Ms. Kate Igbalode

   152928 Canada Inc.
c/o Stikeman Elliott LLP
Suite 1700, 666 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 2X8
  

Purchasers are advised that it may not be possible for investors to enforce judgements obtained in Canada against any person or company that is incorporated, continued or otherwise organized under the laws of a foreign jurisdiction or resides outside of Canada, even if the party has appointed an agent for service of process.

WELL-KNOWN SEASONED ISSUER

On December 6, 2021, the securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces and territories of Canada each independently adopted a series of substantively harmonized blanket orders, including BC Instrument 44-503 – Exemption from Certain Prospectus Requirements for Canadian Well-known Seasoned Issuers (together with the equivalent local blanket orders in each of the other provinces and territories of Canada, collectively, the “WKSI Blanket Orders”). The WKSI Blanket Orders were adopted to reduce regulatory burden associated with certain prospectus requirements under NI 44-101 and NI 44-102 for issuers that are well-known reporting issuers, have a strong market following, have a complete public disclosure record and have a sufficient public float. The WKSI Blanket Orders came into force on January 4, 2022 and allow such “well-known seasoned issuers”, or “WKSIs”, to file a final short form base shelf prospectus as the first public step in an offering, and exempt qualifying issuers from certain disclosure requirements relating to such final short form base shelf prospectus. As of the date hereof, the Company has determined that it qualifies as a “well-known seasoned issuer” under the WKSI Blanket Orders.

EXEMPTIONS

Pursuant to a decision of the Autorité des marchés financiers dated May 23, 2025, the Company was granted a permanent exemption from the requirement to translate into French this Prospectus as well as the documents incorporated by reference herein and any Prospectus Supplement to be filed in relation to an “at-the-market distribution”. This exemption is granted on the condition that this Prospectus as well as the documents incorporated by reference herein and any Prospectus Supplement (other than in relation to an “at-the-market distribution”) as well as the documents incorporated by reference therein be translated into French if the Company offers Securities to Québec purchasers in connection with an offering other than in relation to an “at-the-market distribution”.

 

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CONTRACTUAL RIGHT OF RECISSION

In addition to statutory rights of withdrawal and rescission, original purchasers of convertible, exchangeable or exercisable Securities (unless the Securities are reasonably regarded by the Company as incidental to the applicable offering as a whole) will have a contractual right of rescission against the Company in respect of the conversion, exchange or exercise of the convertible, exchangeable or exercisable Security. The contractual right of rescission will be further described in any applicable Prospectus Supplement, but will, in general, entitle such original purchasers to receive, in addition to the amount paid on original purchase of the applicable convertible, exchangeable or exercisable Security (and any additional amount paid upon conversion, exchange or exercise) upon surrender of the underlying securities acquired thereby, in the event that this Prospectus (as supplemented or amended) contains a misrepresentation, provided that: (i) the conversion, exchange or exercise takes place within 180 days of the date of the purchase of the convertible, exchangeable or exercisable Security under this Prospectus; and (ii) the right of rescission is exercised within 180 days of the date of purchase of the convertible, exchangeable or exercisable Security under this Prospectus. This contractual right of rescission will be consistent with the statutory right of rescission described above, and is in addition to any other right or remedy available to original purchasers under the securities legislation in which the purchaser is resident or otherwise at law.

A purchaser should refer to applicable securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for the particulars of these rights and should consult a legal adviser.

ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES

The Company is a corporation existing under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia). All but three of our directors, certain executive officers, and all of the experts named in this Prospectus, are residents of Canada or otherwise reside outside the United States, and all or a substantial portion of their assets, and a majority of our assets, are located outside the United States. We have appointed an agent for service of process in the United States, but it may be difficult for U.S. investors to effect service within the United States upon those directors, officers and experts who are not residents of the United States. It may also be difficult for U.S. investors to realize upon judgments of courts of the United States predicated upon the Company’s civil liability and the civil liability of its directors, officers and experts under the United States federal securities laws.

You should not assume that Canadian courts would enforce judgments of United States courts obtained in actions against us or such persons predicated on the civil liability provisions of the United States federal securities laws or the securities or “blue sky” laws of any state within the United States or would enforce, in original actions, liabilities against us or such persons predicated on the United States federal securities or any such state securities or “blue sky” laws. We have been advised by our Canadian legal counsel, Stikeman Elliott LLP, that a judgment of a United States court predicated solely upon civil liability under United States federal securities laws would probably be enforceable in Canada if the United States court in which the judgment was obtained has a basis for jurisdiction in the matter that would be recognized by a Canadian court for the same purposes. We have also been advised by Stikeman Elliott LLP, however, that there is substantial doubt whether an action could be brought in Canada in the first instance on the basis of liability predicated solely upon United States federal securities laws.

We have filed with the SEC, concurrently with our Registration Statement on Form F-10, an appointment of agent for service of process on Form F-X. Under the Form F-X, we appointed Puglisi & Associates as our agent for service of process in the United States in connection with any investigation or administrative proceeding conducted by the SEC, and any civil suit or action brought against or involving the Company in a United States court arising out of, related to, or concerning the offering of Securities under this Prospectus.

 

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED TO BE DELIVERED TO OFFEREES OR PURCHASERS

Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

The Registrant is subject to the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the “Act”).

Under Section 160 of the Act, an individual who:

 

   

is or was a director or officer of the Registrant,

 

   

is or was a director or officer of another corporation (i) at a time when the corporation is or was an affiliate of the Registrant, or (ii) at the request of the Registrant, or

 

   

at the request of the Registrant, is or was, or holds or held a position equivalent to that of, a director or officer of a partnership, trust, joint venture or other unincorporated entity,

and includes, the heirs and personal or other legal representatives of that individual (collectively, an “eligible party”), may be indemnified by the Registrant against a judgment, penalty or fine awarded or imposed in, or an amount paid in settlement of, a proceeding (an “eligible penalty”) in which, by reason of the eligible party being or having been a director or officer of, or holding or having held a position equivalent to that of a director or officer of, the Registrant or an associated corporation, (a) the eligible party is or may be joined as a party, or (b) the eligible party is or may be liable for or in respect of a judgment, penalty or fine in, or expenses related to, the proceeding (“eligible proceeding”) to which the eligible party is or may be liable. Section 160 of the Act also permits the Registrant to pay the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by an eligible party after the final disposition of the eligible proceeding.

Under Section 161 of the Act, the Registrant must, after the final disposition of an eligible proceeding, pay the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the eligible party in respect of that proceeding if the eligible party (a) has not been reimbursed for those expenses, and (b) is wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the outcome of the proceeding or is substantially successful on the merits in the outcome of the proceeding.

Under Section 162 of the Act, the Registrant may pay, as they are incurred in advance of the final disposition of an eligible proceeding, the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by an eligible party in respect of that proceeding; provided the Registrant must not make such payments unless it first receives from the eligible party a written undertaking that, if it is ultimately decided that the payment of expenses is prohibited by Section 163, the eligible party will repay the amounts advanced.

Under Section 163 of the Act, the Registrant must not indemnify an eligible party against eligible penalties to which the eligible party is or may be liable or pay the expenses of an eligible party in respect of that proceeding under Sections 160, 161 or 162 of the Act, as the case may be, if any of the following circumstances apply:

 

   

if the indemnity or payment is made under an earlier agreement to indemnify or pay expenses and, at the time that the agreement to indemnify or pay expenses was made, the Registrant was prohibited from giving the indemnity or paying the expenses by its memorandum or articles;

 

   

if the indemnity or payment is made otherwise than under an earlier agreement to indemnify or pay expenses and, at the time that the indemnity or payment is made, the Registrant is prohibited from giving the indemnity or paying the expenses by its memorandum or articles;

 

   

if, in relation to the subject matter of the eligible proceeding, the eligible party did not act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Registrant or the associated corporation, as the case may be; or

 

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in the case of an eligible proceeding other than a civil proceeding, if the eligible party did not have reasonable grounds for believing that the eligible party’s conduct in respect of which the proceeding was brought was lawful.

If an eligible proceeding is brought against an eligible party by or on behalf of the Registrant or by or on behalf of an associated corporation, the Registrant must not either indemnify the eligible party against eligible penalties to which the eligible party is or may be liable in respect to the proceeding, or, after the final disposition of an eligible proceeding, pay the expenses of the eligible party under Sections 160, 161 or 162 of the Act in respect of the proceeding.

Under Section 164 of the Act, the Supreme Court of British Columbia may, on application of the Registrant or an eligible party, order the Registrant to indemnify the eligible party or to pay the eligible party’s expenses, despite Sections 160 to 163 of the Act.

The articles of a company may affect its power or obligation to give an indemnity or pay expenses. As indicated above, this is subject to the overriding power of the Supreme Court of British Columbia under Section 164 of the Act.

The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Act.

The Registrant is a party to an indemnity agreement with each director and officer of the Registrant providing that if such director or officer is or was involved in any threatened, pending or completed eligible proceeding by reason of the fact that such director or officer is or was a director or officer of the Registrant, such director or officer will be indemnified and held harmless by the Registrant against all expense, liability and loss reasonably incurred or suffered by such director or officer in connection therewith.

Under the articles of the Registrant, the Registrant may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any eligible party against any liability incurred by such party as a director, officer or person who holds or held an equivalent position.

The Registrant maintains directors’ and officers’ liability insurance. The policies provide a maximum coverage in any one policy year of U.S. $35 million in annual claims (subject to deductibles of U.S. $200,000 to U.S. $500,000 per claim, payable by the Registrant). The primary policy insures (a) the directors and officers of the Registrant against losses arising from claims against them for certain of their actual or alleged wrongful acts (as defined within the insurance policy), (b) the Registrant for payments made pursuant to the Registrant’s indemnification of its directors and officers, and (c) the Registrant when it is directly named in a securities claim. The excess policy insures the directors and officers of the Registrant against losses arising from claims against them for certain of their actual or alleged wrongful acts (as defined within the insurance policy). The premiums for the policies are not allocated between directors and officers as separate groups.

Under the articles of the Registrant, subject to the provisions of the Act, the Registrant must indemnify a director or former director of the Registrant and the heirs and legal personal representatives of all such persons against all eligible penalties to which such person is or may be liable, and the Registrant must, after the final disposition of an eligible proceeding, pay the expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such person in respect of that proceeding. Each director and officer is deemed to have contracted with the Registrant on the terms of the indemnity contained in the Registrant’s articles. The failure of a director or officer of the Registrant to comply with the Act or the articles of the Registrant does not invalidate any indemnity to which such person is entitled under the Registrant’s articles.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the United States Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the United States Securities Act of 1933 and is therefore unenforceable.

 

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EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit

  

Description

  4.1    Annual information form for the year ended December  31, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.3 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 40-F for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the Commission on March 13, 2025) (File No. 0-53543)
  4.2    Audited consolidated financial statements as of December  31, 2024, and 2023 and for the years then ended, together with the notes thereto and the auditor’s reports thereon (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 40-F for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the Commission on March 13, 2025) (File No. 0-53543)
  4.3    Management’s discussion and analysis of financial conditions and results of operations for the year ended December  31, 2024 (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 40-F for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the Commission on March 13, 2025) (File No. 0-53543)
  4.4    Unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March  31, 2025 and 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 6-K including such document, filed with the Commission on May 6, 2025) (File No. 0-53543)
  4.5    Management’s discussion and analysis of financial conditions and results of operations for the three months ended March  31, 2025 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 6-K including such document, filed with the Commission on May  6, 2025) (File No. 0-53543)
  4.4    Management proxy circular prepared in connection with the annual meeting of shareholders to be held on June  4, 2025 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 6-K, filed with the Commission on April 25, 2025) (File No. 0-53543)
  5.1    Consent of KPMG LLP
  6.1    Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Registration Statement)
  7.1    Form of Indenture
101    Interactive Data File (incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 40-F for the year ended December 31, 2024, as amended, filed with the Commission on March 13, 2025)
107    Filing Fee Table

 

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PART III

UNDERTAKING AND CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS

Item 1. Undertaking.

The Registrant undertakes to make available, in person or by telephone, representatives to respond to inquiries made by the Commission staff, and to furnish promptly, when requested to do so by the Commission staff, information relating to the securities registered pursuant to this Form F-10 or to transactions in said securities.

Item 2. Consent to Service of Process.

 

  (a)

Concurrently with the filing of this Registration Statement, the Registrant has filed with the Commission a written Appointment of Agent for Service of Process and Undertaking on Form F-X.

 

  (b)

Any change to the name or address of the agent for service of the Registrant shall be communicated promptly to the Commission by amendment to Form F-X referencing the file number of this Registration Statement.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-10 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Burnaby, British Columbia, on June 11, 2025.

 

BALLARD POWER SYSTEMS INC.
By:   /s/ Randall MacEwen
  Name: Randall MacEwen
  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

POWERS OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints R. Randall MacEwen and Kate Igbalode, and each of them, any of whom may act without the joinder of the other, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and registration statements filed pursuant to Rule 429 under the Securities Act of 1933, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every 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 attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, or their substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

 

Signature

  

Title

  

Date

/s/ Randall MacEwen

Randall MacEwen

  

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

   June 11, 2025

/s/ Kate Igbalode

Kate Igbalode

  

Senior Vice President and Chief

Financial Officer (Principal

Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

   June 11, 2025

/s/ Marty Neese

Marty Neese

   Director    June 11, 2025

/s/ Wenmiao (Michael) Chen

Wenmiao (Michael) Chen

   Director    June 11, 2025

/s/ Jacqueline Dedo

Jacqueline Dedo

   Director    June 11, 2025

 

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Table of Contents

/s/ Douglas P. Hayhurst

Douglas P. Hayhurst

   Director    June 11, 2025

/s/ Hubertus Muehlhaeuser

Hubertus Muehlhaeuser

   Director    June 11, 2025

/s/ Kathleen A. Bayless

Kathleen A. Bayless

   Director    June 11, 2025

/s/ Jim Roche

Jim Roche

   Director and Chair    June 11, 2025

/s/ Janet Patricia Woodruff

Janet Patricia Woodruff

   Director    June 11, 2025

/s/ Yingbo Wang

Yingbo Wang

   Director    June 11, 2025

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 6(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned has signed this Registration Statement, solely in its capacity as the duly authorized representative of Ballard Power Systems Inc. in the United States, on June 11, 2025.

 

PUGLISI & ASSOCIATES
By:   /s/ Donald J. Puglisi
  Name: Donald J. Puglisi
  Title:  Managing Director

 

III-3

Exhibit 5.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED

PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors

Ballard Power Systems Inc.

We consent to the use of our report dated March 12, 2025, on the consolidated financial statements of Ballard Power Systems Inc., which comprise the consolidated statements of financial position as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the related consolidated statements of loss and comprehensive income (loss), changes in equity and cash flows for each of the years then ended, and the related notes, and our report dated March 12, 2025 on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, which are incorporated by reference and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Auditors” in the prospectus included in the Form F-10 Registration Statement dated June 11, 2025 of Ballard Power Systems Inc.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Chartered Professional Accountants

June 11, 2025

Vancouver, Canada

Exhibit 7.1

 

 

BALLARD POWER SYSTEMS INC.

as Issuer

and

[  ]

as U.S. Trustee

and

[  ]

as Canadian Trustee

Indenture

Dated as of [  ]

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE ONE DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

     1  

SECTION 1.01

  Definitions      1  

SECTION 1.02

  Rules of Construction      10  

SECTION 1.03

  Compliance Certificates and Opinions      10  

SECTION 1.04

  Form of Documents Delivered to Trustees      11  

SECTION 1.05

  Acts of Holders      11  

SECTION 1.06

  Notices, Etc. to Trustees and Company      13  

SECTION 1.07

  Notice to Holders; Waiver      13  

SECTION 1.08

  Effect of Headings and Table of Contents      14  

SECTION 1.09

  Successors and Assigns      14  

SECTION 1.10

  Severability Clause      14  

SECTION 1.11

  Benefits of Indenture      14  

SECTION 1.12

  Governing Law      15  

SECTION 1.13

  Legal Holidays      15  

SECTION 1.14

  Agent for Service; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Immunities      15  

SECTION 1.15

  Conversion of Judgment Currency      16  

SECTION 1.16

  Currency Equivalent      17  

SECTION 1.17

  Conflict with Trust Indenture Legislation      17  

SECTION 1.18

  Incorporators, Shareholders, Officers and Directors of the Company Exempt from Individual Liability      17  

SECTION 1.19

  Waiver of Jury Trial      17  

SECTION 1.20

  Counterparts      17  

SECTION 1.21

  Force Majeure      18  

ARTICLE TWO SECURITIES FORMS

     18  

SECTION 2.01

  Forms Generally      18  

SECTION 2.02

  Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication      18  

SECTION 2.03

  Securities Issuable in Global Form      19  

ARTICLE THREE THE SECURITIES

     20  

SECTION 3.01

  Issuable in Series      20  

SECTION 3.02

  Denominations      23  

SECTION 3.03

  Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating      23  

SECTION 3.04

  Temporary Securities      25  

SECTION 3.05

  Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange      27  

SECTION 3.06

  Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities      30  

SECTION 3.07

  Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest; Interest Rights Preserved; Optional Interest Reset      31  

SECTION 3.08

  Optional Extension of Stated Maturity      34  

SECTION 3.09

  Persons Deemed Owners      34  

SECTION 3.10

  Cancellation      35  

SECTION 3.11

  Computation of Interest      35  

SECTION 3.12

  Currency and Manner of Payments in Respect of Securities      35  

SECTION 3.13

  Appointment and Resignation of Successor Exchange Rate Agent      38  

 

i


ARTICLE FOUR SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

     39  

SECTION 4.01

  Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture      39  

SECTION 4.02

  Application of Trust Money      40  

ARTICLE FIVE REMEDIES

     40  

SECTION 5.01

  Events of Default      40  

SECTION 5.02

  Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment      41  

SECTION 5.03

  Collection of Debt and Suits for Enforcement by Trustees      42  

SECTION 5.04

  Trustees May File Proofs of Claim      43  

SECTION 5.05

  Trustees May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities      43  

SECTION 5.06

  Application of Money Collected      44  

SECTION 5.07

  Limitation on Suits      44  

SECTION 5.08

  Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest      45  

SECTION 5.09

  Restoration of Rights and Remedies      45  

SECTION 5.10

  Rights and Remedies Cumulative      45  

SECTION 5.11

  Delay or Omission Not Waiver      45  

SECTION 5.12

  Control by Holders      46  

SECTION 5.13

  Waiver of Past Defaults      46  

SECTION 5.14

  Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws      46  

SECTION 5.15

  Undertaking for Costs      47  

ARTICLE SIX THE TRUSTEES

     47  

SECTION 6.01

  Notice of Defaults      47  

SECTION 6.02

  Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustees      47  

SECTION 6.03

  Certain Rights of Trustees      48  

SECTION 6.04

  Trustees Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities      49  

SECTION 6.05

  May Hold Securities      50  

SECTION 6.06

  Money Held in Trust      50  

SECTION 6.07

  Compensation and Reimbursement      50  

SECTION 6.08

  Corporate Trustees Required; Eligibility      51  

SECTION 6.09

  Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor      52  

SECTION 6.10

  Acceptance of Appointment by Successor      53  

SECTION 6.11

  Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business      54  

SECTION 6.12

  Appointment of Authenticating Agent      55  

SECTION 6.13

  Joint Trustees      56  

SECTION 6.14

  Other Rights of Trustees      57  

ARTICLE SEVEN HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

     58  

SECTION 7.01

  Company to Furnish Trustees Names and Addresses of Holders      58  

SECTION 7.02

  Preservation of List of Names and Addresses of Holders      58  

SECTION 7.03

  Disclosure of Names and Addresses of Holders      58  

SECTION 7.04

  Reports by Trustees      59  

SECTION 7.05

  Reports by the Company      59  

 

ii


ARTICLE EIGHT CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

     60  

SECTION 8.01

  Company May Consolidate, etc., only on Certain Terms      60  

SECTION 8.02

  Successor Person Substituted      60  

ARTICLE NINE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

     61  

SECTION 9.01

  Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders      61  

SECTION 9.02

  Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders      62  

SECTION 9.03

  Execution of Supplemental Indentures      63  

SECTION 9.04

  Effect of Supplemental Indentures      63  

SECTION 9.05

  Conformity with Trust Indenture Legislation      64  

SECTION 9.06

  Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures      64  

SECTION 9.07

  Notice of Supplemental Indentures      64  

ARTICLE TEN COVENANTS

     64  

SECTION 10.01

  Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest      64  

SECTION 10.02

  Maintenance of Office or Agency      64  

SECTION 10.03

  Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust      66  

SECTION 10.04

  Statement as to Compliance      67  

SECTION 10.05

  Payment of Taxes and Other Claims      67  

SECTION 10.06

  Corporate Existence      67  

SECTION 10.07

  Waiver of Certain Covenants      67  

ARTICLE ELEVEN REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

     68  

SECTION 11.01

  Applicability of Article      68  

SECTION 11.02

  Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustees      68  

SECTION 11.03

  Selection by Trustees of Securities to Be Redeemed      68  

SECTION 11.04

  Notice of Redemption      68  

SECTION 11.05

  Deposit of Redemption Price      70  

SECTION 11.06

  Securities Payable on Redemption Date      70  

SECTION 11.07

  Securities Redeemed in Part      70  

ARTICLE TWELVE SINKING FUNDS

     71  

SECTION 12.01

  Applicability of Article      71  

SECTION 12.02

  Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities      71  

SECTION 12.03

  Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund      71  

ARTICLE THIRTEEN REPAYMENT AT OPTION OF HOLDERS

     72  

SECTION 13.01

  Applicability of Article      72  

SECTION 13.02

  Repayment of Securities      72  

SECTION 13.03

  Exercise of Option      73  

SECTION 13.04

  When Securities Presented for Repayment Become Due and Payable      73  

SECTION 13.05

  Securities Repaid in Part      74  

 

iii


ARTICLE FOURTEEN DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

     74  

SECTION 14.01

  Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      74  

SECTION 14.02

  Defeasance and Discharge      74  

SECTION 14.03

  Covenant Defeasance      75  

SECTION 14.04

  Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance      75  

SECTION 14.05

  Deposited Money and Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions      77  

SECTION 14.06

  Reinstatement      78  

ARTICLE FIFTEEN MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

     78  

SECTION 15.01

  Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called      78  

SECTION 15.02

  Call, Notice and Place of Meetings      78  

SECTION 15.03

  Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings      78  

SECTION 15.04

  Quorum; Action      79  

SECTION 15.05

  Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings      80  

SECTION 15.06

  Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings      80  

 

iv


CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

 

TIA

Section

  

Indenture

 Section

310    (a)    6.08(1)
   (b)    6.09
   (c)    Not Applicable
311    (a)    6.05
   (b)    6.05
   (c)    Not Applicable
312    (a)    7.05
   (b)    7.03
   (c)    7.03
313    (a)    7.04
   (b)    7.04
   (c)    7.04
   (d)    7.05
314    (a)    7.05
   (a)(4)    10.04
   (b)    Not Applicable
   (c)(1)    1.01
   (c)(2)    1.01
   (d)    Not Applicable
   (e)    1.01
   (f)    Not Applicable
315    (a)    6.02
   (b)    6.01
   (c)    6.02
   (d)    6.02
   (e)    5.15
316    (a)(last sentence)    1.02 (“Outstanding”)
   (a)(1)(A)    5.12
   (a)(1)(B)    5.02, 5.13
   (a)(2)    Not Applicable
   (b)    5.08
   (c)    1.04(e)
317    (a)(1)    5.03
   (a)(2)    5.04
   (b)    10.03
318    (a)    1.16

Note: This Cross-Reference Table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of this Indenture.


INDENTURE, dated as of ____________________, among BALLARD POWER SYSTEMS INC., a British Columbia, Canada corporation (herein called the “Company”), having its principal office at 9000 Glenyon Parkway, Burnaby, British Columbia V5J 5J8, Canada and ______________________, a ______________________, organized under the laws of ______________________, as U.S. trustee (herein called the “U.S. Trustee”), and ______________________, a ______________________, organized under the laws of ______________________, as Canadian trustee (the “Canadian Trustee” and, together with the U.S. Trustee, the “Trustees”).

RECITALS

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the “Securities”), which may be convertible into or exchangeable for any securities of any Person (including the Company), to be issued in one or more series as in this Indenture provided.

This Indenture is subject to the provisions of Trust Indenture Legislation that are required to be part of this Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.

All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of series thereof, as follows:

ARTICLE ONE

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

SECTION 1.01 Definitions.

Act,” when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 1.04.

Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the applicable Trustee pursuant to Section 6.12 to act on behalf of such Trustee to authenticate Securities.

Authorized Newspaper” means a newspaper, in the English language or in an official language of the country of publication, customarily published on each Business Day, and of general circulation in each place in connection with which the term is used or in the financial community of each such place. Where successive publications are required to be made in Authorized Newspapers, the successive publications may be made in the same or in different newspapers in the same city meeting the foregoing requirements and in each case on any Business Day.

 


Base Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 1.14.

Bearer Security” means any Security except a Registered Security.

Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee thereof.

Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Corporate Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustees.

Business Day,” when used with respect to any Place of Payment or any other particular location referred to in this Indenture or in the Securities, means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.01, any day other than Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banking institutions in that Place of Payment or other location are permitted or required by any applicable law, regulation or executive order to close.

calculation period” has the meaning specified in Section 3.11.

Canadian Trustee” means the Person named as the “Canadian Trustee” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor Canadian Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Canadian Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Canadian Trustee hereunder; provided, however, that if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Canadian Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean only the Canadian Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

Commission” means the U.S. 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 Indenture such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.

Common Depository” has the meaning specified in Section 3.04.

Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person.

Company Request” or “Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by an Officer and delivered to the Trustees.

Component Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 3.12(h).

Conversion Date” has the meaning specified in Section 3.12(d).

Conversion Event” means the cessation of use of (i) a Foreign Currency (other than the Euro or other Currency unit) both by the government of the country which issued such Currency and by a central bank or other public institution of or within the international banking community for the settlement of transactions, (ii) the Euro or (iii) any currency unit (or composite currency) other than the Euro for the purposes for which it was established.

 

2


Corporate Trust Office” means the principal corporate trust office of the U.S. Trustee or the Canadian Trustee, as applicable, at which at any particular time its corporate trust business may be administered, such an office on the date of execution of this Indenture of the U.S. Trustee is located at _________________________, Attention: _______________________, and of the Canadian Trustee is located at ______________________, Attention: ____________________________, except that with respect to presentation of Securities for payment or for registration of transfer or exchange, such term shall mean the office or agency of the U.S. Trustee or the Canadian Trustee, as applicable, designated in writing to the Company at which, at any particular time, its corporate agency business shall be conducted.

coupon” means any interest coupon appertaining to a Bearer Security.

covenant defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 14.03.

Currency” means any currency or currencies, composite currency or currency unit or currency units, including, without limitation, the Euro, issued by the government of one or more countries or by any recognized confederation or association of such governments.

Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.

defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 14.02.

Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable or issued in the form of one or more Registered Securities, the Person designated as Depositary by the Company pursuant to Section 3.05 until a successor Depositary shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Depositary” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Depositary hereunder, and, if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Depositary” as used with respect to the Securities of any such series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Registered Securities of that series.

Dollar” or “$” means a dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit” has the meaning specified in Section 3.12(g).

Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 3.12(f).

Election Date” has the meaning specified in Section 3.12(h).

Euro” means the single currency of the participating member states from time to time of the European Union described in legislation of the European Counsel for the operation of a single unified European currency (whether known as the Euro or otherwise).

Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 5.01.

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

Exchange Date” has the meaning specified in Section 3.04.

 

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Exchange Rate Agent” means, with respect to Securities of or within any series, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.01, a New York clearing house bank, designated pursuant to Section 3.01 or Section 3.13.

Exchange Rate Officer’s Certificate” means a tested telex or a certificate setting forth (i) the applicable Market Exchange Rate and (ii) the Dollar or Foreign Currency amounts of principal, premium (if any) and interest (if any) (on an aggregate basis and on the basis of a Security having the lowest denomination principal amount determined in accordance with Section 3.02 in the relevant Currency), payable with respect to a Security of any series on the basis of such Market Exchange Rate, sent (in the case of a telex) or signed (in the case of a certificate) by the Chief Executive Officer, President or Chief Financial Officer of the Company.

Extension Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 3.08.

Extension Period” has the meaning specified in Section 3.08.

Final Maturity” has the meaning specified in Section 3.08.

First Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 1.15.

Foreign Currency” means any Currency other than Currency of the United States.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in Canada in effect from time to time, unless the Person’s most recent audited or quarterly financial statements are not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in Canada, in which case “GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States in effect from time to time.

Government Obligations” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 3.01, securities which are (i) direct obligations of the government which issued the Currency in which the Securities of a particular series are payable or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the government which issued the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed by such government, which, in either case, are full faith and credit obligations of such government payable in such Currency and are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest or principal of the Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.

Holder” means, in the case of a Registered Security, the Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register and, in the case of a Bearer Security, the bearer thereof and, when used with respect to any coupon, shall mean the bearer thereof.

Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed and as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 3.01; provided, however, that, if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under this instrument, “Indenture” shall mean, with respect to any one or more series of Securities

 

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for which such Person is Trustee, 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 pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of the particular series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established as contemplated by Section 3.01, exclusive, however, of any provisions or terms which relate solely to other series of Securities for which such Person is not Trustee, regardless of when such terms or provisions were adopted, and exclusive of any provisions or terms adopted by means of one or more indentures supplemental hereto executed and delivered after such Person had become such Trustee but to which such Person, as such Trustee, was not a party.

Indexed Security” means a Security the terms of which provide that the principal amount thereof payable at Stated Maturity may be more or less than the principal face amount thereof at original issuance.

interest,” when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity at the rate prescribed in such Original Issue Discount Security.

Interest Payment Date,” when used with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.

Judgment Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 1.14.

Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, charge, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, security interest, lien (statutory or other), or preference, priority or other security or similar agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, any agreement to give or grant a Lien or any lease, conditional sale or other title retention agreement having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

mandatory sinking fund payment” has the meaning specified in Section 12.01.

Market Exchange Rate” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.01, (i) for any conversion involving a Currency unit on the one hand and Dollars or any Foreign Currency on the other, the exchange rate between the relevant Currency unit and Dollars or such Foreign Currency calculated by the method specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for the Securities of the relevant series, (ii) for any conversion of Dollars into any Foreign Currency, the noon (New York City time) buying rate for such Foreign Currency for cable transfers quoted in New York City as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and (iii) for any conversion of one Foreign Currency into Dollars or another Foreign Currency, the spot rate at noon local time in the relevant market at which, in accordance with normal banking procedures, the Dollars or Foreign Currency into which conversion is being made could be purchased with the Foreign Currency from which conversion is being made from major banks located in New York City, Toronto, London or any other principal market for Dollars or such purchased Foreign Currency, in each case determined by the Exchange Rate Agent. Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.01, in the event of the unavailability of any of the exchange rates provided for in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), the Exchange Rate Agent shall use, in its sole discretion and without liability on its part, such quotation of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as of the most recent available date, or quotations from one or more major banks in New York City, Toronto, London or another principal market for the Currency in question, or such other quotations as the Exchange Rate Agent shall deem appropriate. Unless otherwise specified by the Exchange Rate Agent, if there is more than one market for dealing in any Currency by reason of foreign exchange regulations or otherwise, the market to be used in respect of such Currency shall be that upon which a non-resident issuer of securities designated in such Currency would purchase such Currency in order to make payments in respect of such securities.

 

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Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, notice of redemption, notice of option to elect repayment or otherwise.

Notice of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.

Officer” means the Chair of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, any Executive Vice President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or the Corporate Secretary of the Company or, in the event that the Company is a partnership or a limited liability company that has no such officers, a person duly authorized under applicable law by the general partner, managers, members or a similar body to act on behalf of the Company.

Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate, which shall comply with this Indenture, signed by an Officer and delivered to the Trustees.

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for the Company, including an employee of the Company, who shall be acceptable to the Trustees, which opinion may contain customary exceptions and qualifications as to the matters set forth therein.

Optional Reset Date” has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.

optional sinking fund payment” has the meaning specified in Section 12.01.

Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02.

Original Stated Maturity” has the meaning specified in Section 3.08.

Outstanding,” when used with respect to Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

 

  (i)

Securities theretofore cancelled by either Trustee or delivered to either Trustee for cancellation;

 

  (ii)

Securities, or portions thereof, for whose payment or redemption or repayment at the option of the Holder, money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with either Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto; provided that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustees has been made;

 

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  (iii)

Securities, except to the extent provided in Section 14.02 and Section 14.03, with respect to which the Company has effected defeasance and/or covenant defeasance as provided in Article Fourteen; and

 

  (iv)

Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 3.06 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustees proof satisfactory to them that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder or are present at a meeting of Holders for quorum purposes, and for the purpose of making the calculations required by TIA Section 313, (i) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the amount of principal thereof that would be (or shall have been declared to be) due and payable, at the time of such determination, upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02, (ii) the principal amount of any Security denominated in a Foreign Currency that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed Outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the Dollar equivalent, determined as of the date such Security is originally issued by the Company as set forth in an Exchange Rate Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustees, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the Dollar equivalent as of such date of original issuance of the amount determined as provided in clause (i) above) of such Security, (iii) the principal amount of any Indexed Security that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the principal face amount of such Indexed Security at original issuance, unless otherwise provided with respect to such Security pursuant to Section 3.01, and (iv) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustees shall be protected in making such calculation or in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which the Trustees know to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustees the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor.

Paying Agent” means any Person (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) authorized by the Company to pay the principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) on any Securities on behalf of the Company. Such Person must be capable of making payment in the Currency of the issued Security.

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

Place of Payment” means, when used with respect to the Securities of or within any series, each place where the principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any) on such Securities are payable as specified as contemplated by Sections 3.01 and 10.02.

 

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Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.06 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or a Security to which a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or the Security to which the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains, as the case may be.

Privacy Laws” has the meaning specified in Section 6.14.

rate(s) of exchange” has the meaning specified in Section 1.14.

Redemption Date,” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, in whole or in part, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

Redemption Price,” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, in whole or in part, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date.

Registered Security” means any Security registered in the Security Register.

Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Registered Securities of or within any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 3.01.

Repayment Date” means, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid at the option of the Holder, the date fixed for such repayment pursuant to this Indenture.

Reset Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.

Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to a Trustee, means any vice president, secretary, any assistant secretary, treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any senior trust officer, any trust officer, the controller within the corporate trust administration division of a Trustee or any other officer of a Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above-designated officers, and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture; provided, however, that if at any time there is more than one Person acting as Trustee under this Indenture, “Securities” with respect to the Indenture as to which such Person is Trustee shall have the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and shall more particularly mean Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, exclusive, however, of Securities of any series as to which such Person is not Trustee.

Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 3.05.

Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Registered Securities of or within any series means a date fixed by the Trustees pursuant to Section 3.07.

Specified Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 3.12(h).

 

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Stated Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security or a coupon representing such installment of interest as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable, as such date may be extended pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.08 (if applicable).

Subsequent Interest Period” has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.

Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA” means the United States Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as in force at the date as of which this Indenture was executed, except as provided in Section 9.05.

Trust Indenture Legislation” means, at any time, the provisions of (i) any applicable statute of Canada or any province or territory thereof and the regulations thereunder as amended or re-enacted from time to time, but only to the extent applicable, or (iii) the Trust Indenture Act and regulations thereunder, in each case, relating to trust indentures and to the rights, duties and obligations of trustees under trust indentures and of corporations issuing debt obligations under trust indentures, to the extent that such provisions are at such time in force and applicable to this Indenture or the Company or the Trustees.

Trustee” or “Trustees” means the U.S. Trustee and the Canadian Trustee. If a Canadian Trustee is not appointed under this Indenture, or resigns or is removed and, pursuant to Section 6.09, the Company is not required to appoint a successor Trustee to the Canadian Trustee, “Trustee,” “Trustees” and any reference to “either Trustee,” “both of the Trustees” or such similar references shall mean the Person named as the U.S. Trustee or any successor thereto appointed pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture. Except to the extent otherwise indicated, “Trustees” shall refer to the Canadian Trustee (if appointed and still serving) and the U.S. Trustee, both jointly and individually.

U.S. Federal Bankruptcy Code” means the Bankruptcy Act of Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended from time to time.

U.S. Trustee” means the Person named as the “U.S. Trustee” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor U.S. Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “U.S. Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a U.S. Trustee hereunder; provided, however, that if at any time there is more than one such Person, “U.S. Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean only the U.S. Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

United States” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.01, the United States of America (including the states and the District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.

United States person” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.01, an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States, a corporation, partnership (including any entity treated as a corporation or as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes) or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source, or a trust if (A) it is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (B) it has a valid election in effect under applicable United States Treasury Regulations to be treated as a United States person.

 

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Valuation Date” has the meaning specified in Section 3.12(c).

Writing” has the meaning specified in Section 6.13.

Yield to Maturity” means the yield to maturity, computed at the time of issuance of a Security (or, if applicable, at the most recent redetermination of interest on such Security) and as set forth in such Security in accordance with generally accepted United States bond yield computation principles.

SECTION 1.02 Rules of Construction.

For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

 

  (1)

the terms defined in this Indenture have the meanings assigned to them hereinand include the plural as well as the singular;

 

  (2)

all terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein, and the terms “cash transaction” and “self-liquidating paper,” as used in TIA Section 319, shall have the meanings assigned to them in the rules of the Commission adopted under the Trust Indenture Act;

 

  (3)

the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;

 

  (4)

“or” is not exclusive;

 

  (5)

words implying any gender shall apply to all genders;

 

  (6)

the words Subsection, Section and Article refer to the Subsections, Sections and Articles, respectively, of this Indenture unless otherwise noted; and

 

  (7)

“include,” “includes” or “including” means include, includes or including, in each case, without limitation.

SECTION 1.03 Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustees to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustees an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture (including any covenant compliance with which constitutes a condition precedent) relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 10.04) shall include:

 

  (1)

a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;

 

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  (2)

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;

 

  (3)

a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

 

  (4)

a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such covenant or condition has been complied with.

SECTION 1.04 Form of Documents Delivered to Trustees.

In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons may certify or give an opinion with respect to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon an Opinion of Counsel, a certificate of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company or counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to accounting matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an accountant or firm of accountants in the employ of the Company, unless such officer or counsel, as the case may be, knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the accounting matters upon which such certificate or opinion may be based are erroneous. Any certificate or opinion of any independent firm of public accountants filed with the Trustees shall contain a statement that such firm is independent.

Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

SECTION 1.05 Acts of Holders.

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of the Outstanding Securities of all series or one or more series, as the case may be, may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agents duly appointed in writing. If Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of such series may, alternatively, be embodied in and evidenced by the record of Holders of Securities of such series voting in favor thereof, either in person or by proxies duly appointed in writing, at any meeting of

 

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Holders of Securities of such series duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article Fifteen, or a combination of such instruments and any such record. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or both are delivered to the Trustees and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments and any such record (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments or so voting at any such meeting. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or of the holding by any Person of a Security, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and conclusive in favor of the Trustees and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section 1.05. The record of any meeting of Holders of Securities shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 15.06.

(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustees deem sufficient.

(c) The principal amount and serial numbers of Registered Securities held by any Person, and the date of holding the same, shall be proved by the Security Register.

(d) The principal amount and serial numbers of Bearer Securities held by any Person, and the date of holding the same, may be proved by the production of such Bearer Securities or by a certificate executed, as depositary, by any trust company, bank, banker or other depositary, wherever situated, if such certificate shall be deemed by the Trustees to be satisfactory, showing that at the date therein mentioned such Person had on deposit with such depositary, or exhibited to it, the Bearer Securities therein described; or such facts may be proved by the certificate or affidavit of the Person holding such Bearer Securities, if such certificate or affidavit is deemed by the Trustees to be satisfactory. The Trustees and the Company may assume that such ownership of any Bearer Security continues until (1) another certificate or affidavit bearing a later date issued in respect of the same Bearer Security is produced, or (2) such Bearer Security is produced to the Trustees by some other Person, or (3) such Bearer Security is surrendered in exchange for a Registered Security, or (4) such Bearer Security is no longer Outstanding. The principal amount and serial numbers of Bearer Securities held by any Person, and the date of holding the same, may also be proved in any other manner that the Trustees deem sufficient.

(e) If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of Registered Securities any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Company may, at its option, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. Notwithstanding Trust Indenture Legislation, including TIA Section 316(c), such record date shall be the record date specified in or pursuant to such Board Resolution, which shall be a date not earlier than the date 30 days prior to the first solicitation of Holders generally in connection therewith and not later than the date such solicitation is completed. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities have authorized or agreed or consented to such request,

 

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demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders on such record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than eleven months after the record date.

(f) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustees or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.

SECTION 1.06 Notices, Etc. to Trustees and Company.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other documents provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with:

 

  (1)

the U.S. Trustee, by the Canadian Trustee, any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or with the U.S. Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: ________________, or

 

  (2)

the Canadian Trustee, by the U.S. Trustee, any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or with the Canadian Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: ________________, or

 

  (3)

the Company by either Trustee or any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, or sent by overnight courier, to the Company at 77 King Street West, Suite 3000, PO Box 95, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5K 1G8, Attention: Corporate Secretary or such other address and/or officer as the Company may designate on written notice to the Trustees.

SECTION 1.07 Notice to Holders; Waiver.

Where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to Holders of Registered Securities by the Company or the Trustees, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each such Holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders of Registered Securities is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Registered Securities or the sufficiency of any notice to Holders of Bearer Securities given as provided. Any notice mailed to a Holder in the manner herein prescribed shall be conclusively deemed to have been received by such Holder, whether or not such Holder actually receives such notice.

In case, by reason of the suspension of or irregularities in regular mail service or by reason of any other cause, it shall be impractical to mail notice of any event to Holders of Registered Securities when such notice is required to be given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, then any manner of giving such notice as shall be satisfactory to the Trustees shall be deemed to be sufficient giving of such notice for every purpose hereunder.

 

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Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.01, where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of Bearer Securities of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given to Holders of Bearer Securities if published in an Authorized Newspaper in The City of New York and in such other city or cities as may be specified in such Securities on a Business Day at least twice, the first such publication to be not earlier than the earliest date, and not later than the latest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. Any such notice shall be deemed to have been given on the date of the first such publication.

In case, by reason of the suspension of publication of any Authorized Newspaper or Authorized Newspapers or by reason of any other cause, it shall be impracticable to publish any notice to Holders of Bearer Securities as provided above, then such notification to Holders of Bearer Securities as shall be satisfactory to the Trustees shall be deemed to be sufficient giving of such notice for every purpose hereunder. Neither the failure to give notice by publication to Holders of Bearer Securities as provided above, nor any defect in any notice so published, shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Bearer Securities or the sufficiency of any notice to Holders of Registered Securities given as provided herein.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.

Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustees, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

SECTION 1.08 Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

SECTION 1.09 Successors and Assigns.

All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company and the Trustees shall bind their successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

SECTION 1.10 Severability Clause.

In case any provision in this Indenture or in any Security or coupon shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

SECTION 1.11 Benefits of Indenture.

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities or coupons, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Securities Registrar and their successors hereunder and the Holders of Securities or coupons, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture. Subject to Section 1.16, at all times in relation to this Indenture and any action to be taken hereunder, the Company and the Trustees each shall observe and comply with Trust Indenture Legislation and the Company, the Trustees and each Holder of a Security shall be entitled to the benefits of Trust Indenture Legislation.

 

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SECTION 1.12 Governing Law.

This Indenture and the Securities and coupons shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York, but without giving effect to applicable principles of conflicts of law to the extent that the application of the law of another jurisdiction would be required thereby. Each Trustee and the Company agrees to comply with all provisions of Trust Indenture Legislation applicable to or binding upon it in connection with this Indenture and any action to be taken hereunder. This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the exercise, performance or discharge by the Canadian Trustee of any of its rights, powers, duties or responsibilities hereunder shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of [Ontario] and the federal laws of Canada applicable thereto.

SECTION 1.13 Legal Holidays.

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, sinking fund payment date or Stated Maturity or Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment or other location contemplated hereunder, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of any Security or coupon other than a provision in the Securities of any series which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section 1.13), payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest (if any), need not be made at such Place of Payment or other location contemplated hereunder on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment or other location contemplated hereunder with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date or sinking fund payment date, or at the Stated Maturity or Maturity; provided that no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, sinking fund payment date, Stated Maturity or Maturity, as the case may be.

SECTION 1.14 Agent for Service; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Immunities.

By the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company (i) acknowledges that it has irrevocably designated and appointed _____________________ as its authorized agent upon which process may be served in any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Securities or this Indenture that may be instituted in any United States federal or New York state court located in The Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or brought by the Trustees (whether in their individual capacity or in their capacity as Trustees hereunder), (ii) irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any such court in any such suit or proceeding, and (iii) agrees that service of process upon _____________________ and written notice of said service to the Company (mailed or delivered to the Company at 77 King Street West, Suite 3000, PO Box 95, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5K 1G8, Attention: Corporate Secretary or such other address and/or officer as the Company may designate on written notice to the Trustees), shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company in any such suit or proceeding. The Company further agrees to take any and all action, including the execution and filing of any and all such documents and instruments, as may be necessary to continue such designation and appointment of _____________________ in full force and effect so long as this Indenture shall be in full force and effect.

To the extent that the Company has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution or otherwise) with respect to itself or its property, the Company hereby irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of its obligations under this Indenture and the Securities, to the extent permitted by law.

 

15


The Company irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such action, suit or proceeding in any such court or any appellate court with respect thereto. The Company irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any such action, suit or proceeding in any such court.

SECTION 1.15 Conversion of Judgment Currency.

(a) The Company covenants and agrees that the following provisions shall apply to conversion of Currency in the case of the Securities and this Indenture, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law:

(i) If for the purposes of obtaining judgment in, or enforcing the judgment of, any court in any country, it becomes necessary to convert into a Currency (the “Judgment Currency”) an amount due or contingently due in any other Currency under the Securities of any series and this Indenture (the “Base Currency”), then the conversion shall be made at the rate of exchange prevailing on the Business Day before the day on which the final judgment is given or the order of enforcement is made, as the case may be (unless a court shall otherwise determine).

(ii) If there is a change in the rate of exchange prevailing between the Business Day before the day on which the judgment referred to in (i) above is given or an order of enforcement is made, as the case may be (or such other date as a court shall determine), and the date of receipt of the amount due, the Company shall pay such additional (or, as the case may be, such lesser) amount, if any, as may be necessary so that the amount paid in the Judgment Currency when converted at the rate of exchange prevailing on the date of receipt will produce the amount in the Base Currency originally due.

(b) In the event of the winding-up of the Company at any time while any amount or damages owing under the Securities and this Indenture, or any judgment or order rendered in respect thereof, shall remain outstanding, the Company shall indemnify and hold the Holders and the Trustees harmless against any deficiency arising or resulting from any variation in rates of exchange between (1) the date as of which the equivalent of the amount in the Base Currency due or contingently due under the Securities and this Indenture (other than under this Subsection (b)) is calculated for the purposes of such winding-up and (2) the final date for the filing of proofs of claim in such winding-up. For the purpose of this Subsection (b) the final date for the filing of proofs of claim in the winding-up of the Company shall be the date fixed by the liquidator or otherwise in accordance with the relevant provisions of applicable law as being the latest practicable date as at which liabilities of the Company may be ascertained for such winding-up prior to payment by the liquidator or otherwise in respect thereto.

(c) The obligations contained in Subsections (a)(ii) and (b) of this Section 1.15 shall constitute separate and independent obligations of the Company from its other obligations under the Securities and this Indenture, shall give rise to separate and independent causes of action against the Company, shall apply irrespective of any waiver or extension granted by any Holder or the Trustees from time to time and shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any judgment or order or the filing of any proof of claim in the winding up of the Company for a liquidated sum in respect of amounts due hereunder (other than under Subsection (b) above) or under any such judgment or order. Any such deficiency as aforesaid shall be deemed to constitute a loss suffered by the Holders or the Trustees, as the case may be, and no proof or evidence of any actual loss shall be required by the Company or its liquidator. In the case of Subsection (b) above, the amount of such deficiency shall not be deemed to be increased or reduced by any variation in rates of exchange occurring between the said final date and the date of any liquidating distribution.

 

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The term “rate(s) of exchange” shall mean the rate of exchange quoted by a Canadian chartered bank as may be designated in writing by the Company to the Trustees from time to time, at its central foreign exchange desk in its main office in Ontario at 12:00 noon (Ontario time) on the relevant date for purchases of the Base Currency with the Judgment Currency and includes any premiums and costs of exchange payable. The Trustees shall have no duty or liability with respect to monitoring or enforcing this Section 1.15.

SECTION 1.16 Currency Equivalent.

Except as otherwise provided in this Indenture, for purposes of the construction of the terms of this Indenture or of the Securities, in the event that any amount is stated herein in the Currency of one nation (the “First Currency”), as of any date such amount shall also be deemed to represent the amount in the Currency of any other relevant nation which is required to purchase such amount in the First Currency at the Bank of Canada noon rate as reported by Telerate on screen 3194 (or such other means of reporting the Bank of Canada noon rate as may be agreed upon by each of the parties to this Indenture) on the date of determination.

SECTION 1.17 Conflict with Trust Indenture Legislation.

If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with any mandatory requirement of Trust Indenture Legislation, such mandatory requirement shall control. If and to the extent that any provision hereof modifies or excludes any provision of Trust Indenture Legislation that may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply hereof as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.

SECTION 1.18 Incorporators, Shareholders, Officers and Directors of the Company Exempt from Individual Liability.

No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture, or in any Security, or because of any indebtedness evidenced thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, as such, or against any past, present or future shareholder, officer or director, as such, of the Company or of any successor, either directly or through the Company or any successor, under any rule of law, statute or constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or otherwise, all such liability being expressly waived and released by the acceptance of the Securities by the Holders and as part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.

SECTION 1.19 Waiver of Jury Trial.

Each of the Company and the Trustees hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture, the Securities or the transactions contemplated hereby.

SECTION 1.20 Counterparts.

This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts (either by facsimile or by original manual signature), each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same Indenture.

 

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SECTION 1.21 Force Majeure.

Except for the payment obligations of the Company contained herein, neither the Company nor the Trustees shall be liable to each other, or held in breach of this Indenture, if prevented, hindered, or delayed in the performance or observance of any provision contained herein by reason of act of God, riots, terrorism, acts of war, epidemics, governmental action or judicial order, earthquakes, or any other similar causes (including, but not limited to, mechanical, electronic or communication interruptions, disruptions or failures). Performance times under this Indenture shall be extended for a period of time equivalent to the time lost because of any delay that is excusable under this Section 1.21.

ARTICLE TWO

SECURITIES FORMS

SECTION 2.01 Forms Generally.

The Registered Securities, if any, of each series and the Bearer Securities, if any, of each series and related coupons, if any, shall be in substantially the forms as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the Officer executing such Securities or coupons, as evidenced by the execution of such Securities or coupons by such Officer. If the forms of Securities or coupons of any series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Corporate Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustees at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 3.03 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities or coupons. Any portion of the text of any Security may be set forth on the reverse thereof, with an appropriate reference thereto on the face of the Security.

Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, Bearer Securities shall have interest coupons attached.

Either Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the form set forth in this Article Two.

SECTION 2.02 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.

Subject to Section 6.12, either Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

(Certificate of Authentication may be executed by either Trustee)

Dated: ____________

_______________________, as U.S. Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

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                    ,
as U.S. Trustee
By:  

 

  Authorized Officer

Dated: ____________

____________________, as Canadian Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

                    ,
as Canadian Trustee
By:  

 

  Authorized Officer

SECTION 2.03 Securities Issuable in Global Form.

If Securities of or within a series are issuable in global form, as specified and contemplated by Section 3.01, then any such Security shall represent such of the Outstanding Securities of such series as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities of such series from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities of such series represented thereby may from time to time be increased or decreased to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of a Security in global form to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made by the Trustees in such manner and upon instructions given by the Holder or its nominee as shall be specified therein or in the Company Order to be delivered to the Trustees pursuant to Section 3.03 or 3.04. Subject to the provisions of Sections 3.03 and 3.04 (if applicable), the Trustees shall deliver and redeliver any Security in global form in the manner and upon instructions given by the Holder or its nominee as shall be specified therein or in the applicable Company Order. If a Company Order pursuant to Section 3.03 or Section 3.04 has been, or simultaneously is, delivered, any instructions by the Company with respect to endorsement or delivery or redelivery of a Security in global form shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 1.03 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.07, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, payment of principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any) on any Security in permanent global form shall be made to the Holder or its nominee specified therein.

Notwithstanding Section 3.09 and except as provided in the preceding paragraph, the Company, the Trustees and any agent of the Company and the Trustees shall treat as the Holder of such principal amount of Outstanding Securities represented by a permanent global Security (i) in the case of a permanent global Security in registered form, the Holder of such permanent global Security in registered form, or (ii) in the case of a permanent global Security in bearer form, the Depositary.

 

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ARTICLE THREE

THE SECURITIES

SECTION 3.01 Issuable in Series.

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

The Securities may be issued in one or more series and may be denominated and payable in Dollars or any Foreign Currency. There shall be established in one or more Board Resolutions or pursuant to authority granted by one or more Board Resolutions and set forth in, or determined in the manner provided in, an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series, any or all of the following, as applicable:

 

  (1)

the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of such series from the Securities of all other series);

 

  (2)

the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series and any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer (including any restriction or condition on the transferability of the Securities of such series) of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 9.06, 11.07 or 13.05) and, in the event that no limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series is specified, the Company shall have the right, subject to any terms, conditions or other provisions specified pursuant to this Section 3.01 with respect to the Securities of such series, to re-open such series for the issuance of additional Securities of such series from time to time;

 

  (3)

the extent and manner, if any, to which payment on or in respect of the Securities of the series will be senior or will be subordinated to the prior payment of other liabilities and obligations of the Company, and whether the payment of principal, premium (if any) and interest (if any) will be guaranteed by any other Person;

 

  (4)

the percentage or percentages of principal amount at which the Securities of the series will be issued;

 

  (5)

the date or dates, or the method by which such date or dates will be determined or extended, on which the Securities of the series may be issued and the date or dates, or the method by which such date or dates will be determined or extended, on which the principal of and premium (if any) on the Securities of the series is payable;

 

  (6)

the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, whether fixed or variable (if any), or the method by which such rate or rates shall be determined, whether such interest shall be payable in cash or additional Securities of the same series or shall accrue and increase the aggregate principal amountoutstanding of such series, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date, if any, for the interest payable on any Registered Security on any Interest Payment Date, or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, and the basis upon which interest shall be calculated if other than on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

 

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  (7)

the place or places, if any, other than or in addition to the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, where the principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any) on Securities of the series shall be payable, where any Registered Securities of the series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, where Securities of the series may be surrendered for exchange, where Securities of the series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable and, if different than the location specified in Section 1.06, the place or places where notices or demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of the series and this Indenture may be served;

 

  (8)

the period or periods within which, the date or dates on which, the price or prices at which, the Currency in which, and other terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, if the Company is to have that option;

 

  (9)

the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, repay or purchase Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund, amortization or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof, and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, the Currency in which, and other terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed, repaid or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

  (10)

if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denomination or denominations in which any Registered Securities of the series shall be issuable and, if other than denominations of $5,000, the denomination or denominations in which any Bearer Securities of the series shall be issuable;

 

  (11)

the identity of each Security Registrar and/or Paying Agent;

 

  (12)

if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02 or the method by which such portion shall be determined;

 

  (13)

if other than Dollars, the Foreign Currency in which payment of the principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) on the Securities of the series shall be payable or in which the Securities of the series shall be denominated and the particular provisions applicable thereto in accordance with, in addition to or in lieu of any of the provisions of Section 3.12;

 

  (14)

whether the amount of payments of principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) on the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method (which index, formula or method may be based, without limitation, on one or more Currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices), and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

 

  (15)

whether the principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) on the Securities of the series are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in a Currency other than that in which such Securities are denominated or stated to be payable, the period or periods within which (including the Election Date), and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made, and the time and manner of determining the exchange rate between the Currency in which such Securities are denominated or stated to be payable and the Currency in which such Securities are to be so payable, in each case in accordance with, in addition to or in lieu of any of the provisions of Section 3.12;

 

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  (16)

the designation of the initial Exchange Rate Agent, if any;

 

  (17)

the applicability, if any, of Sections 14.02 and/or 14.03 to the Securities of the series and any provisions in modification of, in addition to or in lieu of any of the provisions of Article Fourteen that shall be applicable to the Securities of the series;

 

  (18)

provisions, if any, granting special rights to the Holders of Securities of the series upon the occurrence of such events as may be specified;

 

  (19)

any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or covenants (including any deletions from, modifications of or additions to Section 10.09) of the Company with respect to Securities of the series, whether or not such Events of Default or covenants are consistent with the Events of Default or covenants set forth herein;

 

  (20)

whether Securities of the series are to be issuable as Registered Securities, Bearer Securities (with or without coupons) or both, any restrictions applicable to the offer, sale or delivery of Securities of the series, whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable initially in temporary global form and whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable in permanent global form with or without coupons and, if so, whether beneficial owners of interests in any such permanent global Security may exchange such interests for Securities of such series and of like tenor of any authorized form and denomination and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner provided in Section 3.05, whether Registered Securities of the series may be exchanged for Bearer Securities of the series (if permitted by applicable laws and regulations), whether Bearer Securities of the series may be exchanged for Registered Securities of such series, and the circumstances under which and the place or places where any such exchanges may be made and, if Securities of the series are to be issuable in global form, the designation of any Depositary therefor;

 

  (21)

the date as of which any Bearer Securities of the series and any temporary global Security of the series shall be dated if other than the date of original issuance of the first Security of the series to be issued;

 

  (22)

the Person to whom any interest on any Registered Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, the manner in which, or the Person to whom, any interest on any Bearer Security of the series shall be payable, if otherwise than upon presentation and surrender of the coupons appertaining thereto as they severally mature, and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary global Security on an Interest Payment Date will be paid if other than in the manner provided in Section 3.04;

 

  (23)

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

 

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  (24)

if the Securities of the series are to be issued upon the exercise of warrants or subscription receipts, the time, manner and place for such Securities to be authenticated and delivered;

 

  (25)

if the Securities of the series are to be convertible into or exchangeable for any securities or property of any Person (including the Company), the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, and any additions or changes to permit or facilitate such conversion or exchange;

 

  (26)

provisions as to modification, amendment or variation of any rights or terms attaching to the Securities;

 

  (27)

whether the Securities will be secured or unsecured and the nature and priority of any security; and

 

  (28)

any other terms, conditions, rights and preferences (or limitations on such rights and preferences) relating to the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the requirements of Trust Indenture Legislation or the provisions of this Indenture).

All Securities of any one series and the coupons appertaining to any Bearer Securities of such series shall be substantially identical except, in the case of Registered Securities, as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such Board Resolution (subject to Section 3.03) and set forth in such Officer’s Certificate or in any such indenture supplemental hereto. Not all Securities of any one series need be issued at the same time, and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened for issuances of additional Securities of such series.

If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions, such Board Resolutions shall be delivered to the Trustees at or prior to the delivery of the Officer’s Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.

SECTION 3.02 Denominations.

The Securities of each series shall be issuable in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 3.01. With respect to Securities of any series denominated in Dollars, in the absence of any such provisions, the Registered Securities of such series, other than Registered Securities issued in global form (which may be of any denomination), shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof and the Bearer Securities of such series, other than the Bearer Securities issued in global form (which may be of any denomination), shall be issuable in a denomination of $5,000 and any integral multiples thereof.

SECTION 3.03 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

The Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto shall be executed on behalf of the Company by an Officer. The signature of an Officer on the Securities or coupons may be the manual or facsimile signatures of the present or any future such authorized officer and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Securities.

Securities or coupons bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities or coupons.

 

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At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series together with any coupons appertaining thereto, executed by the Company to the applicable Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the applicable Trustee in accordance with such Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities; provided, however, that, in connection with its original issuance, no Bearer Security shall be mailed or otherwise delivered to any location in the United States; provided further that, unless otherwise specified with respect to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 3.01, a Bearer Security may be delivered in connection with its original issuance only if the Person entitled to receive such Bearer Security shall have furnished a certificate in the form set forth in Exhibit A-1 to this Indenture, dated no earlier than 15 days prior to the earlier of the date on which such Bearer Security is delivered and the date on which any temporary Security first becomes exchangeable for such Bearer Security in accordance with the terms of such temporary Security and this Indenture. If any Security shall be represented by a permanent global Bearer Security, then, for purposes of this Section 3.03 and Section 3.04, the notation of a beneficial owner’s interest therein upon original issuance of such Security or upon exchange of a portion of a temporary global Security shall be deemed to be delivery in connection with its original issuance of such beneficial owner’s interest in such permanent global Security. Except as permitted by Section 3.06, the Trustees shall not authenticate and deliver any Bearer Security unless all appurtenant coupons for interest then matured have been detached and cancelled. If not all the Securities of any series are to be issued at one time and if the Board Resolution or supplemental indenture establishing such series shall so permit, such Company Order may set forth procedures acceptable to the Trustees for the issuance of such Securities and determining terms of particular Securities of such series such as interest rate, Stated Maturity, date of issuance and date from which interest shall accrue.

In authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustees shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Trust Indenture Legislation, including TIA Sections 315(a) through 315(d)) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating:

(a) that the form or forms of such Securities and any coupons have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(b) that the terms of such Securities and any coupons have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(c) that such Securities, together with any coupons appertaining thereto, when completed by appropriate insertions and executed and delivered by the Company to the applicable Trustee for authentication in accordance with this Indenture, authenticated and delivered by the applicable Trustee in accordance with this Indenture and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms;

(d) the execution and delivery by the Company of such Securities, any coupons and any supplemental indenture will not contravene the articles of incorporation or continuance, or such other constating documents then in effect, if any, or the by-laws of the Company, or violate applicable laws; and

(e) that the Company has the corporate power to issue such Securities and any coupons, and has duly taken all necessary corporate action with respect to such issuance.

 

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Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.01 and of the preceding two paragraphs, if not all the Securities of any series are to be issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officer’s Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 3.01 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to the preceding two paragraphs prior to or at the time of issuance of each Security, but such documents shall be delivered prior to or at the time of issuance of the first Security of such series.

The Trustees shall not be required to authenticate and deliver any such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustees’ own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustees.

Each Registered Security shall be dated the date of its authentication and each Bearer Security shall be dated as of the date specified as contemplated by Section 3.01.

No Security or coupon shall entitle a Holder to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein duly executed by the applicable Trustee by manual signature of an authorized officer thereof, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustees for cancellation as provided in Section 3.10 together with a written statement (which need not comply with Section 1.03 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) stating that such Security has never been issued and sold by the Company, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never entitle a Holder to the benefits of this Indenture.

SECTION 3.04 Temporary Securities.

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the applicable Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form or, if authorized, in bearer form with one or more coupons or without coupons, and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the Officer executing such Securities may determine, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Securities. Such temporary Securities may be in global form.

Except in the case of temporary Securities in global form (which shall be exchanged in accordance with the provisions of the following paragraphs), if temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series (accompanied by any unmatured coupons appertaining thereto), the Company shall execute and the applicable Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor and evidencing the same indebtedness; provided, however, that no definitive Bearer Security shall be delivered in exchange for a temporary Registered Security; provided further that a definitive Bearer Security shall be delivered in exchange for a temporary Bearer Security only in compliance with the conditions set forth in Section 3.03. Until so exchanged the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series.

 

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If temporary Securities of any series are issued in global form, any such temporary global Security shall, unless otherwise provided therein, be delivered to the office of the Depositary for credit to the respective accounts of the beneficial owners of such Securities (or to such other accounts as they may direct).

Without unnecessary delay, but in any event not later than the date specified in, or determined pursuant to the terms of, any such temporary global Security (the “Exchange Date”), the Company shall deliver to the Trustees definitive Securities, in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such temporary global Security and of like tenor and evidencing the same indebtedness, executed by the Company. On or after the Exchange Date, such temporary global Security shall be surrendered by the Depositary to the Trustees, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, to be exchanged, in whole or from time to time in part, for definitive Securities without charge and the applicable Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for each portion of such temporary global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor and evidencing the same indebtedness as the portion of such temporary global Security to be exchanged. The definitive Securities to be delivered in exchange for any such temporary global Security shall be in bearer form, registered form, permanent global bearer form or permanent global registered form, or any combination thereof, as specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, and, if any combination thereof is so specified, as requested by the beneficial owner thereof; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified in such temporary global Security, upon such presentation by the Depositary, such temporary global Security is accompanied by a certificate dated the Exchange Date or a subsequent date and signed by the Depositary as to the portion of such temporary global Security held for its account then to be exchanged and a certificate dated the Exchange Date or a subsequent date, each in the form set forth in Exhibit A-2 to this Indenture (or in such other form as may be established pursuant to Section 3.01); provided further that definitive Bearer Securities shall be delivered in exchange for a portion of a temporary global Security only in compliance with the requirements of Section 3.03.

Unless otherwise specified in such temporary global Security, the interest of a beneficial owner of Securities of a series in a temporary global Security shall be exchanged for definitive Securities of the same series and of like tenor and evidencing the same indebtedness following the Exchange Date when the account holder instructs the Depositary to request such exchange on his behalf and delivers to the Depositary a certificate in the form set forth in Exhibit A-1 to this Indenture (or in such other form as may be established pursuant to Section 3.01), dated no earlier than 15 days prior to the Exchange Date, copies of which certificate shall be available from the offices of the Depositary, the Trustees, any Authenticating Agent appointed for such series of Securities and each Paying Agent. Unless otherwise specified in such temporary global Security, any such exchange shall be made free of charge to the beneficial owners of such temporary global Security, except that a Person receiving definitive Securities must bear the cost of insurance, postage, transportation and the like in the event that such Person does not take delivery of such definitive Securities in person at the offices of the Depositary. Definitive Securities in bearer form to be delivered in exchange for any portion of a temporary global Security shall be delivered only outside the United States and Canada.

Until exchanged in full as hereinabove provided, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of the same series and of like tenor and evidencing the same indebtedness authenticated and delivered hereunder, except that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, interest payable on a temporary global Security on an Interest Payment Date for Securities of such series occurring prior to the applicable

 

26


Exchange Date shall be payable to the Depositary on such Interest Payment Date upon delivery by the Depositary to the Trustees of a certificate or certificates in the form set forth in Exhibit A-2 to this Indenture (or in such other form as may be established pursuant to Section 3.01), for credit without further interest thereon on or after such Interest Payment Date to the respective accounts of the Persons who are the beneficial owners of such temporary global Security on such Interest Payment Date and who have each delivered to the Depositary a certificate dated no earlier than 15 days prior to the Interest Payment Date occurring prior to such Exchange Date in the form set forth in Exhibit A-1 to this Indenture (or in such other form as may be established pursuant to Section 3.01). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein contained, the certifications made pursuant to this paragraph shall satisfy the certification requirements of the preceding two paragraphs of this Section 3.04 and of the third paragraph of Section 3.03 and the interests of the Persons who are the beneficial owners of the temporary global Security with respect to which such certification was made will be exchanged for definitive Securities of the same series and of like tenor and evidencing the same indebtedness on the Exchange Date or the date of certification if such date occurs after the Exchange Date, without further act or deed by such beneficial owners. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, no payments of principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) owing with respect to a beneficial interest in a temporary global Security will be made unless and until such interest in such temporary global Security shall have been exchanged for an interest in a definitive Security. Any interest so received by the Depositary and not paid as herein provided shall be returned to the Trustees immediately prior to the expiration of two years after such Interest Payment Date in order to be repaid to the Company in accordance with Section 10.03.

SECTION 3.05 Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

So long as required by Trust Indenture Legislation, the Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Offices of the Trustees a register for each series of Securities (the registers maintained in the Corporate Trust Offices of the Trustees and in any other office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of the Holders of Registered Securities and of transfers of Registered Securities. The Security Register shall be in written form or any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. At all reasonable times, the Security Register shall be open to inspection by the Trustees. The Trustees are hereby initially appointed as security registrar (the “Security Registrar”) for the purpose of registering Registered Securities and transfers of Registered Securities as herein provided. The Company shall have the right to remove and replace from time to time the Security Registrar for any series of Securities; provided, however, that, no such removal or replacement shall be effective until a successor Security Registrar with respect to such series of Registered Securities shall have been appointed by the Company and shall have accepted such appointment by the Company. In the event that the Trustees shall not be or shall cease to be the Securities Registrar with respect to a series of Securities, they shall have the right to examine the Security Register for such series at all reasonable times. There shall be only one Securities Register for such series of Securities.

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Registered Security of any series at the office or agency in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute, and the applicable Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee, one or more new Registered Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor and evidencing the same indebtedness.

For Canadian Securities, the Security must be duly endorsed for transfer or in a duly endorsed transferable form as applicable and must comply with the current industry practice in accordance with the Securities Transfer Association of Canada.

 

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At the option of the Holder, Registered Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Registered Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor and evidencing the same indebtedness, upon surrender of the Registered Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Registered Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the applicable Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Registered Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive. Unless otherwise specified with respect to any series of Securities as contemplated by Section 3.01, Bearer Securities may not be issued in exchange for Registered Securities.

If (but only if) expressly permitted in or pursuant to the applicable Board Resolution and (subject to Section 3.03) set forth in the applicable Officer’s Certificate, or in any indenture supplemental hereto, delivered as contemplated by Section 3.01, at the option of the Holder, Bearer Securities of any series may be exchanged for Registered Securities of the same series of any authorized denomination and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor and evidencing the same indebtedness, upon surrender of the Bearer Securities to be exchanged at the office of the applicable Trustee, with all unmatured coupons and all matured coupons in default thereto appertaining. If the Holder of a Bearer Security is unable to produce any such unmatured coupon or coupons or matured coupon or coupons in default, any such permitted exchange may be effected if the Bearer Securities are accompanied by payment in funds acceptable to the Company in an amount equal to the face amount of such missing coupon or coupons, or the surrender of such missing coupon or coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustees if there is furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Security shall surrender to any Paying Agent any such missing coupon in respect of which such a payment shall have been made, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount of such payment; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.02, interest represented by coupons shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of those coupons at an office or agency located outside the United States. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in case a Bearer Security of any series is surrendered at any such office or agency in a permitted exchange for a Registered Security of the same series and like tenor after the close of business at such office or agency on (i) any Regular Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the relevant Interest Payment Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related proposed date for payment of Defaulted Interest, such Bearer Security shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, and interest or Defaulted Interest, as the case may be, will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer Security, but will be payable only to the Holder of such coupon when due in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the applicable Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, any permanent global Security shall be exchangeable only as provided in this Section. If any beneficial owner of an interest in a permanent global Security is entitled to exchange such interest for Securities of such series and of like tenor and principal amount of another authorized form and denomination, as contemplated by Section 3.01 and provided that any applicable notice provided in the permanent global Security shall have been given to the Company, the Trustees and the Depositary, then without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the earliest date on which such interest may be so exchanged, the Company shall deliver to the applicable Trustee definitive Securities in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such beneficial owner’s interest in such permanent global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the earliest date on which such interests may be

 

28


so exchanged, such permanent global Security shall be surrendered by the Depositary or such other depositary as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto to the applicable Trustee, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, to be exchanged in whole or from time to time in part, for definitive Securities without charge, and the applicable Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for each portion of such permanent global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such permanent global Security to be exchanged which, unless the Securities of the series are not issuable both as Bearer Securities and as Registered Securities, as specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, shall be in the form of Bearer Securities or Registered Securities, or any combination thereof, as shall be specified by the beneficial owner thereof. No Bearer Security delivered in exchange for a portion of a permanent global Security shall be mailed or otherwise delivered to any location in the United States or Canada. If a Registered Security is issued in exchange for any portion of a permanent global Security after the close of business at the office or agency where such exchange occurs on (i) any Regular Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the relevant Interest Payment Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related proposed date for payment of Defaulted Interest, interest or Defaulted Interest, as the case may be, will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of such Registered Security, but will be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, only to the Person to whom interest in respect of such portion of such permanent global Security is payable in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

Transfers of global Securities shall be limited to transfers in whole, but not in part, to the Depositary, its successors or their respective nominees. If at any time the Depositary for Securities of a series notifies the Company that it is unwilling, unable or no longer qualifies to continue as Depositary for Securities of 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, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary for the Securities of such series. If a successor to the Depositary for Securities of 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, the Company’s election pursuant to Section 3.01 shall no longer be effective with respect to the Securities for such series and the Company will execute, and the applicable Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver Securities of such series in definitive, registered form, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the global Security or Securities representing such series and evidencing the same indebtedness in exchange for such global Security or Securities.

The Company may at any time and in its sole discretion determine that the Securities of any series issued in the form of one or more global Securities shall no longer be represented by such global Security or Securities. In such event the Company will execute, and the applicable Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver Securities of such series in definitive, registered form, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the global Security or Securities representing such series and evidencing the same indebtedness in exchange for such global Security or Securities.

Upon the exchange of a global Security for Securities in definitive registered form, such global Security shall be cancelled by the applicable Trustee. Securities issued in exchange for a global Security pursuant to this Section 3.05 shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such global Security, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the applicable Trustee in writing. The applicable Trustee shall deliver such Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.

 

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

Every Registered Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Security Registrar or applicable securities transfer industry practices) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

Any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities may be subject to service charges by the Securities Registrar and the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 3.04, 9.06, 11.07 or 13.05 not involving any transfer.

The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any series in definitive form during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the selection for redemption of Securities of that series under Section 11.03 or 12.03 and ending at the close of business on (A) if Securities of the series are issuable only as Registered Securities, the day of the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption and (B) if Securities of the series are issuable as Bearer Securities, the day of the first publication of the relevant notice of redemption or, (C) if Securities of the series are also issuable as Registered Securities and there is no publication, the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Registered Security in definitive form so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part, or (iii) to exchange any Bearer Security so selected for redemption except that such a Bearer Security may be exchanged for a Registered Security of that series and like tenor; provided that such Registered Security shall be simultaneously surrendered for redemption, or (iv) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Security in definitive form which has been surrendered for repayment at the option of the Holder, except the portion, if any, of such Security not to be so repaid.

SECTION 3.06 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

If any mutilated Security or a Security with a mutilated coupon appertaining to it is surrendered to the applicable Trustee, the Company shall execute and the applicable Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and evidencing the same indebtedness and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, with coupons corresponding to the coupons, if any, appertaining to the surrendered Security, or, in case any such mutilated Security or coupon has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, with coupons corresponding to the coupons, if any, appertaining to the surrendered Security, pay such Security or coupon. If there shall be delivered to the Company and to the Trustees (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security or coupon and (ii) such security (or surety in the case of the Canadian Trustee) or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustees that such Security or coupon has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser , the Company shall execute and upon Company Order the applicable Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security or in exchange for the Security for which a destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains (with all appurtenant coupons not destroyed, lost or stolen), a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and evidencing the same indebtedness and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, with coupons corresponding to the coupons, if any, appertaining to such destroyed, lost or stolen Security or to the Security to which such destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains.

 

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Notwithstanding the provisions of the previous two paragraphs, in case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or coupon has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, with coupons corresponding to the coupons, if any, appertaining to such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or to the Security to which such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains, pay such Security or coupon; provided, however, that payment of principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any) on Bearer Securities shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.02, be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States and Canada and, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, any interest on Bearer Securities shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the coupons appertaining thereto.

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section 3.06, 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 Trustees) connected therewith.

Every new Security of any series with its coupons, if any, issued pursuant to this Section 3.06 in lieu of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or in exchange for a Security to which a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains, shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security and its coupons, if any, or the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen coupon shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and the Holders of such Security shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with the Holders of any and all other Securities of that series and their coupons, if any, duly issued hereunder.

The provisions of this Section 3.06 as amended or supplemented pursuant to this Indenture with respect to a particular series of Securities or generally are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities or coupons.

SECTION 3.07 Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest; Interest Rights Preserved; Optional Interest Reset.

(a) Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, interest (if any) on any Registered Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid by the Paying Agent to the Person in whose name such Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 10.02; provided, however, that each installment of interest (if any) on any Registered Security may at the Company’s option be paid by (i) mailing a check for such interest, payable to or upon the written order of the Person entitled thereto pursuant to Section 3.09, to the address of such Person as it appears on the Security Register or (ii) wire transfer to an account located in the United States maintained by the Person entitled to such payment as specified in the Security Register. Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, principal and premium (if any) paid in relation to any Security shall be paid to the Holder of such Security only upon presentation and surrender of such Security at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 10.02.

 

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Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to the Securities of any series, payment of interest (if any) may be made, in the case of a Bearer Security, by transfer to an account located outside the United States and Canada maintained by the payee.

Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01, every permanent global Security will provide that interest (if any) payable on any Interest Payment Date will be paid to the Depositary with respect to that portion of such permanent global Security held for its account by the Depositary, for the purpose of permitting the Depositary to credit the interest (if any) received by it in respect of such permanent global Security to the accounts of the beneficial owners thereof.

Any interest on any Registered Security of any series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such defaulted interest and, if applicable, interest on such defaulted interest (to the extent lawful) at the rate specified in the Securities of such series (such defaulted interest and, if applicable, interest thereon herein collectively called “Defaulted Interest”) must be paid by the Company as provided for in either clause (1) or (2), at the Company’s election:

 

  (1)

The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Registered Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustees in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Registered Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the applicable Trustee an amount of money in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 3.12(b), 3.12(d) and 3.12(e)) equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustees for such deposit on or 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 Trustees shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustees of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustees shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be given in the manner provided in Section 1.07, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so given, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose name the Registered Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (2).

 

  (2)

The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Registered Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and, upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustees of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustees.

 

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(b) The provisions of this Section 307(b) may be made applicable to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 3.01 (with such modifications, additions or substitutions as may be specified pursuant to such Section 3.01). The interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) on any Security of such series may be reset by the Company on the date or dates specified on the face of such Security (each an “Optional Reset Date”). The Company may exercise such option with respect to such Security by notifying the Trustees of such exercise at least 50 but not more than 60 days prior to an Optional Reset Date for such Security. Not later than 40 days prior to each Optional Reset Date, the Trustees shall transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 1.07, to the Holder of any such Security a notice (the “Reset Notice”) indicating whether the Company has elected to reset the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable), and if so (i) such new interest rate (or such new spread or spread multiplier, if applicable) and (ii) the provisions, if any, for redemption during the period from such Optional Reset Date to the next Optional Reset Date or if there is no such next Optional Reset Date, to the Stated Maturity of such Security (each such period a “Subsequent Interest Period”), including the date or dates on which or the period or periods during which and the price or prices at which such redemption may occur during the Subsequent Interest Period.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, not later than 20 days prior to the Optional Reset Date, the Company may, at its option, revoke the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) provided for in the Reset Notice and establish an interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier, if applicable) that is higher than the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier, if applicable) provided for in the Reset Notice, for the Subsequent Interest Period by causing the Trustees to transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 1.07, notice of such higher interest rate (or such higher spread or spread multiplier, if applicable) to the Holder of such Security. Such notice shall be irrevocable. All Securities with respect to which the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) is reset on an Optional Reset Date, and with respect to which the Holders of such Securities have not tendered such Securities for repayment (or have validly revoked any such tender) pursuant to the next succeeding paragraph, will bear such higher interest rate (or such higher spread or spread multiplier, if applicable).

The Holder of any such Security will have the option to elect repayment by the Company of the principal of such Security on each Optional Reset Date at a price equal to the principal amount thereof plus interest accrued to such Optional Reset Date. In order to obtain repayment on an Optional Reset Date, the Holder must follow the procedures set forth in Article Thirteen for repayment at the option of Holders except that the period for delivery or notification to the Trustees shall be at least 25 but not more than 35 days prior to such Optional Reset Date and except that, if the Holder has tendered any Security for repayment pursuant to the Reset Notice, the Holder may, by written notice to the Trustees, revoke such tender or repayment until the close of business on the tenth day before such Optional Reset Date.

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.07 and Section 3.05, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

 

33


SECTION 3.08 Optional Extension of Stated Maturity.

The provisions of this Section 3.08 may be made applicable to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 3.01 (with such modifications, additions or substitutions as may be specified pursuant to such Section 3.01). The Stated Maturity of any Security of such series may be extended at the option of the Company for the period or periods specified on the face of such Security (each an “Extension Period”) up to but not beyond the date (the “Final Maturity”) set forth on the face of such Security. The Company may exercise such option with respect to any Security by notifying the Trustees of such exercise at least 50 but not more than 60 days prior to the Stated Maturity of such Security in effect prior to the exercise of such option (the “Original Stated Maturity”). If the Company exercises such option, the Trustees shall transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 1.07, to the Holder of such Security not later than 40 days prior to the Original Stated Maturity a notice (the “Extension Notice”) indicating (i) the election of the Company to extend the Stated Maturity, (ii) the new Stated Maturity, (iii) the interest rate (if any) applicable to the Extension Period and (iv) the provisions, if any, for redemption during such Extension Period. Upon the Trustees’ transmittal of the Extension Notice, the Stated Maturity of such Security shall be extended automatically and, except as modified by the Extension Notice and as described in the next paragraph, such Security will have the same terms as prior to the transmittal of such Extension Notice.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, not later than 20 days before the Original Stated Maturity of such Security, the Company may, at its option, revoke the interest rate provided for in the Extension Notice and establish a higher interest rate for the Extension Period by causing the Trustees to transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 1.07, notice of such higher interest rate to the Holder of such Security. Such notice shall be irrevocable. All Securities with respect to which the Stated Maturity is extended will bear such higher interest rate.

If the Company extends the Maturity of any Security, the Holder will have the option to elect repayment of such Security by the Company on the Original Stated Maturity at a price equal to the principal amount thereof, plus interest accrued to such date. In order to obtain repayment on the Original Stated Maturity once the Company has extended the Maturity thereof, the Holder must follow the procedures set forth in Article Thirteen for repayment at the option of Holders, except that the period for delivery or notification to the Trustees shall be at least 25 but not more than 35 days prior to the Original Stated Maturity and except that, if the Holder has tendered any Security for repayment pursuant to an Extension Notice, the Holder may by written notice to the Trustees revoke such tender for repayment until the close of business on the tenth day before the Original Stated Maturity.

SECTION 3.09 Persons Deemed Owners.

Prior to due presentment of a Registered Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustees and any agent of the Company or the Trustees may treat the Person in whose name such Registered Security is registered as the owner of such Registered Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of, premium (if any) and (subject to Sections 3.05 and 3.07) interest (if any) on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustees or any agent of the Company or the Trustees shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

Title to any Bearer Security and any coupons appertaining thereto shall pass by delivery. The Company, the Trustees and any agent of the Company or the Trustees may treat the bearer of any Bearer Security and the bearer of any coupon as the absolute owner of such Security or coupon for the purpose of receiving payment thereof or on account thereof and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security or coupons be overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustees or any agent of the Company or the Trustees shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

34


The Depositary for Securities may be treated by the Company, the Trustees, and any agent of the Company or the Trustees as the owner of such global Security for all purposes whatsoever. None of the Company, the Trustees, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Security in global form or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any global Security, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustees, or any agent of the Company or the Trustees, from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by any Depositary, as a Holder, with respect to such global Security or impair, as between such Depositary and owners of beneficial interests in such global Security, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of such Depositary (or its nominee) as Holder of such global Security.

SECTION 3.10 Cancellation.

All Securities and coupons surrendered for payment, redemption, repayment at the option of the Holder, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any current or future sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than a Trustee, be delivered to either Trustee. All Securities and coupons so delivered to either Trustee shall be promptly cancelled by such Trustee. The Company may at any time deliver to a Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to either Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to such Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by such Trustee. If the Company shall so 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 surrendered to either Trustee for cancellation. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section 3.10, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Securities held by either Trustee shall be disposed of by such Trustee in accordance with its customary procedures and certification of their disposal delivered to the Company unless by Company Order the Company shall direct that cancelled Securities be returned to it.

SECTION 3.11 Computation of Interest.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any Securities, interest (if any) on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. For the purposes of disclosure under the Interest Act (Canada), the yearly rate of interest to which interest calculated under a Security for any period in any calendar year (the “calculation period”) is equivalent, is the rate payable under a Security in respect of the calculation period multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the actual number of days in such calendar year and the denominator of which is the actual number of days in the calculation period.

SECTION 3.12 Currency and Manner of Payments in Respect of Securities.

(a) With respect to Registered Securities of any series not permitting the election provided for in paragraph (b) below or the Holders of which have not made the election provided for in paragraph (b) below, and with respect to Bearer Securities of any series, except as provided in paragraph (d) below, payment of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any) on such Registered Security or Bearer Security of such series will be made in the Currency in which such Registered Security or Bearer Security, as the case may be, is payable. The provisions of this Section 3.12 may be modified or superseded with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.01.

 

35


(b) It may be provided pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to Registered Securities of any series that Holders shall have the option, subject to paragraphs (d) and (e) below, to receive payments of principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) on such Registered Securities in any of the Currencies which may be designated for such election by delivering to the Trustees a written election with signature guarantees and in the applicable form established pursuant to Section 3.01, not later than the close of business on the Election Date immediately preceding the applicable payment date. If a Holder so elects to receive such payments in any such Currency, such election will remain in effect for such Holder or any transferee of such Holder until changed by such Holder or such transferee by written notice to the Trustees (but any such change must be made not later than the close of business on the Election Date immediately preceding the next payment date to be effective for the payment to be made on such payment date and no such change of election may be made with respect to payments to be made on any Registered Security of such series with respect to which an Event of Default has occurred or with respect to which the Company has deposited funds pursuant to Article Four or Fourteen or with respect to which a notice of redemption has been given by the Company or a notice of option to elect repayment has been sent by such Holder or such transferee). Any Holder of any such Registered Security who shall not have delivered any such election to the Trustees not later than the close of business on the applicable Election Date will be paid the amount due on the applicable payment date in the relevant Currency as provided in Section 3.12(a). The Trustees shall notify the Exchange Rate Agent as soon as practicable after the Election Date of the aggregate principal amount of Registered Securities for which Holders have made such written election.

(c) Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01, if the election referred to in paragraph (b) above has been provided for pursuant to Section 3.01, then, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01, not later than the fourth Business Day after the Election Date for each payment date for Registered Securities of any series, the Exchange Rate Agent will deliver to the Company a written notice specifying, in the Currency in which Registered Securities of such series are payable, the respective aggregate amounts of principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any) on the Registered Securities to be paid on such payment date, specifying the amounts in such Currency so payable in respect of the Registered Securities as to which the Holders of Registered Securities of such series shall have elected to be paid in another Currency as provided in paragraph (b) above. If the election referred to in paragraph (b) above has been provided for pursuant to Section 3.01 and if at least one Holder has made such election, then, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01, on the second Business Day preceding such payment date the Company will deliver to the Trustees for such series of Registered Securities an Exchange Rate Officer’s Certificate in respect of the Dollar or Foreign Currency payments to be made on such payment date. Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01, the Dollar or Foreign Currency amount receivable by Holders of Registered Securities who have elected payment in a Currency as provided in paragraph (b) above shall be determined by the Company on the basis of the applicable Market Exchange Rate in effect on the third Business Day (the “Valuation Date”) immediately preceding each payment date, and such determination shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

(d) If a Conversion Event occurs with respect to a Foreign Currency in which any of the Securities are denominated or payable other than pursuant to an election provided for pursuant to paragraph (b) above, then, with respect to each date for the payment of principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any) on the applicable Securities denominated or payable in such Foreign Currency occurring after the last date on which such Foreign Currency was used (the “Conversion Date”), the Dollar shall be the Currency of payment for use on each such payment date. Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01, the Dollar amount to be paid by the Company to the Trustees and by the Trustees or any Paying Agent to the Holders of such Securities with respect to such payment date shall be, in the case of a Foreign Currency other than a currency unit, the Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency or, in the case of a currency unit, the Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit, in each case as determined by the Exchange Rate Agent in the manner provided in paragraph (f) or (g) below.

 

36


(e) Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01, if the Holder of a Registered Security denominated in any Currency shall have elected to be paid in another Currency as provided in paragraph (b) above, and a Conversion Event occurs with respect to such elected Currency, such Holder shall receive payment in the Currency in which payment would have been made in the absence of such election; and if a Conversion Event occurs with respect to the Currency in which payment would have been made in the absence of such election, such Holder shall receive payment in Dollars as provided in paragraph (d) above.

(f) The “Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency” shall be determined by the Exchange Rate Agent and shall be obtained for each subsequent payment date by converting the specified Foreign Currency into Dollars at the Market Exchange Rate on the Conversion Date.

(g) The “Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit” shall be determined by the Exchange Rate Agent and subject to the provisions of paragraph (h) below shall be the sum of each amount obtained by converting the Specified Amount of each Component Currency into Dollars at the Market Exchange Rate for such Component Currency on the Valuation Date with respect to each payment.

(h) For purposes of this Section 3.12 the following terms shall have the following meanings:

A “Component Currency” shall mean any Currency which, on the Conversion Date, was a component currency of the relevant currency unit, including, but not limited to, the Euro.

A “Specified Amount” of a Component Currency shall mean the number of units of such Component Currency or fractions thereof which were represented in the relevant currency unit, including, but not limited to, the Euro, on the Conversion Date. If after the Conversion Date the official unit of any Component Currency is altered by way of combination or subdivision, the Specified Amount of such Component Currency shall be divided or multiplied in the same proportion. If after the Conversion Date two or more Component Currencies are consolidated into a single currency, the respective Specified Amounts of such Component Currencies shall be replaced by an amount in such single Currency equal to the sum of the respective Specified Amounts of such consolidated Component Currencies expressed in such single Currency, and such amount shall thereafter be a Specified Amount and such single Currency shall thereafter be a Component Currency. If after the Conversion Date any Component Currency shall be divided into two or more currencies, the Specified Amount of such Component Currency shall be replaced by amounts of such two or more currencies, having an aggregate Dollar Equivalent value at the Market Exchange Rate on the date of such replacement equal to the Dollar Equivalent value of the Specified Amount of such former Component Currency at the Market Exchange Rate immediately before such division and such amounts shall thereafter be Specified Amounts and such currencies shall thereafter be Component Currencies. If, after the Conversion Date of the relevant currency unit, including, but not limited to, the Euro, a Conversion Event (other than any event referred to above in this definition of “Specified Amount”) occurs with respect to any Component Currency of such currency unit and is continuing on the applicable Valuation Date, the Specified Amount of such Component Currency shall, for purposes of calculating the Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit, be converted into Dollars at the Market Exchange Rate in effect on the Conversion Date of such Component Currency.

Election Date” shall mean the date for any series of Registered Securities as specified pursuant to clause (15) of Section 3.01 by which the written election referred to in paragraph (b) above may be made.

 

37


All decisions and determinations of the Exchange Rate Agent regarding the Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency, the Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit, the Market Exchange Rate and changes in the Specified Amounts as specified above shall be in its sole discretion and shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Company, the Trustees and all Holders of such Securities denominated or payable in the relevant Currency. The Exchange Rate Agent shall promptly give written notice to the Company and the Trustees of any such decision or determination.

In the event that the Company determines in good faith that a Conversion Event has occurred with respect to a Foreign Currency, the Company will immediately give written notice thereof to the Trustees and to the Exchange Rate Agent (and the Trustees will promptly thereafter give notice in the manner provided for in Section 1.07 to the affected Holders) specifying the Conversion Date. In the event the Company so determines that a Conversion Event has occurred with respect to the Euro or any other currency unit in which Securities are denominated or payable, the Company will immediately give written notice thereof to the Trustees and to the Exchange Rate Agent (and the Trustees will promptly thereafter give notice in the manner provided for in Section 1.07 to the affected Holders) specifying the Conversion Date and the Specified Amount of each Component Currency on the Conversion Date. In the event the Company determines in good faith that any subsequent change in any Component Currency as set forth in the definition of Specified Amount above has occurred, the Company will similarly give written notice to the Trustees and the Exchange Rate Agent.

The Trustees shall be fully justified and protected in relying and acting upon information received by it from the Company and the Exchange Rate Agent and shall not otherwise have any duty or obligation to determine the accuracy or validity of such information independent of the Company or the Exchange Rate Agent.

SECTION 3.13 Appointment and Resignation of Successor Exchange Rate Agent.

(a) Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01, if and so long as the Securities of any series (i) are denominated in a Currency other than Dollars or (ii) may be payable in a Currency other than Dollars, or so long as it is required under any other provision of this Indenture, then the Company will maintain with respect to each such series of Securities, or as so required, at least one Exchange Rate Agent. The Company will cause the Exchange Rate Agent to make the necessary foreign exchange determinations at the time and in the manner specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for the purpose of determining the applicable rate of exchange and, if applicable, for the purpose of converting the issued Currency into the applicable payment Currency for the payment of principal, premium (if any) and interest (if any) pursuant to Section 3.12.

(b) The Company shall have the right to remove and replace from time to time the Exchange Rate Agent for any series of Securities. No resignation of the Exchange Rate Agent and no appointment of a successor Exchange Rate Agent pursuant to this Section 3.13 shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Exchange Rate Agent as evidenced by a written instrument delivered to the Company and the Trustees.

(c) If the Exchange Rate Agent shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of the Exchange Rate Agent for any cause with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Exchange Rate Agent or Exchange Rate Agents with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Exchange Rate Agent may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01, at any time there shall only be one Exchange Rate Agent with respect to the Securities of any particular series that are originally issued by the Company on the same date and that are initially denominated and/or payable in the same Currency).

 

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ARTICLE FOUR

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

SECTION 4.01 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Securities specified in such Company Request (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities of such series expressly provided for herein or pursuant hereto and the rights of Holders of such series of Securities and any related coupons to receive, solely from the trust fund described in subclause (b) of clause (1) of this Section 4.01, payments in respect of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any) on such Securities and any related coupons when such payments are due and except as provided in the last paragraph of this Section 4.01) and the Trustees, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series when

 

  (1)

either

(a) all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered and all coupons, if any, appertaining thereto (other than (i) coupons appertaining to Bearer Securities surrendered for exchange for Registered Securities and maturing after such exchange, whose surrender is not required or has been waived as provided in Section 3.05, (ii) Securities and coupons of such series which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.06, (iii) coupons appertaining to Securities called for redemption and maturing after the relevant Redemption Date, whose surrender has been waived as provided in Section 11.06, and (iv) Securities and coupons of such series for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust with either Trustee or any Paying Agent or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company, as provided in Section 10.03) have been delivered to either Trustee for cancellation; or

(b) all Securities of such series and, in the case of (i) or (ii) below, any coupons appertaining thereto not theretofore delivered to either Trustee for cancellation

 

  (i)

have become due and payable, or

 

  (ii)

will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or

 

  (iii)

if redeemable at the option of the Company, are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustees for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustees in the name, and at the expense, of the Company,

and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with either Trustee as trust funds in trust for such purpose an amount in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable, sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to such Trustee for cancellation, for principal, premium (if any) and interest (if any) to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

 

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  (2)

the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and

 

  (3)

the Company has delivered to the Trustees an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series have been complied with.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustees under Section 6.07, the obligations of the Trustees to any Authenticating Agent under Section 6.12 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustees pursuant to subclause (b) of clause (1) of this Section 4.01, the obligations of the Trustees under Section 4.02 and the last paragraph of Section 10.03 shall survive.

SECTION 4.02 Application of Trust Money.

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.03, all money deposited with the Trustees pursuant to Section 4.01 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities, the coupons and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustees may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal, premium (if any) and interest (if any) for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustees; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

ARTICLE FIVE

REMEDIES

SECTION 5.01 Events of Default.

Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body), unless such event is specifically deleted or modified in or pursuant to a supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate establishing the terms of such series pursuant to Section 3.01 of this Indenture:

 

  (1)

default in the payment of any interest due on any Security of that series, or any related coupon, when such interest or coupon becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

 

  (2)

default in the payment of the principal or premium (if any) in respect of any Security of that series at its Maturity; or

 

  (3)

default in the deposit of any sinking fund, amortization or analogous payment when due by the terms of any Security of that series and Article Twelve; or

 

  (4)

default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture which affects or is applicable to the Securities of that series (other than a covenant or agreement, a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section 5.01 specifically dealt with), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given (and 120 days with respect to a default or breach under Section 7.05), by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustees or to the Company and the Trustees by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

 

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  (5)

the entry of a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises adjudging the Company bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company under or subject to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada), the U.S. Federal Bankruptcy Code or any other federal, provincial, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency or analogous laws, or the issuance of a sequestration order or the (appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or in receipt of any substantial part of the property of the Company, and any such decree, order or appointment continues unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or

 

  (6)

the institution by the Company of proceedings to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under or subject to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada), the U.S. Federal Bankruptcy Code or any other federal, provincial, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency or analogous laws or the consent by it to the filing of any such petition or to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due or the taking by it of corporate action in furtherance of any of the aforesaid purposes; or

 

  (7)

any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series.

SECTION 5.02 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

If an Event of Default described in clause (1), (2), (3), (4) or (7) of Section 5.01 with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case, either Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, may declare the principal amount (or, if the Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of all of the Securities of that series and all interest thereon to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustees if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified portion thereof) shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in clause (5) or (6) of Section 5.01 occurs and is continuing, then the principal amount of all the Securities shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustees or any Holder.

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series (or of all series, as the case may be) has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by either Trustee as hereinafter provided in this Article Five, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series (or of all series, as the case may be), by written notice to the Company and the Trustees, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

 

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  (1)

the Company has paid or deposited with either Trustee a sum sufficient to pay in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 3.12(b), 3.12(d) and 3.12(e)),

 

  (a)

all overdue interest (if any) on all Outstanding Securities of that series (or of all series, as the case may be) and any related coupons,

 

  (b)

all unpaid principal of and premium (if any) on any Outstanding Securities of that series (or of all series, as the case may be) which has become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration, and interest on such unpaid principal and premium (if any) at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities,

 

  (c)

to the extent that payment of such interest is legally enforceable, interest on overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and

 

  (d)

all sums paid or advanced by the Trustees hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustees, their agents and counsel; and

 

  (2)

all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series (or of all series, as the case may be), other than the non-payment of amounts of principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) on Securities of that series (or of all series, as the case may be) which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.13.

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

SECTION 5.03 Collection of Debt and Suits for Enforcement by Trustees.

The Company covenants that if

 

  (1)

default is made in the payment of any installment of interest on any Security and any related coupon when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or

 

  (2)

default is made in the payment of the principal of or premium (if any) any Security at the Maturity thereof,

then the Company will, upon demand of the Trustees, pay to the applicable Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities and coupons, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities and coupons for principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any) and interest on any overdue principal, overdue premium (if any) and, to the extent lawful, overdue interest (if any), at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustees, their agents and counsel.

If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustees, in their own names as trustees of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.

 

42


If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series (or of all series, as the case may be) occurs and is continuing, either Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series (or of all series, as the case may be) by such appropriate judicial proceedings as such Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

SECTION 5.04 Trustees May File Proofs of Claim.

In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, each Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether either Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal, premium (if any) or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,

 

  (i)

to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal and premium (if any), or such portion of the principal amount of any series of Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities as may be specified in the terms of such series, and interest (if any) owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of such Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of such Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

 

  (ii)

to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to such Trustee and, in the event that such Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to such Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of each Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due to such Trustee under Section 6.07.

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustees to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustees to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

SECTION 5.05 Trustees May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture, the Securities or coupons may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustees without the possession of any of the Securities or coupons or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by either Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of such Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities and coupons in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

 

43


SECTION 5.06 Application of Money Collected.

Any money collected by either Trustee pursuant to this Article Five shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustees and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) upon presentation of the Securities or coupons, or both, as the case may be, and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

First: to the payment of all amounts due the Trustees under Section 6.07;

Second: to the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any), on the Securities and coupons 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 and coupons for principal, premium (if any) and interest (if any), respectively; and

Third: the balance, if any, to the Person or Persons entitled thereto.

SECTION 5.07 Limitation on Suits.

No Holder of any Security of any series or any related coupons shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture or the Securities, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless

 

  (1)

such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustees of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series;

 

  (2)

the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series in the case of any Event of Default described in clause (1), (2), (3), (4) or (7) of Section 5.01, or, in the case of any Event of Default described in clause (5) or (6) of Section 5.01, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities, shall have made written request to the Trustees to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in their own names as Trustees hereunder;

 

  (3)

such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustees reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

 

  (4)

the Trustees for 60 days after their receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity have failed to institute any such proceeding; and

 

  (5)

no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustees during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority or more in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series in the case of any Event of Default described in clause (1), (2), (3), (4) or (7) of Section 5.01, or in the case of any Event of Default described in clause (5) or (6) of Section 5.01, by the Holders of a majority or more in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities;

 

44


it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holders of Securities of the same series, in the case of any Event of Default described in clause (1), (2), (3), (4) or (7) of Section 5.01, or of Holders of all Securities in the case of any Event of Default described in clause (5) or (6) of Section 5.01, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all Holders of Securities of the same series, in the case of any Event of Default described in clause (1), (2), (3), (4) or (7) of Section 5.01, or of Holders of all Securities in the case of any Event of Default described in clause (5) or (6) of Section 5.01.

SECTION 5.08 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment, as provided herein (including, if applicable, Article Fourteen) and in such Security, of the principal of and premium (if any) and (subject to Section 3.07) interest (if any) on, such Security or payment of such coupon on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security or coupon (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date or, in the case of repayment at the option of the Holder as contemplated by Article Twelve, on the Repayment Date) and subject to the limitations on a Holder’s ability to institute suit contained Section 5.07, to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

SECTION 5.09 Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

If either Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to such Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustees and the Holders of Securities and coupons shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustees and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

SECTION 5.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities or coupons in the last paragraph of Section 3.06, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustees or to the Holders of Securities or coupons is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not, to the extent permitted by law, prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

SECTION 5.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

No delay or omission of the Trustees or of any Holder of any Security or coupon to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article Five or by law to the Trustees or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustees or by the Holders, as the case may be.

 

45


SECTION 5.12 Control by Holders.

With respect to the Securities of any series, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustees, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustees, relating to or arising under clause (1), (2), (3), (4) or (7) of Section 5.01, and, with respect to all Securities, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustees, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustees, not relating to or arising under clause (1), (2), (3), (4) or (7) of Section 5.01, provided that in each case

 

  (1)

such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture,

 

  (2)

the Trustees may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustees which is not inconsistent with such direction, and

 

  (3)

the Trustees need not take any action which might involve them in personal liability or be unjustly prejudicial to the Holders of Securities of such series not consenting.

SECTION 5.13 Waiver of Past Defaults.

Subject to Section 5.02, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past Default described in clause (1), (2), (3), (4) or (7) of Section 5.01 (or, in the case of a Default described in clause (5) or (6) of Section 5.01, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities may waive any such past Default), and its consequences, except a default

 

  (1)

in respect of the payment of the principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) on any Security or any related coupon, or

 

  (2)

in respect of a covenant or provision herein which under Article Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Security of such series affected.

Upon any such waiver, any such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

SECTION 5.14 Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws.

The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustees, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

 

46


SECTION 5.15 Undertaking for Costs.

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against either Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs against any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in Trust Indenture Legislation; provided, however, that neither this Section 5.15 nor the provisions of TIA Section 315(e) shall apply to any suit instituted by either Trustee or by any Holder or group of Holders holding more than 10% in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities or by any Holder of any Security on any suit for the enforcement of the right to receive the principal of and interest on any such Securities.

ARTICLE SIX

THE TRUSTEES

SECTION 6.01 Notice of Defaults.

Each Trustee shall promptly give the other Trustee notice of any Default or Event of Default known to it. Within a reasonable time, but no more than 30 days after either Trustee has knowledge of any Default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series, one or both of the Trustees shall transmit in the manner and to the extent provided in Trust Indenture Legislation, including TIA Section 313(c), notice to the Holders of such Default hereunder known to either Trustee, unless such Default shall have been cured or waived (and, in the case where such Default shall have been cured, the Trustees shall notify the Holders in writing of such cure in writing within a reasonable time, but not exceeding 30 days, after the Trustees have become aware that the Default has been cured); provided, however, that, except in the case of a Default in the payment of the principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) on any Security of such series or in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to Securities of such series, the Trustees shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of each Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of Securities of such series and any related coupons; provided further that in the case of any Default of the character specified in clause (4) of Section 5.01 with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof.

SECTION 6.02 Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustees.

(a) The Trustees, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing of all Events of Default that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform with respect to the Securities of any 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 Trustees.

(b) In all instances, in the exercise of the powers, rights, duties and discharge of obligations prescribed or conferred by the terms of this Indenture, each Trustee shall act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Holders and exercise that degree of care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent trustee in respect of indentures for the purpose of issuing corporate debt obligations would exercise in comparable circumstances.

(c) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve each Trustee from liability for its own actions or failure to act in accordance with Subsection 6.02(b), except that:

 

  (i)

prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred:

 

47


  (A)

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

 

  (B)

in the absence of bad faith on the part of either Trustee, such Trustee may 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 Trustees and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture and Trust Indenture Legislation; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustees, the Trustees shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture; provided, however, the Canadian Trustee shall not be required to determine whether the certificates or opinions presented to it conform to the Trust Indenture Act and the U.S. Trustee shall not be required to determine whether the certificates or opinions presented to it conform to Canadian Trust Indenture Legislation.

 

  (ii)

the Trustees shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by them 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 Trustees, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustees under this Indenture;

 

  (iii)

none of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require either Trustee to expend or risk their own funds or otherwise incur personal or any financial liability in the performance of any of their duties or in the exercise of any of their rights or powers; and

 

  (iv)

whether or not therein expressly so provided, except to the extent expressly provided herein to the contrary, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or effecting the liability or affording protection to the Trustees shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 6.02.

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6.02 or any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities, the Trustees will not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any Event of Default or any other fact that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustees, or the taking of any other action by the Trustees, unless and until the Trustees have received written notice thereof from the Company or any Holder.

SECTION 6.03 Certain Rights of Trustees.

Subject to the provisions of TIA Sections 315(a) through 315(d):

 

  (1)

the Trustees may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by them to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

 

48


  (2)

any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

 

  (3)

whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustees shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, each Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officer’s Certificate;

 

  (4)

the Trustees may consult with counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by them hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

 

  (5)

the Trustees shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of Securities of any series or any related coupons pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustees reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by them in compliance with such request or direction;

 

  (6)

the Trustees shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustees, in their discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as they may see fit, and, if the Trustees shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, they shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney;

 

  (7)

in an Event of Default, the Trustees’ powers shall not be infringed upon so long as they act in accordance with Section 6.02(b);

 

  (8)

the Trustees 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 Trustees shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by them hereunder; and

 

  (9)

the Trustees shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted by them in good faith and believed by them to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon them by this Indenture, so long as they act in accordance with this Section 6.02(b).

SECTION 6.04 Trustees Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except for a Trustee’s certificate of authentication, and in any coupons shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and neither Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustees make no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities or coupons, except

 

49


that the Trustees represent that they are duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Securities and perform their obligations hereunder and that the statements made by the U.S. Trustee in a Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 supplied to the Company are true and accurate, subject to the qualifications set forth therein. Neither Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof. Nothing herein contained will impose on either Trustee any obligation to see to, or to require evidence of, the registration or filing (or renewal thereof) of this Indenture or any supplemental indenture. The Trustees shall not be bound to give notice to any person of the execution hereof.

SECTION 6.05 May Hold Securities.

The Trustees, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company or of the Trustees, in their individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and coupons and, subject to TIA Sections 310(b) and 311, may otherwise deal with the Company, including, without limitation, as a creditor of the Company, with the same rights they would have if they were not Trustees, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent. A Trustee that has resigned or is removed shall remain subject to TIA Section 311(a) to the extent provided therein.

SECTION 6.06 Money Held in Trust.

Money held by the Trustees in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustees shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by them hereunder except as otherwise agreed with the Company.

SECTION 6.07 Compensation and Reimbursement.

The Company agrees:

 

  (1)

to pay to the Trustees from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by them hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

 

  (2)

except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustees upon their request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustees in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of their agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to the U.S. Trustee’s gross negligence or bad faith or the Canadian Trustee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, respectively; and

 

  (3)

to indemnify the Trustees for, and to hold them and their directors, officers, agents, representatives, successors, assigns and employees harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without gross negligence or bad faith on the part of the U.S. Trustee, or gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Canadian Trustee, respectively, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and other reasonable costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of their powers or duties hereunder.

 

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The obligations of the Company under this Section 6.07 to compensate the Trustees, to pay or reimburse the Trustees for expenses, disbursements and advances and to indemnify and hold harmless the Trustees shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder and shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee. As security for the performance of such obligations of the Company, the Trustees shall have a claim prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustees as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) on particular Securities or any coupons.

When the Trustees incur expenses or render services in connection with an Event of Default specified in clause (5) or (6) of Section 5.01, the expenses (including reasonable charges and expense of its counsel) of and the compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable United States or Canadian federal, state or provincial bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.

The provisions of this Section 6.07 shall survive the termination of this Indenture.

SECTION 6.08 Corporate Trustees Required; Eligibility.

 

  (1)

There shall be at all times a U.S. Trustee hereunder which shall be eligible to act as Trustee under TIA Section 310(a)(1) and, together with its immediate parent, shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If the U.S. Trustee publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of United States federal, state, territorial or District of Columbia supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 6.08, the combined capital and surplus of U.S. Trustee shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the U.S. Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.08, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article Six.

 

  (2)

For so long as required by Trust Indenture Legislation, there shall be a Canadian Trustee under this Indenture. The Canadian Trustee shall at all times be a resident or authorized to do business in the Province of [Ontario] and any other province in Canada where Holders may be resident from time to time. The Canadian Trustee represents and warrants that no material conflict of interest exists in the Canadian Trustee’s role as a fiduciary hereunder and agrees that in the event of a material conflict of interest arising hereafter it will, within 30 days after ascertaining that it has such material conflict of interest, either eliminate the same or resign its trust hereunder. If any such material conflict of interests exists or hereafter shall exist, the validity and enforceability of this Indenture shall not be affected in any manner whatsoever by reason thereof.

 

  (3)

The Trustees will not be required to give any bond or security in respect of the execution of the trusts and powers set out in this Indenture or otherwise in respect of the premises.

 

  (4)

Neither Trustee nor any Affiliate of either Trustee shall be appointed a receiver or receiver and manager or liquidator of all or any part of the assets or undertaking of the Company.

 

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SECTION 6.09 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

 

  (1)

No resignation or removal of either Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article Six shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.10.

 

  (2)

Either Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 6.10 shall not have been delivered to such Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

  (3)

Either Trustee may be removed following 30 days notice at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to such Trustee and to the Company.

 

  (4)

If at any time:

 

  (i)

either Trustee shall acquire any conflicting interest as defined in TIA Section 310(b) and fail to comply with the provisions of TIA Section 310(b)(i), or

 

  (ii)

either Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of TIA Section 310(b) after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

 

  (iii)

either Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 6.08 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

 

  (iv)

either Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of such Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of such Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

then, in any such case, (i) the Company, by a Board Resolution, may remove such Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (ii) subject to TIA Section 315(e), any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of such Trustee with respect to all Securities of such series and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

 

  (5)

If either Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of the U.S. Trustee or the Canadian Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series) provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to appoint a successor Trustee to the Canadian Trustee if

 

52


  the Canadian Trustee resigns or is removed and a Canadian Trustee under this Indenture is no longer required under Trust Indenture Legislation. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner hereinafter provided, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

  (6)

The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of a Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to the Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided for in Section 1.07. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

 

  (7)

If a Canadian Trustee under this Indenture is no longer required by Trust Indenture Legislation, then the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Canadian Trustee.

SECTION 6.10 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

 

  (1)

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.

 

  (2)

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 (1) 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, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to

 

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  provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates. Whenever there is a successor Trustee with respect to one or more (but less than all) series of Securities issued pursuant to this Indenture, the terms “Indenture” and “Securities” shall have the meanings specified in the provisos to the respective definitions of those terms in Section 1.01 which contemplate such situation.

 

  (3)

Upon reasonable 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 rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (1) or (2) of this Section 6.10, as the case may be.

 

  (4)

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 Six.

SECTION 6.11 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

Any corporation into which either Trustee or its corporate trust business may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which either Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of either Trustee, shall be the successor of such Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article Six, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by a 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. In case any of the Securities shall not have been authenticated by such predecessor Trustee, any successor Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor Trustee. In all such cases such certificates shall have the full force and effect which this Indenture provides for the certificate of authentication of such Trustee; provided, however, that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee or to authenticate Securities in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.

 

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SECTION 6.12 Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

At any time when any of the Securities remain outstanding, the Trustees may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents, with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustees to authenticate Securities of such series and the Trustees shall give written notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve, in the manner provided for in Section 1.07. 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 applicable Trustee hereunder. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument in writing signed by a Responsible Officer of the Trustees, and a copy of such instrument shall be promptly furnished to the Company. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustees or either Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustees by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustees by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia or the laws of Canada or any province thereof, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by United States federal or state or Canadian federal or provincial authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 6.12, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.12, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section 6.12.

Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section 6.12, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustees or the Authenticating Agent.

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustees and to the Company. The Trustees may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.12, the Trustees may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give written notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve, in the manner provided for in Section 1.07. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section 6.12.

The Trustees agree to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section 6.12, and the Trustees shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, subject to the provisions of Section 6.07.

If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section 6.12, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to either Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in the following form:

(Certificate of Authentication may be executed by either Trustee)

_____________________, as U.S. Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

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Dated: ____________

 

,

as U.S. Trustee
By:  

 

 

As Authenticating Agent

By:  

 

 

Authorized Officer

_____________________, as Canadian Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

Dated: ____________

 

,

as Canadian Trustee
By:  

 

 

As Authenticating Agent

By:  

 

 

Authorized Officer

SECTION 6.13 Joint Trustees.

The rights, powers, duties and obligations conferred and imposed upon the Trustees are conferred and imposed upon and shall be exercised and performed by the U.S. Trustee and the Canadian Trustee individually, except to the extent the Trustees are required under Trust Indenture Legislation to perform such acts jointly, and neither Trustee shall be liable or responsible for the acts or omissions of the other Trustee. If the U.S. Trustee and Canadian Trustee are unable to agree jointly to act or refrain from acting, the applicable Trustee shall make the decision in accordance with its applicable legislation. Unless the context implies or requires otherwise, any written notice, request, direction, certificate, instruction, opinion or other document (each such document, a “Writing”) delivered pursuant to any provision of this Indenture to any of the U.S. Trustee or the Canadian Trustee shall be deemed for all purposes of this Indenture as delivery of such Writing to the Trustee. Each such Trustee in receipt of such Writing shall notify such other Trustee of its receipt of such Writing within two Business Days of such receipt provided, however, that any failure of such trustee in receipt of such Writing to so notify such other Trustee shall not be deemed as a deficiency in the delivery of such Writing to the Trustee.

 

56


SECTION 6.14 Other Rights of Trustees.

Each Trustee shall retain the right not to act and shall not be liable for refusing to act if, due to a lack of information or for any other reason whatsoever, either Trustee, in its sole judgment, determines that such act might cause it to be in non-compliance with any applicable anti-money laundering or anti-terrorist legislation, regulation or guideline. Further, should either Trustee, in its sole judgment, determine at any time that its acting under this Indenture has resulted in its being in non-compliance with any applicable anti-money laundering or anti-terrorist legislation, regulation or guideline, then it shall have the right to resign on 10 days written notice to all parties provided (i) that such Trustee’s written notice shall describe the circumstances of such non-compliance; and (ii) that if such circumstances are rectified to such Trustee’s satisfaction within such 10 day period, then such resignation shall not be effective.

The parties hereto acknowledge that Canadian federal and provincial legislation addressing the protection of individuals’ personal information (collectively, “Privacy Laws”) applies to obligations and activities under this Indenture. Despite any other provision of this Indenture, neither party shall take or direct any action that would contravene, or cause the other to contravene, applicable Privacy Laws. The Company, prior to transferring, or causing to be transferred, personal information to the Canadian Trustee, shall obtain and retain required consents of the relevant individuals to the collection, use and disclosure of their personal information, or shall have determined that such consents either have been previously given and can be relied on or are not required under Privacy Laws. The Canadian Trustee shall use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that its services hereunder comply with Privacy Laws. Specifically, the Trustee agrees to (i) have designated a chief privacy officer; (ii) maintain policies and procedures to protect personal information and to receive and respond to any privacy complaint or inquiry; (iii) use personal information solely for the purposes of providing its services under or ancillary to this Indenture and not to use it for any other purpose except with the consent and direction of the Company; (iv) not sell or otherwise improperly disclose personal information to any third party; and (v) use employee administrative, physical and technological safeguards to reasonably secure and protect personal information against loss, theft or unauthorized access, use or modification.

It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that the Canadian Trustee may, in the course of providing services hereunder, collect or receive, use and disclose financial and other personal information about such parties and/or their representatives, as individuals, or about other individuals related to the subject matter hereof, and use such information for the following purposes:

 

  (i)

to provide the services required under this Indenture and other services that may be requested from time to time;

 

  (ii)

to help the Canadian Trustee manage its servicing relationships with such individuals;

 

  (iii)

to meet the Canadian Trustee’s legal and regulatory requirements; and

 

  (iv)

if social insurance numbers are collected by the Canadian Trustee, to perform tax reporting and to assist in verification of an individual’s identity for security purposes.

Further, each party agrees that it shall not provide or cause to be provided to the Canadian Trustee any personal information relating to an individual who is not a party to this Indenture unless that party has assured itself that such individual understands and has consented to the aforementioned uses and disclosures. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Company and the Trustees may, without liability, disclose information about the Holders and beneficial owners or potential Holders or potential beneficial owners of the Securities pursuant to subpoena or other order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or when otherwise required by applicable law.

 

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Each Trustee hereby accepts the trusts in this Indenture declared and provided for and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein set forth and to hold all rights, privileges and benefits conferred hereby and by law in trust for the various persons who shall from time to time be holders, subject to all the terms and conditions herein set forth.

ARTICLE SEVEN

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

SECTION 7.01 Company to Furnish Trustees Names and Addresses of Holders.

The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustees (1) not more than 15 days after each Regular Record Date, or such lesser time as required by the Trustees, a list, in such form as the Trustees may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Holders as of such Regular Record Date; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to furnish or cause to be furnished such list at any time that the list shall not differ in any respect from the most recent list furnished to the Trustees by the Company or at such times as either Trustee is acting as Security Registrar for the applicable series of Securities and (2) at such other times as the Trustees 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.

SECTION 7.02 Preservation of List of Names and Addresses of Holders.

The Trustees shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to them as provided in Section 7.01 and as to the names and addresses of Holders received by either Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar for the applicable series of Securities (if acting in such capacity).

The Trustees may destroy any list furnished as provided in Section 7.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

Holders may communicate as provided in TIA Section 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities.

SECTION 7.03 Disclosure of Names and Addresses of Holders.

Every Holder of Securities or coupons, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustees that none of the Company or the Trustees or any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders in accordance with TIA Section 312, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustees shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under TIA Section 312(b).

 

58


SECTION 7.04 Reports by Trustees.

 

  (1)

Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with the first year after the first issuance of Securities pursuant to this Indenture, the U.S. Trustee shall transmit to the Holders of Securities, in the manner and to the extent provided in TIA Section 313(c), a brief report dated as of such reporting date, if required by TIA Section 313(a).

 

  (2)

The U.S. Trustee shall comply with TIA Sections 313(b) and 313(c).

 

  (3)

A copy of such report shall, at the time of such transmission to the Holders, be filed by the U.S. Trustee with the Company, with each securities exchange upon which any of the Securities are listed (if so listed) and also with the Commission. The Company agrees to notify the Trustees when the Securities become listed on any securities exchange.

SECTION 7.05 Reports by the Company.

 

  (1)

The Company will file with the Trustees, within 20 days after filing with or furnishing to the Commission, copies of its annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company is required to file or furnish with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of such sections, then to file with the Trustees and the Commission, in accordance with rules and reulations prescribed by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed in such rules and regulations; provided that any such reports, information or documents filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (EDGAR) system shall be deemed filed with the Trustees.

 

  (2)

The Company will transmit to all Holders, in the manner and to the extent provided in TIA Section 313(c), within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustees, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to paragraph (1) of this Section 7.05 as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.

 

  (3)

If at any time the Securities are guaranteed by a direct or indirect parent of the Company, and such parent has furnished the reports required by this Section 7.05 with respect to parent as required by this Section 7.05 as if parent were the Company (including any financial information required hereby), the Company shall be deemed to be in compliance with this Section 7.05.

 

59


ARTICLE EIGHT

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

SECTION 8.01 Company May Consolidate, etc., only on Certain Terms.

The Company shall not amalgamate or consolidate with or merge into or enter into any statutory arrangement with any other Person, or, directly or indirectly, convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, unless:

 

  (1)

the Person formed by or continuing from such amalgamation or consolidation or into which the Company is merged or with which it enters into such statutory arrangement or the Person which acquires by operation of law or by conveyance or transfer, or which leases, all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company shall be a corporation, partnership or trust organized and validly existing under the laws of Canada or any province or territory thereof, the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia or, if such amalgamation, consolidation, merger, statutory arrangement or other transaction would not impair the rights of Holders, any other country, and, unless the Company is the continuing corporation, shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustees, in form satisfactory to the Trustees, the Company’s obligation for the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any) on all the Securities and the performance and observance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

 

  (2)

immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have happened and be continuing; and

 

  (3)

the Company or such Person shall have delivered to the Trustees an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such amalgamation, consolidation, merger, statutory arrangement or other transaction and such supplemental indenture comply with this Article Eight and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

Notwithstanding the above, the Company may consolidate with, amalgamate with, undergo an arrangement with, merge with or into an Affiliate of the Company solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Company in a state of the United States or the District of Columbia or in another province or territory of Canada.

This Section 8.01 shall only apply to a merger, consolidation or amalgamation in which the Company is not the surviving Person and to conveyances, leases and transfers by the Company as transferor or lessor.

SECTION 8.02 Successor Person Substituted.

Upon any amalgamation or consolidation by the Company with or merger by the Company into any other corporation or a statutory arrangement or any conveyance, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company to any Person in accordance with Section 8.01, the successor Person formed by such amalgamation or consolidation or into which the Company is merged or statutory arrangement, or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein, and in the event of any such conveyance or transfer, the Company (which term shall for this purpose mean the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this Indenture or any successor Person which shall theretofore become such in the manner described in Section 8.01), except in the case of a lease, shall be discharged of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities and the coupons and may be dissolved and liquidated.

 

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ARTICLE NINE

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

SECTION 9.01 Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.

Notwithstanding Section 9.02, without the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and the Trustees, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustees, for any of the following purposes:

 

  (1)

to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company contained herein and in the Securities; or

 

  (2)

to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities and any related coupons (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or

 

  (3)

to add any additional Events of Default (and if such Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such Events of Default are being included solely for the benefit of such series); or

 

  (4)

to delete or modify any Events of Default with respect to all or any series of the Securities, the form and terms of which are being established pursuant to such supplemental indenture as permitted in Section 3.01 (and if such Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such Events of Default are being included solely for the benefit of such series, and to specify the rights and remedies of the Trustees and the Holders of such Securities in connection therewith); or

 

  (5)

to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to provide that Bearer Securities may be registrable as to principal, to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal of or any premium or interest on Bearer Securities, to permit Bearer Securities to be issued in exchange for Registered Securities, to permit Bearer Securities to be issued in exchange for Bearer Securities of other authorized denominations or to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form; provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series or any related coupons in any material respect; or

 

  (6)

to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture; provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Security Outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision; or

 

  (7)

to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 2.01 and 3.01; or

 

  (8)

to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 6.10; or

 

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  (9)

to close this Indenture with respect to the authentication and delivery of additional series of Securities; or

 

  (10)

to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein or in any indenture supplemental hereto which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture or to conform the terms hereof, as amended and supplemented, that are applicable to the Securities of any series to the description of the terms of such Securities in the offering memorandum, prospectus supplement or other offering document applicable to such Securities at the time of initial sale thereof; or

 

  (11)

to make any change in any series of Securities that does not adversely affect in any material respect the rights of the Holders of such Securities; or

 

  (12)

to add to or change or eliminate any provision of this Indenture as shall be necessary or desirable in accordance with any amendments to the Trust Indenture Act; or

 

  (13)

to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Sections 4.01, 14.02 and 14.03; provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series and any related coupons or any other series of Securities in any material respect; or

 

  (14)

to modify, eliminate or add to the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to effect the qualifications of this Indenture under any applicable law of the United States and Canada or of any province or territory thereof to the extent they do not conflict with the applicable law of the United States heretofore or hereafter enacted.

SECTION 9.02 Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.

Except as provided in Section 9.01 and this Section 9.02, with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustees, the Company, when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and the Trustees may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture which affect such series of Securities or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series,

 

  (1)

change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, premium (if any) or any installment of interest (if any) on any Security of such series, or reduce the principal amount thereof, premium (if any) or the rate of interest (if any) thereon, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security of such series that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02 or the amount thereof provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 5.04, or adversely affect any right of repayment at the option of any Holder of any Security of such series, or change any Place of Payment where, or the Currency in which, any

 

62


  Security of such series or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption or repayment at the option of the Holder, on or after the Redemption Date or Repayment Date, as the case may be), or adversely affect any right to convert or exchange any Security as may be provided pursuant to Section 3.01 herein, or

 

  (2)

reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture which affect such series or certain defaults applicable to such series hereunder and their consequences provided for in this Indenture, or reduce the requirements of Section 15.04 for quorum or voting with respect to Securities of such series, or

 

  (3)

modify any of the provisions of this 9.02 Section, Section 5.13 or Section 10.09, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture which affect such series cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series.

A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series. Any such supplemental indenture adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture, or modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series, shall not affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this 9.02 Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

SECTION 9.03 Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article Nine or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustees shall be entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. Each Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects such Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

SECTION 9.04 Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article Nine, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

 

63


SECTION 9.05 Conformity with Trust Indenture Legislation.

Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article Nine shall conform to the requirements of Trust Indenture Legislation as then in effect.

SECTION 9.06 Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article Nine may, and shall if required by the Trustees, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustees as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustees and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustees in exchange for outstanding Securities of such series.

SECTION 9.07 Notice of Supplemental Indentures.

Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustees of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.02, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Holders of each outstanding Security affected, in the manner provided for in Section 1.07, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture.

ARTICLE TEN

COVENANTS

SECTION 10.01 Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each series of Securities and any related coupons that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any), on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of the Securities, any coupons appertaining thereto and this Indenture. Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, any interest installments due on Bearer Securities on or before Maturity shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the several coupons for such interest installments as are evidenced thereby as they severally mature.

SECTION 10.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency.

 

  (1)

If the Securities of a series are issuable as Registered Securities, the Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, where Securities of that series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served and, if the Securities of a series are also issuable as Bearer Securities, where Bearer Securities of that series and related coupons may be presented or surrendered for payment in the circumstances described in Subsection 10.02(3).

 

  (2)

If Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, the Company will maintain (A) subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto, in a Place of Payment for that series which is located outside the United States, an office or agency where Securities of that series and related coupons may be presented and surrendered for payment; provided,

 

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  however, that, if the Securities of that series are listed on any securities exchange located outside the United States and such securities exchange shall so require, the Company will maintain a Paying Agent for the Securities of that series in any required city located outside the United States so long as the Securities of that series are listed on such exchange and (B) subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto, in a Place of Payment for that series located outside the United States an office or agency where any Registered Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for exchange, where Securities of that series that are convertible and exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served.

 

  (3)

The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustees of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustees with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Offices of the Trustees, except that Bearer Securities of any series and the related coupons may be presented and surrendered for payment at the offices specified in the Security and the Company hereby appoints the same as its agents to receive such respective presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

  (4)

Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.01, no payment of principal, premium or interest on Bearer Securities shall be made at any office or agency of the Company in the United States or by check mailed to any address in the United States or by transfer to an account maintained with a bank located in the United States; provided, however, that, if the Securities of a series are payable in Dollars, payment of principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any), on any Bearer Security shall be made at the office of the Company’s Paying Agent in The City of New York, if (but only if) payment in Dollars of the full amount of such principal, premium or interest, as the case may be, at all offices or agencies outside the United States maintained for such purpose by the Company in accordance with this Indenture is illegal or effectively precluded by exchange controls or other similar restrictions.

 

  (5)

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind any such designation; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in accordance with the requirements set forth above for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustees of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency. Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to a series of Securities, the Company hereby initially appoints the U.S. Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office as Paying Agent in such city and as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

  (6)

Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.01, if and so long as the Securities of any series (i) are denominated in a Currency other than Dollars or (ii) may be payable in a Currency other than Dollars, or so long as it is required under any other provision of the Indenture, then the Company will maintain with respect to each such series of Securities, or as so required, at least one Exchange Rate Agent.

 

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SECTION 10.03 Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.

If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities and any related coupons, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) on any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 3.12(b), 3.12(d) and 3.12(e)) sufficient to pay the principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) on Securities of such series so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustees of its action or failure so to act.

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities and any related coupons, it will, prior to or on each due date of the principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum (in the Currency described in the preceding paragraph) sufficient to pay the principal, premium (if any) or interest (if any) 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 a Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustees of its action or failure so to act.

The Company will cause each Paying Agent (other than the Trustees) for any series of Securities to execute and deliver to the Trustees an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustees, subject to the provisions of this 10.03 Section, that such Paying Agent will:

 

  (1)

hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any) on Securities of such series in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;

 

  (2)

give the Trustees notice of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series) in the making of any payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) on the Securities of such series; and

 

  (3)

at any time during the continuance of any such default, upon the written request of the Trustees, forthwith pay to the Trustees all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.

The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustees all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustees upon the same trusts as those upon which sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustees, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such sums.

Except as provided in the Securities of any series, any money deposited with the Trustees or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) on any Security of any series, or any coupon appertaining thereto, and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security or coupon shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor,

 

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look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustees or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustees or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in an Authorized Newspaper, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

SECTION 10.04 Statement as to Compliance.

The Company shall deliver to the Trustees, on or before 120 days after the end of the Company’s fiscal year, an Officer’s Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company during such fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officer with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to such Officer, that the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking or propose to take with respect thereto). The Company shall deliver to the Trustees upon demand evidence in such form as the Trustees may require as to compliance by the Company with any condition or covenant of the Company set out herein relating to any action required or permitted to be taken by the Company under this Indenture or as a result of any obligation imposed by this Indenture. For purposes of this Section 10.04, such compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice under this Indenture.

SECTION 10.05 Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.

The Company will pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, (1) all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon the Company or upon the income, profits or property of the Company, and (2) all material lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a Lien upon any property or assets of the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.

SECTION 10.06 Corporate Existence.

Subject to Article Eight, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and the rights (charter and statutory) and franchises of the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company.

SECTION 10.07 Waiver of Certain Covenants.

The Company may, with respect to any series of Securities, omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition which affects such series set forth in Sections 10.06 and 10.07, or, as specified pursuant to Section 3.01(19) for Securities of such series, in any covenants of the Company added to this Article Ten pursuant to Section 3.01(19) in connection with Securities of such series, if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities of any series, by Act of such Holders, waive such compliance in such instance

 

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with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustees to Holders of Securities of such series in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

ARTICLE ELEVEN

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

SECTION 11.01 Applicability of Article.

Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with the terms of such Securities and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article Eleven.

SECTION 11.02 Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustees.

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by or pursuant to a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company, the Company shall, at least 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustees), notify the Trustees of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and shall deliver to the Trustees such documentation and records as shall enable the Trustees to select the Securities to be redeemed pursuant to Section 11.03. 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 to the Trustees an Officer’s Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction.

SECTION 11.03 Selection by Trustees of Securities to Be Redeemed.

If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustees, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustees shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions of the principal of Securities of such series; provided, however, that no such partial redemption shall reduce the portion of the principal amount of a Security not redeemed to less than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of such series established pursuant to Section 3.01.

The Trustees shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Security redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Security which has been or is to be redeemed.

SECTION 11.04 Notice of Redemption.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided for in Section 1.07 not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed. Failure to give notice in the manner provided in Section 1.07 to the Holder of any Securities designated for redemption as a whole or in part, or any defect in the notice to any such Holder, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities or portion thereof.

 

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All notices of redemption shall state:

 

  (1)

the Redemption Date,

 

  (2)

the Redemption Price and the amount of accrued interest to the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 11.06, if any,

 

  (3)

if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed,

 

  (4)

in case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice which relates to such Security shall state that on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Security, the Holder will receive, without charge, a new Security or Securities of authorized denominations for the principal amount thereof remaining unredeemed,

 

  (5)

that on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price and accrued interest (if any) to the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 11.06 will become due and payable upon each such Security, or the portion thereof, to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date,

 

  (6)

the Place or Places of Payment where such Securities, together in the case of Bearer Securities with all coupons appertaining thereto, if any, maturing after the Redemption Date, are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest (if any),

 

  (7)

that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case,

 

  (8)

that, unless otherwise specified in such notice, Bearer Securities of any series, if any, surrendered for redemption must be accompanied by all coupons maturing subsequent to the Redemption Date or the amount of any such missing coupon or coupons will be deducted from the Redemption Price unless security or indemnity satisfactory to the Company, the Trustees and any Paying Agent is furnished, and

 

  (9)

if Bearer Securities of any series are to be redeemed and any Registered Securities of such series are not to be redeemed, and if such Bearer Securities may be exchanged for Registered Securities not subject to redemption on such Redemption Date pursuant to Section 3.05 or otherwise, the last date, as determined by the Company, on which such exchanges may be made.

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustees in the name and at the expense of the Company.

 

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SECTION 11.05 Deposit of Redemption Price.

Prior to any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with a Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.03) an amount of money in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 3.12(b), 3.12(d) and 3.12(e)) sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and accrued interest (if any) on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.

SECTION 11.06 Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 3.12(b), 3.12(d) and 3.12(e)) (together with accrued interest (if any) to the Redemption Date), and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest (if any)) such Securities shall, if the same were interest-bearing, cease to bear interest and the coupons for such interest appertaining to any Bearer Securities so to be redeemed, except to the extent provided below, shall be void. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, together with all coupons, if any, appertaining thereto maturing after the Redemption Date, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest (if any), to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that installments of interest on Bearer Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States (except as otherwise provided in Section 10.02) and, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, only upon presentation and surrender of coupons for such interest; provided further that installments of interest on Registered Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant record dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.07.

If any Bearer Security surrendered for redemption shall not be accompanied by all appurtenant coupons maturing after the Redemption Date, such Security may be paid after deducting from the Redemption Price an amount equal to the face amount of all such missing coupons, or the surrender of such missing coupon or coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustees if there be furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Security shall surrender to the Trustees or any Paying Agent any such missing coupon in respect of which a deduction shall have been made from the Redemption Price, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount so deducted; provided, however, that interest represented by coupons shall be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States (except as otherwise provided in Section 10.02) and, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, only upon presentation and surrender of those coupons.

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal and premium (if any) shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) set forth in such Security.

SECTION 11.07 Securities Redeemed in Part.

Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part (pursuant to the provisions of this Article Eleven or of Article Twelve) shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustees so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustees duly executed by, the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the applicable Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

 

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ARTICLE TWELVE

SINKING FUNDS

SECTION 12.01 Applicability of Article.

Retirements of Securities of any series pursuant to any sinking fund shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article Twelve.

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 mandatory sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 12.02. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.

SECTION 12.02 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

Subject to Section 12.03, in lieu of making all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to any Securities of a series in cash, the Company may at its option (1) deliver to the Trustees Outstanding Securities of a such series (other than any previously called for redemption) theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company together in the case of any Bearer Securities of such series with all un-matured coupons appertaining thereto, and/or (2) receive credit for the principal amount of Securities of such series which have been previously delivered to the Trustees by the Company or 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 mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of the same series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such series; provided, however, that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustees at the Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such mandatory sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

SECTION 12.03 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustees an Officer’s Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 3.12(b), 3.12(d) and 3.12(e)) and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering or crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 12.02 (which Securities will, if not previously delivered, accompany such certificate) and whether the Company intends to exercise its right to make a permitted optional sinking fund payment with respect to such series.

 

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Such certificate shall be irrevocable and upon its delivery the Company shall be obligated to make the cash payment or payments therein referred to, if any, on or before the next succeeding sinking fund payment date. In the case of the failure of the Company to deliver such certificate, the sinking fund payment due on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date for that series shall be paid entirely in cash and shall be sufficient to redeem the principal amount of such Securities subject to a mandatory sinking fund payment without the option to deliver or credit Securities as provided in Section 12.02 and without the right to make any optional sinking fund payment, if any, with respect to such series.

Not more than 60 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustees shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 11.03 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 11.04. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 11.06 and 11.07.

Prior to any sinking fund payment date, the Company shall pay to the Trustees or a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.03) in cash a sum equal to any interest that will accrue to the date fixed for redemption of Securities or portions thereof to be redeemed on such sinking fund payment date pursuant to this 12.03 Section.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to a sinking fund for any series of Securities, if at any time the amount of cash to be paid into such sinking fund on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date, together with any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payment or payments for such series, does not exceed in the aggregate $100,000, the Trustees, unless requested by the Company, shall not give the next succeeding notice of the redemption of Securities of such series through the operation of the sinking fund. Any such unused balance of moneys deposited in such sinking fund shall be added to the sinking fund payment for such series to be made in cash on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date or, at the request of the Company, shall be applied at any time or from time to time to the purchase of Securities of such series, by public or private purchase, in the open market or otherwise, at a purchase price for such Securities (excluding accrued interest and brokerage commissions, for which the Trustees or any Paying Agent will be reimbursed by the Company) not in excess of the principal amount thereof.

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

REPAYMENT AT OPTION OF HOLDERS

SECTION 13.01 Applicability of Article.

Repayment of Securities of any series before their Stated Maturity at the option of Holders thereof shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article Thirteen.

SECTION 13.02 Repayment of Securities.

Securities of any series subject to repayment in whole or in part at the option of the Holders thereof will, unless otherwise provided in the terms of such Securities, be repaid at a price equal to the principal amount thereof, together with interest (if any) thereon accrued to the Repayment Date specified in or pursuant to the terms of such Securities. The Company covenants that, with respect to such Securities, on or before the Repayment Date it will deposit with a Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.03) an amount of money in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 3.12(b), 3.12(d) and 3.12(e)) sufficient to pay the principal (or, if so provided by the terms of the Securities of any series, a percentage of the principal) of and (except if the Repayment Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest (if any) on, all the Securities or portions thereof, as the case may be, to be repaid on such date.

 

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SECTION 13.03 Exercise of Option.

Securities of any series subject to repayment at the option of the Holders thereof will contain an “Option to Elect Repayment” form on the reverse of such Securities. To be repaid at the option of the Holder, any Security so providing for such repayment, with the “Option to Elect Repayment” form on the reverse of such Security duly completed by the Holder (or by the Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing), must be received by the Company at the Place of Payment therefor specified in the terms of such Security (or at such other place or places which the Company shall from time to time notify the Holders of such Securities) not earlier than 45 days nor later than 30 days prior to the Repayment Date. If less than the entire principal amount of such Security is to be repaid in accordance with the terms of such Security, the principal amount of such Security to be repaid, in increments of the minimum denomination for Securities of such series, and the denomination or denominations of the Security or Securities to be issued to the Holder for the portion of the principal amount of such Security surrendered that is not to be repaid, must be specified. The principal amount of any Security providing for repayment at the option of the Holder thereof may not be repaid in part if, following such repayment, the unpaid principal amount of such Security would be less than the minimum authorized denomination of Securities of the series of which such Security to be repaid is a part. Except as otherwise may be provided by the terms of any Security providing for repayment at the option of the Holder thereof, exercise of the repayment option by the Holder shall be irrevocable unless waived by the Company.

SECTION 13.04 When Securities Presented for Repayment Become Due and Payable.

If Securities of any series providing for repayment at the option of the Holders thereof shall have been surrendered as provided in this Article Thirteen and as provided by or pursuant to the terms of such Securities, such Securities or the portions thereof, as the case may be, to be repaid shall become due and payable and shall be paid by the Company on the Repayment Date therein specified, and on and after such Repayment Date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Securities on such Repayment Date) such Securities shall, if the same were interest- bearing, cease to bear interest and the coupons for such interest appertaining to any Bearer Securities so to be repaid, except to the extent provided below, shall be void. Upon surrender of any such Security for repayment in accordance with such provisions, together with all coupons, if any, appertaining thereto maturing after the Repayment Date, the principal amount of such Security so to be repaid shall be paid by the Company, together with accrued interest (if any) to the Repayment Date; provided, however, that coupons whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Repayment Date shall be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States (except as otherwise provided in Section 10.02) and, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01, only upon presentation and surrender of such coupons; provided further that, in the case of Registered Securities, installments of interest (if any) whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Repayment Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.07.

If any Bearer Security surrendered for repayment shall not be accompanied by all appurtenant coupons maturing after the Repayment Date, such Security may be paid after deducting from the amount payable therefor as provided in Section 13.02 an amount equal to the face amount of all such missing coupons, or the surrender of such missing coupon or coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustees if there be furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Security shall surrender to the Trustees

 

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or any Paying Agent any such missing coupon in respect of which a deduction shall have been made as provided in the preceding sentence, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount so deducted; provided, however, that interest represented by coupons shall be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States (except as otherwise provided in Section 10.02) and, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01, only upon presentation and surrender of those coupons.

If any Security surrendered for repayment shall not be so repaid upon surrender thereof for repayment, the principal amount and premium (if any) shall, until paid, bear interest from the Repayment Date at the rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) set forth in such Security.

SECTION 13.05 Securities Repaid in Part.

Upon surrender of any Registered Security which is to be repaid in part only, the Company shall execute and the applicable Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security, without service charge and at the expense of the Company, a new Registered Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination specified by the Holder, in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the portion of the principal of such Security so surrendered which is not to be repaid.

ARTICLE FOURTEEN

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

SECTION 14.01 Companys Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of any series, the provisions of this Article Fourteen shall apply to each series of Securities, and the Company may, at its option, effect defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under Section 14.02, or covenant defeasance of or within a series under Section 14.03 in accordance with the terms of such Securities and in accordance with this Article Fourteen.

SECTION 14.02 Defeasance and Discharge.

Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section 14.02 with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Securities and any related coupons on the date the conditions set forth in Section 14.04 are satisfied (hereinafter, “defeasance”). For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Securities and any related coupons, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “Outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 14.05 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (A) and (B) below, and to have satisfied all of its other obligations under such Securities and any related coupons and this Indenture insofar as such Securities and any related coupons are concerned (and the Trustees, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (A) the rights of Holders of such Securities and any related coupons to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 14.04 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any) on such Securities and any related coupons when such payments are due, (B) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 3.05, 3.06, 10.02 and 10.03, (C) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustees hereunder and (D) this Article Fourteen. Subject to compliance with this Article Fourteen, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 14.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 14.03 with respect to such Securities and any related coupons.

 

74


SECTION 14.03 Covenant Defeasance.

Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section 14.03 with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company shall be released from its obligations under Sections 10.05 and 10.06, and, if specified pursuant to Section 3.01, its obligations under any other covenant, with respect to such Securities and any related coupons on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 14.04 are satisfied (hereinafter, “covenant defeasance”), and such Securities and any related coupons shall thereafter be deemed not to be “Outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or Act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “Outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to such Securities and any related coupons, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under clauses (4) or (7) of Section 5.01 or otherwise but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities and any related coupons shall be unaffected thereby.

SECTION 14.04 Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The following shall be the conditions to application of either Section 14.02 or Section 14.03 to any Securities of or within a series and any related coupons:

 

  (1)

The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with either Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 6.08 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article Fourteen applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities and any related coupons, (A) an amount (in such Currency in which such Securities and any related coupons are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity), or (B) Government Obligations applicable to such Securities (determined on the basis of the Currency in which such Securities are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity) which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment of principal of and premium (if any) and interest (if any) under such Securities and any related coupons, money in an amount, or (C) 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 Trustees, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustees (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 6.08 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article Fourteen) to pay and discharge, (i) the principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any) on such Securities and any related coupons on the Stated Maturity (or Redemption Date, if applicable) of such principal of, premium (if any) or installment of interest (if any), (ii) any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments applicable to such Securities and any related coupons on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Securities and any related coupons, and (iii) all amounts due the Trustees under Section 6.07; provided that the Trustees shall have been irrevocably instructed to apply such money or the proceeds of such Government Obligations to said payments with respect to such Securities and any related coupons. Before such a deposit, the Company may give to the Trustees, in accordance with Section 11.02, a notice of its election to redeem all or any portion of such Securities at a future date in accordance with the terms of such Securities and Article Eleven hereof, which notice shall be irrevocable. Such irrevocable redemption notice, if given, shall be given effect in applying the foregoing.

 

75


  (2)

No Default or Event of Default with respect to such Securities or any related coupons shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or, insofar as clauses (5) and (6) of Section 5.01 are concerned, at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).

 

  (3)

Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a Default or an Event of Default under, this Indenture or any default under any material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

 

  (4)

In the case of an election under Section 14.02, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustees an Opinion of Counsel in the United States stating that (x) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (y) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable United States federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of such Securities and any related coupons will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred.

 

  (5)

In the case of an election under Section 14.03, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustees an Opinion of Counsel in the United States to the effect that the Holders of such Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred.

 

  (6)

The Company shall have delivered to the Trustees an Opinion of Counsel in Canada or a ruling from the Canada Revenue Agency to the effect that the Holders of such Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for Canadian federal, provincial or territorial income tax or other tax purposes as a result of such defeasance or covenant defeasance, as applicable, and will be subject to Canadian federal, provincial or territorial income tax and other tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case had such defeasance or covenant defeasance, as applicable, not occurred (and for the purposes of such opinion, such Canadian counsel shall assume that Holders of such Securities include Holders who are not resident in Canada).

 

  (7)

The Company is not an “insolvent person” within the meaning of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada) on the date of such deposit or at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).

 

  (8)

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 14.04, such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall be effected in compliance with any additional or substitute terms, conditions or limitations in connection therewith pursuant to Section 3.01.

 

76


  (9)

The Company shall have delivered to the Trustees an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for, relating to either the defeasance under Section 14.02 or the covenant defeasance under Section 14.03 (as the case may be), have been complied with.

SECTION 14.05 Deposited Money and Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.03, all money and Government Obligations (or other property as may be provided pursuant to Section 3.01) (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with a Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 6.08 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article Fourteen) pursuant to Section 14.04 in respect of such Securities and any related coupons shall be held in trust and applied by such Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and any related coupons and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent), to the Holders of such Securities and any related coupons of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium (if any) and interest (if any) on such Securities but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Security pursuant to Section 3.01, if, after a deposit referred to in Section 14.04(1) has been made, (a) the Holder of a Security in respect of which such deposit was made is entitled to, and does, elect pursuant to Section 3.12(b) or the terms of such Security to receive payment in a Currency other than that in which the deposit pursuant to Section 14.04(1) has been made in respect of such Security, or (b) a Conversion Event occurs as contemplated in Section 3.12(d) or 3.12(e) or by the terms of any Security in respect of which the deposit pursuant to Section 14.04(1) has been made, the indebtedness represented by such Security and any related coupons shall be deemed to have been, and will be, fully discharged and satisfied through the payment of the principal of, premium (if any) and interest (if any) on such Security as they become due out of the proceeds yielded by converting (from time to time as specified below in the case of any such election) the amount or other property deposited in respect of such Security into the Currency in which such Security becomes payable as a result of such election or Conversion Event based on the applicable Market Exchange Rate for such Currency in effect on the third Business Day prior to each payment date, except, with respect to a Conversion Event, for such Currency in effect (as nearly as feasible) at the time of the Conversion Event.

The Company shall pay and indemnify such Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 14.04 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of such Securities and any related coupons.

Anything in this Article Fourteen to the contrary notwithstanding, such Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or Government Obligations (or other property and any proceeds therefrom) held by it as provided in Section 14.04 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to such Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent defeasance or covenant defeasance, as applicable, in accordance with this Article Fourteen.

 

77


SECTION 14.06 Reinstatement.

If a Trustee or any Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with Section 14.05 by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and such Securities and any related coupons shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 14.02 or 14.03, as the case may be, until such time as such Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 14.05; provided, however, that if the Company makes any payment of principal of, premium (if any) or interest (if any) on any such Security or any related coupon following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities and any related coupons to receive such payment from the money held by such Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE FIFTEEN

MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

SECTION 15.01 Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called.

If Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, a meeting of Holders of Securities of such series may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to this Article Fifteen to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series.

SECTION 15.02 Call, Notice and Place of Meetings.

 

  (1)

The Trustees may at any time call a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series for any purpose specified in Section 15.01, to be held at such time and at such place in The City of New York, in Toronto or in London as the Trustees shall determine. Notice of every meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given, in the manner provided for in Section 1.07, not less than 21 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

 

  (2)

In case at any time the Company, pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have requested the Trustees to call a meeting of the Holders of Securities of such series for any purpose specified in Section 15.01, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustees shall not have made the first publication of the notice of such meeting within 21 days after receipt of such request or shall not thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided herein, then the Company or the Holders of Securities of such series in the amount above specified, as the case may be, may determine the time and the place in The City of New York, in Toronto or in London for such meeting and may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided in paragraph (1) of this Section 15.02.

SECTION 15.03 Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings.

To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, a Person shall be (1) a Holder of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series, or (2) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy for a Holder or Holders of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series by such Holder of Holders. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel, any representatives of the Trustees and their counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

 

78


SECTION 15.04 Quorum; Action.

The Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Holders of Securities of such series; provided, however, that, if any action is to be taken at such meeting with respect to a consent or waiver which this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the Holders of not less than a specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series, the Persons entitled to vote such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes of the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Holders of Securities of such series, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chair of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chair of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 15.02(a), except that such notice need be given only once not less than five days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series which shall constitute a quorum.

Subject to the foregoing, at the reconvening of any meeting adjourned for lack of a quorum the Persons entitled to vote 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities at the time shall constitute a quorum for the taking of any action set forth in the notice of the original meeting.

Except as limited by the proviso to Section 9.02, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series who have casted their votes; provided, however, that, except as limited by the proviso to Section 9.02, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority, in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid by the affirmative vote of the Holders of not less than such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series.

Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly held in accordance with this Section 15.04 shall be binding on all the Holders of Securities of such series and the related coupons, whether or not present or represented at the meeting.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 15.04, if any action is to be taken at a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action that this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities affected thereby, or of the Holders of such series and one or more additional series:

 

  (i)

there shall be no minimum quorum requirement for such meeting; and

 

79


  (ii)

the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series that vote in favor of such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action shall be taken into account in determining whether such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action has been made, given or taken under this Indenture.

SECTION 15.05 Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings.

 

  (1)

Notwithstanding any provisions of this Indenture, the Trustees may make such reasonable regulations as they may deem advisable for any meeting of Holders of Securities of a series in regard to proof of the holding of Securities of such series and of the appointment of proxies and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as they shall deem appropriate. Except as otherwise permitted or required by any such regulations, the holding of Securities shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 1.05 and the appointment of any proxy shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 1.05 or by having the signature of the person executing the proxy witnessed or guaranteed by any trust company, bank or banker authorized by Section 1.05 to certify to the holding of Bearer Securities. Such regulations may provide that written instruments appointing proxies, regular on their face, may be presumed valid and genuine without the proof specified in Section 1.05 or other proof.

 

  (2)

The Trustees shall, by an instrument in writing appoint a temporary chair of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Holders of Securities as provided in Section 15.02(b), in which case the Company or the Holders of Securities of the series calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chair. A permanent chair and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting.

 

  (3)

At any meeting each Holder of a Security of such series or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by him (determined as specified in the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 1.01); provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chair of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The chair of the meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a Security of such series or a proxy.

 

  (4)

Any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly called pursuant to Section 15.02 at which a quorum is present may be adjourned from time to time by Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting; and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

SECTION 15.06 Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings.

The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Securities of such series or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts and serial numbers, if any, of the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by them. The permanent chair of the meeting

 

80


shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in duplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record, at least in duplicate, of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was given as provided in Section 15.02 and, if applicable, Section 15.04. Each copy shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chair and secretary of the meeting and one such copy shall be delivered to the Company, and another to the Trustees to be preserved by the Trustees, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting. Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.

 

81


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

BALLARD POWER SYSTEMS INC.
By:    
Name:    
Title:    
                  ,
as U.S. Trustee
By:    
Name:    
Title:    
By:    
Name:    
Title:    
                  ,
as Canadian Trustee
By:    
Name:    
Title:   Authorized Signing Officer
By:    
Name:    
Title:   Authorized Signing Officer

 

82


EXHIBIT A-1

FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE GIVEN BY

PERSON ENTITLED TO RECEIVE BEARER SECURITY

OR TO OBTAIN INTEREST PAYABLE PRIOR

TO THE EXCHANGE DATE

CERTIFICATE

BALLARD POWER SYSTEMS INC.

_____% Notes due _________________

This is to certify that as of the date hereof, and except as set forth below, the above-captioned Securities held by you for our account (i) are owned by any person(s) that is not a citizen or resident of the United States; a corporation or partnership (including any entity treated as a corporation or partnership for United States federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia unless, in the case of a partnership, United States Treasury Regulations provide otherwise; any estate whose income is subject to United States federal income tax regardless of its source; or a trust if (A) a United States court can exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more United States persons are authorized to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (B) it was in existence on August 20, 1996 and has a valid election in effect under applicable United States Treasury Regulations to be treated as a United States person (“United States persons(s)”), (ii) are owned by United States person(s) that are (a) foreign branches of United States financial institutions (financial institutions, as defined in United States. United States Treasury Regulation Section 1.165-12(c)(1)(iv) are herein referred to as “financial institutions”) purchasing for their own account or for resale, or (b) United States person(s) who acquired the Securities through foreign branches of United States financial institutions and who hold the Securities through such United States financial institutions on the date hereof (and in either case (a) or (b), each such United States financial institution hereby agrees, on its own behalf or through its agent, that you may advise Ballard Power Systems Inc. or its agent that such financial institution will comply with the requirements of Section 165(j)(3)(A), (B) or (C) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder), or (iii) are owned by United States or foreign financial institution(s) for purposes of resale during the restricted period (as defined in United States Treasury Regulation Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(7)), and, in addition, if the owner is a United States or foreign financial institution described in clause (iii) above (whether or not also described in clause (i) or (ii)), this is to further certify that such financial institution has not acquired the Securities for purposes of resale directly or indirectly to a United States person or to a person within the United States or its possessions.

As used herein, “United States” means the United States of America (including the states and the District of Columbia); and its “possessions” include Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Wake Island and the Northern Mariana Islands.

We undertake to advise you promptly in writing on or prior to the date on which you intend to submit your certification relating to the above-captioned Securities held by you for our account in accordance with your operating procedures if any applicable statement herein is not correct on such date, and in the absence of any such notification it may be assumed that this certification applies as of such date.

 

A-1-1


This certificate excepts and does not relate to U.S. $__________ of such interest in the above-captioned Securities in respect of which we are not able to certify and as to which we understand an exchange for an interest in a permanent global security or an exchange for and delivery of definitive Securities (or, if relevant, collection of any interest) cannot be made until we do so certify.

We understand that this certificate may be required in connection with certain tax legislation in the United States. If administrative or legal proceedings are commenced or threatened in connection with which this certificate is or would be relevant, we irrevocably authorize you to produce this certificate or a copy thereof to any interested party in such proceedings.

Dated:__________________

[To be dated no earlier than the 15th day prior to

(i) the Exchange Date or (ii) the relevant Interest

Payment Date occurring prior to the Exchange

Date, as applicable]

 

[Name of Person Making Certification]
By:    
Name:    
Title:    

 

A-1-2


EXHIBIT A-2

FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE GIVEN BY THE DEPOSITARY

IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXCHANGE OF A PORTION OF A

TEMPORARY GLOBAL SECURITY OR TO OBTAIN INTEREST

PAYABLE PRIOR TO THE EXCHANGE DATE

CERTIFICATE

BALLARD POWER SYSTEMS INC.

_____% Notes due _________________

This is to certify that based solely on written certifications that we have received in writing or by electronic transmission from each of the persons appearing in our records as persons entitled to a portion of the principal amount set forth below (our “Member Organizations”) substantially in the form attached hereto, as of the date hereof, U.S. $__________ principal amount of the above-captioned Securities (i) is owned by any person(s) that is not a citizen or resident of the United States; a corporation or partnership (including any entity treated as a corporation or partnership for United States federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia unless, in the case of a partnership, United States Treasury Regulations provide otherwise; any estate whose income is subject to United States federal income tax regardless of its source; or a trust if (A) a United States court can exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more United States persons are authorized to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (B) it was in existence on August 20, 1996 and has a valid election in effect under applicable United States Treasury Regulations to be treated as a United States person (“United States person(s)”), (ii) is owned by United States person(s) that are (a) foreign branches of United States financial institutions (financial institutions, as defined in United States Treasury Regulation Section 1.165-12(c)(1)(iv) are herein referred to as “financial institutions”) purchasing for their own account or for resale, or (b) United States person(s) who acquired the Securities through foreign branches of United States financial institutions and who hold the Securities through such United States financial institutions on the date hereof (and in either case (a) or (b), each such financial institution has agreed, on its own behalf or through its agent, that we may advise Ballard Power Systems Inc. or its agent that such financial institution will comply with the requirements of Section 165(j)(3)(A), (B) or (C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder), or (iii) is owned by United States or foreign financial institution(s) for purposes of resale during the restricted period (as defined in United States Treasury Regulation Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(7)) and, to the further effect, that financial institutions described in clause (iii) above (whether or not also described in clause (i) or (ii)) have certified that they have not acquired the Securities for purposes of resale directly or indirectly to a United States person or to a person within the United States or its possessions.

As used herein, “United States” means the United States of America (including the states and the District of Columbia); and its “possessions” include Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Wake Island and the Northern Mariana Islands.

We further certify that (i) we are not making available herewith for exchange (or, if relevant, collection of any interest) any portion of the temporary global Security representing the above-captioned Securities excepted in the above-referenced certificates of Member Organizations and (ii) as of the date hereof we have not received any notification from any of our Member Organizations to the effect that the statements made by such Member Organizations with respect to any portion of the part submitted herewith for exchange (or, if relevant, collection of any interest) are no longer true and cannot be relied upon as of the date hereof.

 

A-2-1


We understand that this certification is required in connection with certain tax legislation in the United States. If administrative or legal proceedings are commenced or threatened in connection with which this certificate is or would be relevant, we irrevocably authorize you to produce this certificate or a copy thereof to any interested party in such proceedings.

Dated:_____________

[To be dated as of (i) the Exchange Date or

(ii) the relevant Interest Payment Date occurring

prior to the Exchange Date, as applicable]

 

[INSERT NAME OF DEPOSITARY]
By:    
Name:    
Title:    

 

A-2-2

Exhibit 107

Calculation of Filing Fee Tables

Form F-10

(Form Type)

Ballard Power Systems Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Table 1: Newly Registered Securities

In U.S. Dollars

 

                 
    

Security

Type

  Security
Class Title
  Fee
Calculation
Rule or
Instruction
  Amount
Registered 
  Proposed
Maximum
Offering
Price Per
Unit
 

Maximum
Aggregate
Offering

Price

 

Fee

Rate

  Amount of
Registration Fee 
                 
Fees to Be Paid   Equity   Common Shares (no par value)     (1)   (1)   —    —    — 
                 
    Equity   Preferred Shares (no par value)     (1)   (1)   —    —    — 
                 
    Debt   Debt Securities     (1)   (1)   —    —    — 
                 
    Other   Warrants     (1)   (1)   —    —    — 
                 
    Other   Units     (1)   (1)   —    —    — 
                 
    Unallocated (Universal) Shelf   —    457(o)   (1)   (1)   $500,000,000 (1)(2)   $0.00015310  

$76,550

(1)(2)

                 
Fees Previously Paid   —    —    —    —    —    —    —    — 
           
    Total Offering Amounts     $500,000,000     $76,550
           
    Total Fees Previously Paid         NA
           
    Total Fee Offsets         $55,100
           
    Net Fee Due               $21,450

 

(1)

There are being registered under the Registration Statement to which this exhibit pertains (the “Registration Statement”) such indeterminate number of common shares, preferred shares, debt securities, warrants to purchase common shares and units, or any combination thereof, of Ballard Power Systems Inc. (the “Registrant”) as shall have an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $500,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency used to denominate the securities). Any securities registered by this Registration Statement may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered under this Registration Statement. The proposed maximum initial offering price per security will be determined, from time to time, by the Registrant in connection with the sale of the securities under this Registration Statement

(2)

Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) with respect to the securities to be sold by the Registrant.


Table 2: Fee Offset Claims and Sources

In U.S. Dollars

 

                       
     Registrant
or Filer
Name
  Form
or
Filing
Type
 

File

Number

  Initial
Filing
Date
  Filing
Date
  Fee Offset
Claimed
 

Security

Type

Associated

with Fee

Offset

Claimed

 

Security

Title

Associated

with Fee

Offset

Claimed

 

Unsold
Securities
Associated

with Fee

Offset

Claimed

 

Unsold

Aggregate
Offering

Amount
Associated

with Fee

Offset

Claimed

  Fee Paid with
Fee Offset
Source
                       
Fee Offset Claims   Ballard Power Systems Inc.   F-10    333-271758 (3)   May 9,  2023    

$55,100

(3)

  Unallocated  (Universal Shelf)   Unallocated  (Universal Shelf)   Unallocated  (Universal Shelf)   $500,000,000 (3)(4)    
                       
Fee Offset Sources   Ballard Power Systems Inc.   F-10   333-271758 (3)       May 9,  2023                       $55,100 (3)

 

(3).

Pursuant to Rule 457(p) under the Securities Act, the Registrant is carrying forward to the Registration Statement the previously paid $55,100 of the registration fee required in connection with unsold securities registered under a registration statement on Form F-10 of Ballard Power Systems Inc. (File No. 333-271758) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 9, 2023 (the “Prior Registration Statement”). No securities were sold under the Prior Registration Statement. Pursuant to Rule 457(p) under the Securities Act, the Registrant is offsetting $55,100 of the registration fees previously paid in connection with the Prior Registration Statement against the registration fee for this Registration Statement. As a result, a $21,450 registration fee is payable in connection with this Registration Statement. In accordance with the Securities Act, the offering of the unsold securities under the Prior Registration Statement will be deemed terminated as of the effectiveness of this Registration Statement.

(4).

There were registered under the Prior Registration Statement such indeterminate number of common shares, preferred shares, debt securities, warrants to purchase common shares and units, or any combination thereof, of the Registrant as had an aggregate initial offering price not exceeding $500,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency used to denominate the securities).


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