As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 17, 2023
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
(760) 515-1133 |
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| (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices) | ||
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Chief Executive Officer (
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| (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service) | ||
With a copy to:
Michael J. Blankenship
Justin F. Hoffman
Winston & Strawn LLP
800 Capitol St., Suite 2400
Houston, Texas 77002-2925
(713) 651-2600
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.
If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☒
If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.☐
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, please check the following box.☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box.☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
| Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ |
| ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ||
| Emerging growth company |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check
mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting
standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act.
The Registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. The Company may not sell the securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell the securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION DATED OCTOBER
17, 2023
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
Nxu, Inc.
$75,000,000
Class A Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
Rights
Units
From time to time, we may offer and sell, in one or more offerings, up to $75,000,000 of any combination of the securities described in this prospectus. We may also offer securities as may be issuable upon conversion, redemption, repurchase, exchange or exercise of any securities registered hereunder, including any applicable anti-dilution provisions.
We will provide specific terms of any offering in a supplement to this prospectus. Any prospectus supplement may also add, update, or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement as well as the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus before you purchase any of the securities offered hereby.
Our Class A common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “NXU.” On October 16, 2023, the last reported sales price of our Class A common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“Class A common stock”), as reported on Nasdaq was $0.07 per share.
We recommend that you obtain current market quotations for our Class A common stock prior to making an investment decision. We will provide information in any applicable prospectus supplement regarding any listing of securities other than shares of our Class A common stock on any securities exchange. This prospectus may not be used to sell our securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
We may offer and sell our securities to or through one or more agents, underwriters, dealers or other third parties or directly to one or more purchasers on a continuous or delayed basis. If agents, underwriters or dealers are used to sell our securities, we will name them and describe their compensation in a prospectus supplement. The price to the public of our securities and the net proceeds we expect to receive from the sale of such securities will also be set forth in a prospectus supplement. For additional information on the methods of sale, you should refer to the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus.
As of October 13, 2023, the aggregate market value of our outstanding Class A common stock held by non-affiliates was approximately $22.0 million, which was calculated based on 96,050,651 shares of outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates, at a price per share of $0.2294, which was the closing price of our Class A common stock on Nasdaq on August 22, 2023. Pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3, in no event will we sell the securities described in this prospectus in a public primary offering with an aggregate market value exceeding more than one-third of the aggregate market value of our Class A common stock held by non-affiliates in any 12-month period, so long as the aggregate market value of our outstanding Class A common stock held by non-affiliates remains below $75 million. During the 12 calendar months prior to and including the date of this prospectus, we have not offered or sold any securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3.
We are an “emerging growth company” as that term is defined under the federal securities laws and, as such, we have elected to comply with certain reduced reporting requirements for this prospectus and may elect to do so in future filings.
Our Company has a dual class structure. Our Class A common stock, which is the stock we are offering by means of this prospectus, has one vote per share and our Class B common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Class B common stock” and together with the Class A common stock, “common stock”), has no economic rights and has 10 votes per share. See “Risk Factors – The dual class structure of our common stock has the effect of concentrating voting power with members of our management team, which will limit your ability to influence the outcome of important transactions, including a change in control” and “Risk Factors – We cannot predict the impact our dual class structure may have on our stock price” for more information. For more information on our capital stock, see the section titled “Description of Securities.”
Our Class B common stock is owned solely by our Chief Executive Officer, Mark Hanchett, and our President, Annie Pratt, who own 25,903,676 and 9,721,696 shares of our Class B common stock, respectively. Mr. Hanchett and Ms. Pratt hold approximately 58% and 22% of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock, respectively, for an aggregate of approximately 79% of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock.
As a result of our Chief Executive Officer’s ownership of our Class B common stock, we are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the corporate governance standards of Nasdaq. As a result, our stockholders do not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that cannot rely on such exemptions.
You should carefully read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement or amendment before you invest. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 12, as well as those contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement. You also should read the information included throughout this prospectus for information on our business and our financial statements, including information related to our predecessor.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Prospectus dated , 2023.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities which may be offered. Each time we offer securities for sale, we will provide a prospectus supplement that contains specific information about the terms of that offering. Any prospectus supplement may also add or update information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described below under “Where You Can Find Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.”
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and in any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not making offers to sell or solicitations to buy the securities described in this prospectus in any jurisdiction in which an offer or solicitation is not authorized, or in which the person making that offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, as well as the information we file or previously filed with the SEC that we incorporate by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than its respective date. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be filed or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under the heading “Where You Can Find Additional Information”.
Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, all references in this prospectus to the terms “Nxu,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us” refer to Nxu, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and, immediately prior to the Reorganization Merger (as defined herein), to its predecessor, Atlis Motor Vehicles Inc., a Delaware corporation, either individually or together with its consolidated subsidiaries, as the context requires.
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MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA
Market and industry data and forecasts used in this prospectus have been obtained from independent industry sources as well as from research reports prepared for other purposes. We are responsible for all of the disclosure in this prospectus, and although we believe these third-party sources to be reliable, we have not independently verified the data obtained from these sources, and we cannot assure you of the accuracy or completeness of the data. Forecasts and other forward-looking information obtained from these sources are subject to the same qualifications and uncertainties as the other forward-looking statements in this prospectus.
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TRADEMARKS, TRADE NAMES AND SERVICE MARKS
This document contains references to trademarks, trade names and service marks belonging to other entities. Solely for convenience, trademarks, trade names and service marks referred to in this prospectus may appear without the ® or TM symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that the applicable licensor will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, its rights to these trademarks and trade names. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trade names, trademarks or service marks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies.
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This summary highlights selected information from this prospectus and does not contain all of the information that is important to you in making an investment decision. You should read the entire prospectus carefully, including the information under the headings “Risk Factors,” “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the financial statements and the notes to those financial statements contained herein or otherwise incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
Overview
Nxu is a U.S.-based technology company manufacturing innovative battery cells and battery packs for use in advanced energy storage systems, megawatt charging stations, and mobility products. We believe that widespread adoption of EVs by the commercial and industrial markets requires high performing battery and pack solutions that can effectively compete with legacy diesel-based products. Nxu designs, engineers, and plans to build proprietary lithium-ion (“Li-ion”) battery cells and packs, 1 megawatt plus charging stations, energy storage solutions and a suite of software and services designed to allow an easy transition from diesel to electric for our target segment.
Our battery technology is expected to offer considerable advantages in battery capacity, charging rate, safety, and lifespan while keeping costs low. We are confident that these advantages will be highly beneficial to Original Equipment Manufacturers (“OEMs”) in the automotive and medium to heavy duty equipment segments as it would encourage customers to transition to electrification. We are designing our Li-ion batteries to fully charge in about 15 minutes or less, thereby allowing for a more competitive EV experience to match fossil fuel vehicles, something that current EVs using conventional batteries are unable to achieve. We believe Nxu technology may be used to power medium and super-duty pick-up trucks, last mile delivery vehicles, garbage trucks, cement trucks, vans, RVs, box trucks, light to heavy-duty equipment and more. In addition, our batteries could be used for commercial and residential energy storage devices.
In 2023, we introduced our megawatt charging station and demonstrated its ability to deliver up to 1.1 megawatts of electricity to fast charge compatible batteries. Currently, there are three types of chargers prevalent in the market:
Level 1 chargers use a standard 120-volt household outlet and can provide up to 5 miles of range per hour of charging. They are typically used for overnight charging at home and are the slowest charging option.
Level 2 chargers require a 240-volt electrical supply and can provide up to 25 miles of range per hour of charging. They are commonly found in public locations like parking garages, workplaces, and retail spaces.
Level 3 chargers, also known as Direct Current (DC) fast chargers, are the fastest charging option and can provide approximately 100 to 200+ miles of range in as little as 30 minutes.
Our megawatt chargers, being designed to provide 1,500kW of electricity, represent the next generation of charging solutions needed to expedite the mass adoption of electric vehicles for individual drivers, commercial fleets, medium-to-heavy duty equipment customers and businesses. To take advantage of the expected rapid growth in the number of EVs on the road in the United States, the Company plans to deploy and test its chargers for mass rollout in the near future.
We also believe that energy storage solutions are important for both consumer and commercial markets as grid stability and resiliency becomes critical to enabling the adoption of electric vehicles. Stationary energy storage systems are technologically adjacent opportunities which can leverage the modular design of our battery packs and advanced battery management systems to create solutions that address residential, commercial and utility-scale needs. Energy storage can also provide backup power during grid outages or emergencies, helping to ensure that critical services like hospitals and emergency responders remain operational.
Nxu is an early-stage company and has not yet scaled production of its products or delivered any products to customers. Of the products we intend to bring to market, our proprietary battery technology is the furthest along in development and closest to mass production. We intend to deliver battery cells and packs to customers in 2023. Simultaneously, we plan to deploy our megawatt charging stations and energy storage solutions as soon as the next twelve months and the next twenty-four months respectively. Finally, we plan to continue to develop our vehicle products in the future, both of which we believe will provide incremental value to our target market in the long run. Scaling to reach high-volume battery production will require significant effort and capital. Based on our plans, we estimate that the cost to build and completely tool multi-gigawatt hour facility will range from $200 million to $300 million per gigawatt hour of capacity. Our ability to raise the significant capital required continues to be a challenge. Additionally, as of the date of this prospectus, we have no actionable plan of operation to commence sales of our products. As such, Nxu will need to build out detailed go-to-market plans as we get closer to customer deliveries and sales.
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Our Target Market
Customers across the commercial and industrial segments are progressively contemplating EVs for a range of reasons such as improved performance, expansion of the EV charging infrastructure, significantly reduced environmental impact, and lower costs for maintenance and operation. However, the players in these market segments face unique barriers to the adoption of EVs due to their high-demand usage patterns and operational requirements. In addition, the use of conventional Li-ion batteries in heavy-duty vehicles and equipment poses several inherent challenges that limit their adoption. Some of these challenges include:
| · | Limited energy density: Conventional batteries have a relatively low energy density, which means that heavy-duty vehicles and equipment require a large number of batteries to achieve sufficient range. This can add significant weight to the vehicle and reduce payload capacity. |
| · | Temperature sensitivity: Conventional Li-ion batteries are sensitive to temperature changes, particularly at extreme temperatures. This can impact the performance and lifespan of the battery, particularly in hot or cold environments. |
| · | Charging time: Charging time for Li-ion batteries can be significant, particularly for larger batteries. This can impact the operational efficiency of heavy-duty vehicles and equipment, which may require frequent charging throughout the day. |
| · | High upfront costs: Electric commercial vehicles can have a higher upfront cost than their conventional counterparts, which can be a significant barrier for companies that operate on tight profit margins. |
| · | Limited range and charging infrastructure: Commercial vehicles often need to travel longer distances than passenger cars and require more frequent stops for refueling. The limited range of electric commercial vehicles and the lack of charging infrastructure can make it difficult for fleets to operate efficiently. |
| · | Payload capacity: Electric commercial vehicles often have lower payload capacity than their conventional counterparts due to the weight of the battery, which can limit their utility for certain applications. |
| · | Vehicle downtime: Commercial vehicles and equipment are often in use for long hours and may have limited downtime for charging, which can be a challenge for EVs that require longer charging times than refueling with gasoline or diesel. |
| · | Uncertainty about total cost of ownership: Companies may be hesitant to invest in electric commercial vehicles due to uncertainty about the total cost of ownership, including maintenance, repair, and replacement costs. |
We believe that effective adoption to electrification by the commercial and industrial markets requires a unified solution that addresses all concerns simultaneously. A piecemeal solution where multiple companies independently develop and build pieces of the electrification puzzle while leaving the customer to figure out the rest may not adequately address all needs and may even drive greater execution risk for the customer. An effective Li-ion battery technology along with megawatt level charging solution and energy storage solutions to support grid resiliency are critical and foundational components of a unified solution. Nxu plans to develop these foundational components.
Production Development Phases
In producing its various products and services, Nxu follows a phased development approach comprised of the stages noted below.
Stage 1: Concept Verification and Test. This is the concept verification and test phase of development. Product ideas are evaluated to assess viability and whether or not there is potential to further develop and invest.
Stage 2: Engineering Verification and Test. This is the engineering verification and test phase of development. Validation of the technology within a product is completed.
Stage 3: Design Verification and Test. This is the design verification phase of development. The product has reached a final design phase and engineering and production teams are validating feasibility of the final product.
Stage 4: Production Verification and Test. This is the production validation phase of development. The product design has been finalized, and the production process is developing and undergoing verification before being sold to customers.
Principal Products and Services
Nxu plans to address the needs highlighted above by developing a unified set of products and solutions to support a seamless transition to electrification by the commercial and industrial industry. Our products start with the Nxu Qcell battery cells that are intended to go into our high-performing Qube battery packs, which in turn, can be used by OEMs to power their electrified vehicles and equipment. Simultaneously, we plan to build megawatt charging stations that will enable 15-minute charge time for our batteries. Finally, we plan to build energy storage systems, called Qube+, that will use our battery packs to augment rising energy demand across residential, commercial and infrastructure customers. Eventually, we plan to introduce a modular and scalable electric powered platform and an electric pickup truck purposely built to leverage our battery technology to deliver high performing, all-electric vehicles for our target market.
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Our Products
| · | Qcell Cell – Our proprietary battery technology is the foundation of the Nxu ecosystem. The Qcell is designed to leverage an in-house developed NMC-811 chemistry, combined with a unique, proprietary mechanical construction, to significantly improve thermal management and reduce electrical resistance. In addition, our battery cell structure eliminates excess volume and space, thereby providing high energy density. The Qcell, when implemented utilizing our proprietary Qube battery pack technology and our advanced charging station currently under development - will be capable of delivering consistent power from 0% to 100% battery pack usable capacity, while charging from 0% to 100% usable capacity in 15 minutes. This is the same amount of time it normally takes to fill an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicle with fuel. Battery cells are currently being produced in low volumes at our facility in Mesa, AZ and production is not dependent on any currently unknown advances in technology. We are in small-batch, pilot production of our battery cells and expect to make customer deliveries in late 2023. To ensure we are capable of scaling production output, Nxu will need to continue to make investments in capital expenses, additional facilities, and team growth for the coming years. Nxu has earmarked capital investment to ramp cell production throughout 2023. As a byproduct of increased production, Nxu will continue to make significant investments in equipment for the foreseeable future. |
| · | The Nxu Qube is a 30 Kilowatt hours (“kWh”) battery pack focused on serving customers within mobility, equipment, and energy storage and infrastructure applications. The Qube will utilize our proprietary battery cell, pack design, electronics, and software systems, all of which are currently in development. Legacy manufacturers of vehicle battery packs typically utilize Li-ion battery cells in either cylindrical or pouch form factor which are inherently inefficient due to high thermal and electrical resistance. Our Qube’s competitive advantage is our direct cell integration approach which minimizes thermal resistance while maximizing electrical conductivity. Our Qcell is intended to directly integrate into our Qube. In addition, Nxu is developing the battery pack system with a completely integrated power management, thermal management, and battery management system. The Qube is in Production Verification and Test phase of development and completion of the engineering design and production line is not subject to any currently unknown advances in technology. Our efforts are focused on target customers that are seeking to deploy packs in 2024. As of February 2023, Nxu announced it had secured two gigawatt-hours’ worth of battery capacity demand in the form of non-binding Letters of Intent (LOI), Memoranda of Understanding (MOU), and Purchase Orders (PO) from multiple customers in the automotive, heavy equipment, and solar industries. Nxu plans to continue securing MOUs and LOIs for additional battery packs and will work to expand production output in order to capitalize on that demand and deliver products as quickly as our facilities and production processes allow. Our ability to deliver these battery packs to customers at a growing rate is dependent on our ability to raise capital and leverage that capital into increased production, among other factors. |
| · | Megawatt charger – Our proprietary megawatt charger is intended to be capable of delivering up to 1.5 megawatts of continuous power, deployable in standalone charging station or as a drop-in direct-grid connection solution. The megawatt charger is intended to be a proprietary charging solution to provide charging capabilities to the XT, the XP, and non-Nxu branded electric vehicle that are compatible with Combined Charging System 2.0 (“CCS 2.0”). Recently, the Company successfully demonstrated our one megawatt plus charging capability, The megawatt charger is still in the research and development phase and is not yet in production. The charging system is expected to complete the Production Verification and Test phase of development as early as the end of 2023. Our ability to execute this plan is dependent on our ability to raise the necessary capital and therefore, if the company is unable to secure appropriate funding, these timelines are subject to change. Engineering design of the Megawatt charger is not yet complete. We expect to encounter unforeseen engineering challenges and may be reliant on unknown advances in technology. |
Future Products for Commercial and Industrial Markets
| · | Nxu Platform– The Platform is designed to be a modular vehicle system, or electric skateboard, providing all technology, software, and mobility technology required to develop a vehicle by third parties. Intended to be a universal, connected, complete vehicle hardware and mechanical architecture system, the Platform will utilize our proprietary Qcell battery, electronics hardware, mechanical, and software technologies to create a vehicle platform for sale to low-volume vehicle OEMs to develop new EV solutions for niche- and mass-market opportunities. The Platform has completed the Concept Verification and Test phase of development and Nxu has produced a functioning concept as demonstrated in 2021 on our social media channels. We expect that the production intent development of the Platform will follow our successful commercialization of the Qcell, Qube, Qube+ and megawatt charger. We intend to commercialize and scale our energy products first and expect the Platform to begin the Design Verification and Test phase of development as early as 2025. However, our ability to execute is dependent on our ability to raise the necessary capital and therefore, if the Company is unable to secure appropriate funding, these timelines are subject to change. |
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| · | Nxu pickup truck – The pickup truck is intended to be our flagship vehicle and a 100% electric full-sized work truck. The pickup truck is intended to be built on our platform. We intend to provide up to 500 miles of range, up to 35,000 pounds of towing capacity, and a simplified operational approach that that utilizes our software and cloud service solutions to provide seamless fleet connectivity. The pickup truck is still in the research and development phase. Given ongoing capital constraints and current market sentiment, the Company has decided to focus its resources on commercializing and scaling energy products at this time. We expect that the production intent development of the truck will follow the ramp of the Platform. The pickup truck has completed the Concept Verification and Test phase of development, we expect to begin the Engineering Verification and Test phase of development as soon as 2026. We expect to encounter unforeseen engineering challenges and may be reliant on unknown advances in technology. In addition, our ability to execute is dependent on our ability to raise the necessary capital and therefore, if the Company is unable to secure appropriate funding, these timelines are subject to change. |
The execution of our vision is highly dependent on multiple factors that include our ability to raise the necessary capital required to bring all products and services to market and, more specifically, our ability to successfully deliver Qubes to customers. Our successful implementation of the Qcell and Qube would allow us to tackle a key challenge that we face in the industry: the lack of available, adequate, and accessible battery technology. Thus, we have focused our attention on developing our own battery technology in order to mitigate the external risk created from a lack of suitable and available battery technology in the market.
We intend to continue development of Q-cells upon raising additional capital specifically for the battery program as soon as 2024. To do so, Nxu will need to continue to make investments in capital expenses, additional facilities, and team growth. Nxu will continue to make significant investments in equipment for battery and charging product development programs for the foreseeable future. If we are unable to raise proceeds sufficient to do so, our planned development activities may be less than anticipated and we will need to raise such funds through other sources.
Additionally, our ability to scale high-volume mobility and energy storage solutions is highly dependent on our success with the Qcell and Qube. As there is a limited supply of these materials, Qcell and Qube production delays will likely delay high volume mobility and energy storage solutions. Any disruption from competitors or any disruption to internal material and cell availability could impact the Company’s ability to succeed in any program that relies on battery cells.
While we remain optimistic in our ability to bring Qcell and Qube to market, these two programs carry high technical challenges due to the fact that the intellectual property required for the programs to successfully scale must be developed, as it cannot be purchased nor is it readily available in the market. Nxu appreciates the importance of overcoming this challenge and the resources needed to do so, and Nxu intends to focus the majority of its efforts on bringing the Nxu charging technology to market first and refocus on Qcell and Qube products once the needed resources are secured, as soon as 2024.
We signed an Amended Collaboration Agreement on July 28, 2022 with an Australian company called Australian Manufactured Vehicles (“AUSEV”) to jointly develop a right-hand drive version of the pickup truck. Under the terms of the AUSEV agreement, we agreed to supply pickup trucks in limited volume of prototype and test vehicles in 2024, up to a total of 19,000 production intent pickup trucks beginning in 2026 through 2027, contingent upon production capacity, funding, and raw material availability. The AUSEV agreement requires the parties to enter into binding definitive supply agreements. Given our decision to focus our resources on commercializing and scaling energy products at this time, we do not expect to supply pickup trucks in 2024. AUSEV is supportive of our strategy and we are working closely together and endeavor to deliver pickup trucks to AUSEV as soon as practicable. The AUSEV agreement has an initial term of five (5) years from August 28, 2021. Upon expiration of the initial term, the AUSEV agreement will automatically renew for an additional two-year term unless either party notifies the other party in writing of its intent to terminate, at least 90 days prior to such expiration.
Our People
Beyond our products and solutions in development, we believe the largest competitive advantage Nxu has is our culture. Our company culture embodies the idea that a transition to electrification and a sustainable future should not require compromise. We are unwilling to bend in our belief that when a technology does not exist, we find creative and innovative ways of developing solutions to solve these challenges. Our team is built of a diverse group of individuals with a singular focus, to power the future of work through an ecosystem of technologies and solutions that provide incremental value to those who build, dig, grow, and maintain.
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Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company and Smaller Reporting Company
We qualify as an “emerging growth company” under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, as amended (the “JOBS Act”). As a result, we are permitted to, and intend to, rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements. For so long as we are an emerging growth company, we will not be required to:
| · | have an auditor report on our internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2022, as amended; |
| · | comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (i.e., an auditor discussion and analysis); |
| · | submit certain executive compensation matters to stockholder advisory votes, such as “say-on-pay,” “say-on-frequency” and pay ratio; and |
| · | disclose certain executive compensation related items such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the chief executive officer’s compensation to median employee compensation. |
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an emerging growth company can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have elected to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period. Our financial statements may therefore not be comparable to those of companies that comply with such new or revised accounting standards.
We will remain an “emerging growth company” for up to five years, or until the earliest of (i) the last day of the first fiscal year in which our total annual gross revenues are $1.07 billion or more, (ii) the date that we become a “large accelerated filer” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which would occur if the market value of our Class A common stock that are held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter, or (iii) the date on which we have issued more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt during the preceding three year period.
We are also a “smaller reporting company” as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. We may continue to be a smaller reporting company even after we are no longer an emerging growth company. We may take advantage of certain of the scaled disclosures available to smaller reporting companies and will be able to take advantage of these scaled disclosures for so long as the market value of our voting and non-voting Class A common stock held by non-affiliates is less than $250.0 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter, or our annual revenue is less than $100.0 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and the market value of our voting and non-voting Class A common stock held by non-affiliates is less than $700.0 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter.
Controlled Company Exemption
Our Chief Executive Officer, Mark Hanchett, beneficially owns and controls a majority of the combined voting power of our common stock. As a result, we are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the Nasdaq listing rules. Under these rules, a company of which more than 50% of the voting power is held by an individual, a group or another company is a “controlled company” and may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance requirements of Nasdaq. Our stockholders do not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to such requirements. Mark Hanchett also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Nxu.
Corporate information
We were originally incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on November 9, 2016 under the name “Atlis Motor Vehicles Inc.” (the “Predecessor”). In connection with the Reorganization Merger, Nxu was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on March 10, 2023. Our principal executive offices are located at 1828 North Higley Road, Mesa, AZ 85205. Our website address is www.nxu.com. The information provided on or accessible through our website (or any other website referred to in the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, or the documents incorporated by reference herein) is not part of the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, and is not incorporated by reference as part of the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part.
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Recent Developments
Initial Public Offering
On September 27, 2022, we completed our initial public offering (the “IPO”) under Regulation A of the Securities Act and became listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market. In our IPO, we sold 1,015,802 shares of our Class A common stock at a weighted-average price of $14.28 per share. We used the proceeds from the IPO to fund our production and marketing activities.
Following our IPO, trading in our Class A common stock has been volatile and subject to wide fluctuations from a high price of $243.99 on September 28, 2022 to a low price of $0.07 on October 16, 2023. These swings in our trading prices are unrelated and disproportionate to our operating performance. As a startup company, we expect this volatility in our stock price to continue for the foreseeable future. As a result, we determine, and advise potential investors to determine, the value of our Class A common stock based on the information contained in our public disclosures and other industry information rather than by reference to its current trading price. See “Risk Factors – The market price of our Class A common stock has fluctuated, and may continue to fluctuate, significantly, and our stockholders may lose all or part of their investment.”
Convertible Notes
On November 3, 2022, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with certain investors (the “Investors”), as amended on January 5, 2023 (as amended, the “Securities Purchase Agreement”). Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, we issued an aggregate of $20.0 million of Senior Secured Original Issue 10% Discount Convertible Promissory Notes (the “convertible notes”) and 1,711,306 warrants to purchase shares of our Class A common stock. As of September 22, 2023, there was an aggregate of approximately $1.3 million of convertible notes outstanding, which are convertible into up to an aggregate of 8,686,667 shares of Class A common stock (assuming conversion at a conversion price equal to the floor price of $0.15), and 1,711,306 outstanding warrants to purchase 1,711,306 shares of Class A common stock. The Company does not currently have any other indebtedness outstanding.
Nasdaq Notices
On April 11, 2023, we received a notice of non-compliance from Nasdaq stating that we are not in compliance with the $1.00 minimum bid price requirement set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) for continued listing on Nasdaq. On August 29, 2023, we received a notice from Nasdaq stating that the Company’s reported stockholders’ equity no longer meets the minimum stockholders’ equity of $2,500,000 required for continued listing of the Company’s Class A common stock on Nasdaq under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1). On October 10, 2023, we received formal notice from Nasdaq that, based upon the Company’s non-compliance with the minimum bid price requirement as of October 9, 2023, the Company’s Class A common stock will be scheduled for delisting from Nasdaq and will be suspended at the opening of business on October 19, 2023, unless the Company requests a hearing before the Nasdaq Hearings Panel (the “Panel”) no later than 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on October 17, 2023. On October 16, 2023, the Company requested a hearing before the Panel, which request stayed the suspension of the Company’s Class A common stock. At the hearing, the Company will present a plan to the Panel that includes a discussion of the events that it believes will enable it to regain compliance.
We determined that the notices of non-compliance constituted events of default under our outstanding convertible notes. As a result of the events of default, unless waived by the Investors, the convertible notes began accruing default interest at a rate of 10% per annum and we are obligated to pay to the Investors 100% of the sum of (x) the outstanding principal of the notes and (y) accrued and unpaid interest thereon. The Investors have the option to instead convert the amount due and payable under the event of default, including at an alternative conversion price as described in the convertible notes. We have discussed the events of default with the Investors and, to date, one Investor has temporarily waived the event of default pending resolution of the non-compliance matter. The other Investor has exercised its option to convert the amount due and payable under the event of default at the alternative conversion price.
Holding Company Reorganization
On May 12, 2023, the Predecessor completed its previously announced reorganization merger pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 16, 2023 (the “Reorganization Agreement”), by and among the Predecessor, Nxu and Atlis Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and, as of immediately prior to the consummation of such merger, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nxu (“Merger Sub”). The Reorganization Agreement provided for the merger of the Predecessor and Merger Sub, with the Predecessor surviving the merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nxu (the “Reorganization Merger”).
Following the Reorganization Merger, on May 12, 2023, the Predecessor (which, as a result of the Reorganization Merger, became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nxu) converted from a Delaware corporation into a Delaware limited liability company named “Atlis Motor Vehicles LLC” (such conversion, together with the Reorganization Merger, the “Reorganization”). Following the Reorganization, substantially all of the assets of Atlis Motor Vehicles LLC were distributed, assigned, transferred, conveyed and delivered to, and related liabilities of Atlis Motor Vehicles LLC were assumed by, Nxu. On May 25, 2023, Atlis Motor Vehicles LLC changed its name to Nxu Technologies, LLC.
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The below chart depicts our capital structure following the Reorganization:
GEM Agreements
On June 25, 2021, the Company entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (the “Share Purchase Agreement”) with GEM Global Yield LLC SCS (“GEM Global”) and GEM Yield Bahamas Limited (“GYBL”), pursuant to which the Company will issue and sell to GEM Global, and GEM Global agrees to purchase from the Company, until September 27, 2025, up to the number of shares of Class A common stock having an aggregate value of $300,000,000 (the “Aggregate Limit”), pursuant to draw down notices (each, a “Draw Down Notice” and each transaction under a Draw Down Notice, a “Draw Down”), which the Company may deliver to GEM Global in its sole discretion. The Company will also pay GEM Global a commitment fee equal to two percent (2%) of the Aggregate Limit.
On the effective date of the Share Purchase Agreement, the Company also issued a warrant to GYBL (the “Common Stock Purchase Warrant”) to purchase a number of shares of Class A common stock equal to 4.2% of the total number of shares of Class A common stock outstanding immediately after the completion of the Company’s public listing on September 27, 2022, calculated on a fully diluted basis, which amount equals 340,374 shares. The Common Stock Purchase Warrant is exercisable at an exercise price per share of $82.12 and expires on September 27, 2025.
In connection with the Share Purchase Agreement, on June 25, 2021, we entered into the Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to which we agreed to register all the shares that may be issuable to GEM Global and GYBL. On September 19, 2023, the Company, GEM Global and GYBL entered into a letter agreement, pursuant to which the parties agreed to register an aggregate of 50,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, comprised of (i) 340,374 shares of Class A common stock issuable to GYBL upon full exercise of the Common Stock Purchase Warrant; (ii) 34,000,000 unrestricted shares of Class A common stock to be issued to GEM Global immediately upon the effectiveness of the registration statement filed pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement (the “GEM S-1”); and (iii) 15,659,626 additional shares of Class A common stock issuable to GEM Global pursuant to the Share Purchase Agreement. The Company publicly filed the GEM S-1 on September 20, 2023 and it was declared effective by the SEC on September 29, 2023, at which time the Company issued 34,000,000 unrestricted shares of Class A common stock to GEM Global.
Follow-On Offering
On October 10, 2023, the Company filed a registration statement with the SEC, as amended, to offer on a best-efforts basis up to 42,666,667 shares of Class A common stock, or pre-funded warrants to purchase shares of Class A common stock (in lieu of shares of Class A common stock), through Maxim Group LLC, as the exclusive placement agent. The offering is expected to price and close in the fourth quarter of 2023.
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The information in this prospectus includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this prospectus, regarding Nxu’, strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues, and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. When used in this prospectus, including any oral statements made in connection therewith, the words “could,” “should,” “will,” “may,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” the negative of such terms and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, Nxu disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus. Nxu cautions you that these forward-looking statements are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of Nxu, incident to the development, production, gathering and sale of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids.
In addition, Nxu cautions you that the forward-looking statements regarding Nxu, which are contained in this prospectus, are subject to the following factors:
| · | the length, scope and severity of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic (“COVID-19”), including the effects of related public health concerns and the impact of continued actions taken by governmental authorities and other third parties in response to the pandemic and its impact on commodity prices, supply and demand considerations and storage capacity; |
| · | U.S. and global economic conditions and political and economic developments; |
| · | economic and competitive conditions; |
| · | the availability of capital resources; |
| · | capital expenditures and other contractual obligations; |
| · | inflation rates; |
| · | the availability of goods and services; |
| · | legislative, regulatory or policy changes; |
| · | cyber-attacks; and |
| · | the securities or capital markets and related risks such as general credit, liquidity, market and interest-rate risks. |
Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described in this prospectus occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact the operations and projections discussed herein can be found in the section entitled “Risk Factors” herein and in Nxu’s periodic filings with the SEC. Nxu’s SEC filings are available publicly on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
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RISK FACTORS
An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions described under Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, as well as subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which risk factors are incorporated herein by reference, and may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC in the future and any prospectus supplement related to a particular offering. The risks and uncertainties we have described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our operations. The occurrence of any of these known or unknown risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in the offered securities.
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USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities under this prospectus primarily for general corporate purposes.
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DESCRIPTION OF OUR CAPITAL STOCK
The following summary of the material terms of Nxu’s common stock is not intended to be a complete summary of the rights and preferences of such securities. Nxu’s common stock is governed by Nxu’s Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). We urge you to read the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws in their entirety for a complete description of the rights and preferences of Nxu’s common stock.
General
Nxu’s Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the issuance of 5,010,000,000 shares, consisting of (x) 5,000,000,000 authorized shares of common stock, including (1) 4,000,000,000 authorized shares of Class A common stock, (2) 1,000,000,000 authorized shares of Class B common stock and (y) 10,000,000 authorized shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
As of October 13, 2023, there were 99,301,835 shares of Class A common stock outstanding, 35,625,372 shares of Class B common stock outstanding and no shares of preferred stock outstanding.
Common Stock
This section describes the general terms of our common stock that we may offer from time to time. For more detailed information, a holder of our common stock should refer to our Certificate of Incorporation and our Bylaws.
Voting Rights
Each holder of Class A common stock, as such, shall have the right to one (1) vote per share of Class A common stock held of record by such holder and each holder of Class B common stock, as such, shall have the right to ten (10) votes per share of Class B common stock held of record by such holder. There are no cumulative voting rights.
Dividend Rights
The holders of shares of Class A common stock and the holders of shares of Class B common stock shall be entitled to receive, ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Class A common stock or Class B common stock, respectively, with respect to any dividends or distributions as may be declared and paid from time to time by Nxu; provided, however, that in the event a dividend is paid in the form of shares of Class A common stock or Class B Common Stock, then holders of Class A common stock shall be entitled to receive shares of Class A common stock, and holders of Class B common stock shall be entitled to receive shares of Class B common stock, with holders of shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock receiving, on a per share basis, an identical number of shares of Class A common stock or Class B common stock, as applicable.
Liquidation Rights
Subject to the rights of any then outstanding preferred stock which ranks senior to common stock, in the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Nxu, the holders of Class A common stock will be entitled to receive, after payment or provision for payment of all of its debts and liabilities, all of the assets of Nxu legally available for distribution to stockholders.
The holders of shares of Class B common stock, as such, shall not be entitled to receive any assets of Nxu in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of Nxu.
Other Rights
There are no conversion rights or redemption, purchase, retirement or sinking fund provisions with respect to the common stock.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Delaware Law and Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
Delaware law, the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws contain provisions that could have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another party from acquiring control of Nxu. These provisions are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of Nxu to first negotiate with the Board.
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Board of Directors; Removal of Directors
The Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws provide that a director may be removed with or without cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the votes that all the stockholders would be entitled to cast in an election of directors. Any vacancy on the Board, including a vacancy resulting from an enlargement of the Board, may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast in favor or against the election of a nominee at a meeting of stockholders. At each annual meeting, the entire board will stand for election for a one-year term. The limitations on the removal of directors and filling of vacancies could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or discourage a third party from seeking to acquire, control of Nxu.
Stockholder Action by Written Consent; Special Meetings
The Certificate of Incorporation provides that any action required or permitted to be taken by stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of such holders and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such holders. The Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws also provide that, except as otherwise required by law, special meetings of stockholders can only be called by the chairman of the board, chief executive officer or board of directors.
Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals
The Bylaws establish an advance notice procedure for stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of stockholders, including proposed nominations of persons for election to the Board. Stockholders at an annual meeting may only consider proposals or nominations specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board or by a stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has delivered timely written notice in proper form to the secretary of the stockholder’s intention to bring such business before the meeting. This written notice must contain certain information specified in the Bylaws. These provisions could have the effect of delaying until the next stockholder meeting stockholder actions that are favored by the holders of a majority of outstanding voting securities.
Delaware Business Combination Statute
Nxu has opted out of Section 203 of the DGCL.
Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
The DGCL provides generally that the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on any matter is required to amend a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, unless a corporation’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, as the case may be, requires a greater percentage. The Bylaws may be amended or repealed by a majority vote of the Board or by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the votes which all stockholders would be entitled to cast in any election of directors. The Certificate of Incorporation may be amended by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at any regular or special meeting of the Board at which a quorum is present in any manner not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware.
Exclusive Forum Provisions
Our Certificate of Incorporation requires that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if that court lacks subject matter jurisdiction, another federal or state court situated in the State of Delaware) will be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of our business, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a duty owed by any director, officer, employee, agent or stockholder of ours to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. In addition, our Certificate of Incorporation requires that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States will be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any action, suit or proceeding asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. These forum selection provisions will not apply to claims arising under the Exchange Act or other federal securities laws for which there is exclusive federal jurisdiction. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of our capital stock is deemed to have notice of and consented to the foregoing provisions.
Rule 144
Pursuant to Rule 144, a person who has beneficially owned restricted shares of Nxu’s voting common stock for at least six months would be entitled to sell their securities provided that (i) such person is not deemed to have been one of Nxu’s affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the three months preceding, a sale and (ii) Nxu is subject to the Exchange Act periodic reporting requirements for at least three months before the sale and has filed all required reports under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the twelve months (or such shorter period as Nxu was required to file reports) preceding the sale.
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Persons who have beneficially owned restricted shares of Nxu’s voting common stock for at least six months but who are Nxu’s affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the three months preceding, a sale, would be subject to additional restrictions, by which such person would be entitled to sell within any three-month period only a number of securities that does not exceed the greater of:
| · | 1% of the total number of shares of such securities then-outstanding; or |
| · | the average weekly reported trading volume of such securities during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to the sale. |
Sales by Nxu’s affiliates under Rule 144 are also limited by manner of sale provisions and notice requirements and to the availability of current public information about us.
Listing of Securities
Nxu’s Class A common stock is listed for trading on Nasdaq under the symbol “NXU.”
Transfer Agent
The transfer agent for our Class A common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC. We have agreed to indemnify American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC in its role as transfer agent, its agents and each of its stockholders, directors, officers and employees against all liabilities, including judgments, costs and reasonable counsel fees that may arise out of acts performed or omitted for its activities in that capacity, except for any liability due to any gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of the indemnified person or entity.
Preferred Stock
This section describes the general terms and provisions of preferred stock that we may offer from time to time. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the shares of preferred stock offered through that prospectus supplement, which may differ from the terms we describe below. We will file a copy of the certificate of designation that contains the terms of each new series of preferred stock with the SEC each time we issue a new series of preferred stock, and these certificates of designation will be incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Each certificate of designation will establish the number of shares included in a designated series and fix the designation, powers, privileges, preferences and rights of the shares of each series as well as any applicable qualifications, limitations or restrictions. A holder of our preferred stock should refer to the applicable certificate of designation, our Certificate of Incorporation and the applicable prospectus supplement (and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) for more specific information.
Our board of directors is authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by Delaware law, to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series, and in connection with the creation of any such series, by adopting a resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of the shares thereof and by filing a certificate of designations relating thereto in accordance with the DGCL, to determine and fix the number of shares of such series and such voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, and such designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including without limitation thereof, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences, as shall be stated and expressed in such resolutions, all to the full extent now or hereafter permitted by the DGCL. Any shares of preferred stock which may be redeemed, purchased or acquired by the Company may be reissued except as otherwise provided by law. Our board of directors can increase or decrease the number of shares of any series (but not below the number of shares of that series then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of capital stock representing a majority of the voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote thereon. Our board of directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of the common stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of the Company and may adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock and the voting and other rights of the holders of our Class A common stock.
Outstanding Series of Preferred Stock
Currently, there are no shares our preferred stock outstanding or designated.
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Shares of Preferred Stock Issuable Pursuant to this Prospectus
We will incorporate by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement, which includes this prospectus, the form of any certificate of designation that describes the terms of the series of preferred stock we are offering. This description and the applicable prospectus supplement will include:
| · | the title and stated value; |
| · | the number of shares authorized; |
| · | the liquidation preference per share; |
| · | the purchase price; |
| · | the dividend rate, period and payment date, and method of calculation for dividends; |
| · | whether dividends will be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends will accumulate; |
| · | the procedures for any auction and remarketing, if any; |
| · | the provisions for a sinking fund, if any; |
| · | the provisions for redemption or repurchase, if applicable, and any restrictions on our ability to exercise such redemption and repurchase rights; |
| · | any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange or market; |
| · | whether the preferred stock will be convertible into our common stock, and, if applicable, the conversion price, or how it will be calculated, and the conversion period; |
| · | whether the preferred stock will be exchangeable into debt securities, and, if applicable, the exchange price, or how it will be calculated, and the exchange period; |
| · | voting rights, if any, of the preferred stock; |
| · | preemptive rights, if any; |
| · | restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment, if any; |
| · | a discussion of any material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred stock; |
| · | the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs; |
| · | any limitations on issuance of any class or series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the series of preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs; and |
| · | any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the preferred stock. |
When we issue shares of preferred stock under this prospectus, the shares will fully be paid and nonassessable and will not have, or be subject to, any preemptive or similar rights.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
We may issue debt securities under an indenture to be entered into between us and a trustee chosen by us, qualified to act as such under the Trust Indenture Act and appointed under an indenture. The indenture will be governed by the Trust Indenture Act.
The following is a summary of the indenture. It does not restate the indenture entirely. We urge you to read the indenture. We have filed the form of indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and we will file the indenture we enter into and the supplemental indentures or authorizing resolutions with respect to particular series of debt securities as exhibits to current or other reports we file with the SEC. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information” for information on how to obtain copies of the indentures and the supplemental indentures or authorizing resolutions. You may also inspect copies of the documents for the particular series at the office of the trustee. References below to an “indenture” are references to the indenture, as supplemented, under which a particular series of debt securities is issued.
Terms of the Debt Securities
Our debt securities will be our general obligations. We may issue them in one or more series. Authorizing resolutions or a supplemental indenture will set forth the specific terms of each series of debt securities. We will provide a prospectus supplement for each series of debt securities that will describe:
| • | the title of the debt securities and whether the debt securities are senior, senior subordinated, or subordinated debt securities; |
| • | the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities and any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the series of debt securities, and, if the series is to be issued at a discount from its face amount, the method of computing the accretion of such discount; |
| • | the percentage of the principal amount at which debt securities will be issued and, if other than the full principal amount thereof, the percentage of the principal amount of the debt securities that is payable if maturity of the debt securities is accelerated because of a default; |
| • | the date or dates on which principal of the debt securities will be payable and the amount of principal that will be payable; |
| • | the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at which the debt securities will bear interest, if any, or the method of calculation of such rate or rates, as well as the dates from which interest will accrue, the dates on which interest will be payable and the record date for the interest payable on any payment date; |
| • | any collateral securing the performance of our obligations under the debt securities; |
| • | the currency or currencies (including any composite currency) in which principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, will be payable, and if such payments may be made in a currency other than that in which the debt securities are denominated, the manner for determining such payments, including the time and manner of determining the exchange rate between the currency in which such securities are denominated and the currency in which such securities or any of them may be paid, and any additions to, modifications of or deletions from the terms of the debt securities to provide for or to facilitate the issuance of debt securities denominated or payable in a currency other than U.S. dollars; |
| • | the place or places where principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the debt securities will be payable and where debt securities that are in registered form can be presented for registration of transfer or exchange; |
| • | the denominations in which the debt securities will be issuable, if different from $2,000 and multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; |
| • | any provisions regarding our right to redeem or purchase debt securities or the right of holders to require us to redeem or purchase debt securities; |
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| • | the right, if any, of holders of the debt securities to convert or exchange them into our common stock or other securities of any kind of us or another obligor, including any provisions intended to prevent dilution of the conversion rights and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, including the initial conversion or exchange price or rate or the method of calculation, how and when the conversion price or exchange ratio may be adjusted, whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option, the conversion or exchange period, and any other provision in relation thereto; |
| • | any provisions requiring or permitting us to make payments to a sinking fund to be used to redeem debt securities or a purchase fund to be used to purchase debt securities; |
| • | the terms, if any, upon which debt securities may be senior or subordinated to our other indebtedness; |
| • | any additions to, modifications of or deletions from the terms of the debt securities with respect to events of default or covenants or other provisions set forth in the indenture for the series to which the supplemental indenture or authorizing resolution relates; |
| • | whether and upon what terms the debt securities of such series may be defeased or discharged, if different from the provisions set forth in the indenture for the series to which the supplemental indenture or authorizing resolution relates; |
| • | whether the debt securities will be issued in registered or bearer form and the terms of these forms; |
| • | whether the debt securities will be issued in whole or in part in the form of a global security and, if applicable, the identity of the depositary for such global security; |
| • | any provision for electronic issuance of the debt securities or issuance of the debt securities in uncertificated form; and |
| • | any other material terms of the debt securities, which may be different from the terms set forth in this prospectus. |
The applicable prospectus supplement will also describe any material covenants to which a series of debt securities will be subject.
Events of Default and Remedies
Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, an event of default with respect to any series of debt securities will be defined in the indenture or applicable supplemental indenture or authorizing resolution as being:
| • | our failure to pay interest on any debt security of such series when the same becomes due and payable and the continuance of any such failure for a period of 30 days; |
| • | our failure to pay the principal or premium of any debt security of such series when the same becomes due and payable at maturity, upon acceleration, redemption or otherwise; |
| • | our failure to comply with any of our agreements or covenants in, or provisions of, the debt securities of such series or the indenture (as they relate thereto) and such failure continues for a period of 60 days after our receipt of notice of the default from the trustee or from the holders of at least 25 percent in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of that series (except in the case of a default with respect to the provisions of the indenture regarding the consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets (or any other provision specified in the applicable supplemental indenture or authorizing resolution), which will constitute an event of default with notice but without passage of time); |
| • | default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any indebtedness (other than non-recourse indebtedness, as defined in the indenture) for money borrowed by us, whether such indebtedness now exists or is created after the date we issue debt securities, if that default: |
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| • | is caused by a failure to pay at final stated maturity the principal amount of such indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such indebtedness on the date of such default (a “Payment Default”); or |
| • | results in the acceleration of such indebtedness prior to its express maturity, and, in each case, the principal amount of any such indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $50 million or more; |
| • | our failure to pay final judgments that are non-appealable aggregating in excess of $50 million, net of applicable insurance that has not been denied in writing by the insurer, which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days; or |
| • | certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur with respect to us. |
The indenture will provide that the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of any series of debt securities of any default, except a default in payment of principal, or interest, if any, with respect to such series of debt securities, if the trustee considers it in the interest of the holders of such series of debt securities to do so.
The indenture will provide that if any event of default has occurred and is continuing with respect to any series of debt securities, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of such series of debt securities then outstanding may declare the principal of all the debt securities of such series to be due and payable immediately. However, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding by notice to the trustee may waive any existing default and its consequences with respect to such series of debt securities, other than any event of default in payment of principal or interest. Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of any series may rescind an acceleration with respect to such series and its consequences, except an acceleration due to nonpayment of principal or interest on such series, if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing events of default with respect to such series have been cured or waived.
The holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the trustee with respect to such series, subject to limitations specified in the indenture.
Defeasance
The indenture will permit us to terminate all our respective obligations under the indenture as they relate to any particular series of debt securities, other than the obligation to pay interest, if any, on and the principal of the debt securities of such series and certain other obligations, at any time by:
| • | depositing in trust with the trustee, under an irrevocable trust agreement, money or government obligations in an amount sufficient to pay principal of and interest, if any, on the debt securities of such series to their maturity or redemption; and |
| • | complying with other conditions, including delivery to the trustee of an opinion of counsel to the effect that holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of our exercise of such right and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case otherwise. |
The indenture will also permit us to terminate all of our respective obligations under the indenture as they relate to any particular series of debt securities, including the obligations to pay interest, if any, on and the principal of the debt securities of such series and certain other obligations, at any time by:
| • | depositing in trust with the trustee, under an irrevocable trust agreement, money or government obligations in an amount sufficient to pay principal of and interest, if any, on the debt securities of such series to their maturity or redemption; and |
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| • | complying with other conditions, including delivery to the trustee of an opinion of counsel to the effect that (A) we have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (B) since the date such series of debt securities were originally issued, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion of counsel shall state that, holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of our exercise of such right and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case otherwise. |
In addition, the indenture will permit us to terminate substantially all our respective obligations under the indenture as they relate to a particular series of debt securities by depositing with the trustee money or government obligations sufficient to pay all principal and interest on such series at its maturity or redemption date if the debt securities of such series will become due and payable at maturity within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year of the deposit.
Transfer and Exchange
A holder will be able to transfer or exchange debt securities only in accordance with the indenture. The registrar may require a holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents, and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the indenture.
Amendment, Supplement and Waiver
Without notice to or the consent of any holder, we and the trustee may amend or supplement the indenture or the debt securities of a series to:
| • | cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency; |
| • | comply with the provisions of the indenture regarding the consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets; |
| • | provide that specific provisions of the indenture shall not apply to a series of debt securities not previously issued or to make a change to specific provisions of the indenture that only applies to any series of debt securities not previously issued or to additional debt securities of a series not previously issued; |
| • | create a series and establish its terms; |
| • | provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities; |
| • | comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; or |
| • | make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder. |
With the exceptions discussed below, we and the trustee may amend or supplement the indenture or the debt securities of a particular series with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding. In addition, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding may waive any existing default under, or compliance with, any provision of the debt securities of a particular series or of the indenture relating to a particular series of debt securities, other than any event of default in payment of interest or principal. These consents and waivers may be obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, debt securities.
Without the consent of each holder affected, we and the trustee may not:
| • | reduce the amount of debt securities of such series whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver; |
| • | reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest, including defaulted interest; |
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| • | reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any debt security or alter the provisions with respect to redemptions or mandatory offers to repurchase debt securities; |
| • | make any change that adversely affects any right of a holder to convert or exchange any debt security into or for shares of our common stock or other securities, cash or other property in accordance with the terms of such security; |
| • | modify the ranking or priority of the debt securities; |
| • | make any change to any provision of the indenture relating to the waiver of existing defaults, the rights of holders to receive payment of principal and interest on the debt securities, or to the provisions regarding amending or supplementing the indenture or the debt securities of a particular series with the written consent of the holders of such series; |
| • | waive a continuing default or event of default in the payment of principal of or interest on the debt securities; or |
| • | make any debt security payable at a place or in money other than that stated in the debt security, or impair the right of any holder of a debt security to bring suit as permitted by the indenture. |
The right of any holder to participate in any consent required or sought pursuant to any provision of the indenture, and our obligation to obtain any such consent otherwise required from such holder, may be subject to the requirement that such holder shall have been the holder of record of debt securities with respect to which such consent is required or sought as of a record date fixed by us in accordance with the indenture.
Concerning the Trustee
The indenture will contain limitations on the rights of the trustee, should it become our creditor, to obtain payment of claims in specified cases or to realize on property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The indenture will permit the trustee to engage in other transactions; however, if it acquires any conflicting interest, it must eliminate such conflict or resign.
The indenture will provide that in case an event of default occurs and is not cured, the trustee will be required, in the exercise of its power, to use the degree of care of a prudent person in similar circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs. The trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power under the indenture, unless it receives indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.
Governing Law
The laws of the State of New York will govern the indenture and the debt securities.
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DESCRIPTION OF OUR WARRANTS
The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplements or free writing prospectus, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, which may consist of warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities in one or more series. Warrants may be offered independently or together with common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, and may be attached to or separate from those securities. While the terms we have summarized below will generally apply to any future warrants we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any warrants that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. The terms of any warrants we offer under a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may differ from the terms we describe below.
In the event that we issue warrants, we will issue the warrants under a warrant agreement which we will enter into with a warrant agent to be selected by us. Forms of these warrant agreements and forms of the warrant certificates representing the warrants, and the complete warrant agreements and forms of warrant certificates containing the terms of the warrants being offered, will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or will be incorporated by reference from reports that we file with the SEC. We use the term “warrant agreement” to refer to any of these warrant agreements. We use the term “warrant agent” to refer to the warrant agent under any of these warrant agreements. The warrant agent will act solely as an agent of ours in connection with the warrants and will not act as an agent for the holders or beneficial owners of the warrants.
The following summaries of material provisions of the warrants and the warrant agreements are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the warrant agreement applicable to a particular series of warrants. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements or free writing prospectus related to the warrants that we sell under this prospectus, as well as the complete warrant agreements that contain the terms of the warrants.
General
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus the terms relating to a series of warrants. If warrants for the purchase of debt securities are offered, the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus will describe the following terms, to the extent applicable:
| · | the offering price and the aggregate number of warrants offered; |
| · | the currencies in which the warrants are being offered; |
| · | the designation, aggregate principal amount, currencies, denominations and terms of the series of debt securities that can be purchased if a holder exercises a warrant; |
| · | the designation and terms of any series of debt securities with which the warrants are being offered and the number of warrants offered with each such debt security; |
| · | the date on and after which the holder of the warrants can transfer them separately from the related series of debt securities; |
| · | the principal amount of the series of debt securities that can be purchased if a holder exercises a warrant and the price at which and currencies in which such principal amount may be purchased upon exercise; |
| · | the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants; |
| · | the date on which the right to exercise the warrants begins and the date on which such right expires; |
| · | federal income tax consequences of holding or exercising the warrants; and |
| · | any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the warrants. |
If warrants for the purchase of common stock or preferred stock are offered, the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus will describe the following terms, to the extent applicable:
| · | the offering price and the aggregate number of warrants offered; |
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| · | the total number of shares that can be purchased if a holder of the warrants exercises them and, in the case of warrants for preferred stock, the designation, total number and terms of the series of preferred stock that can be purchased upon exercise; |
| · | the designation and terms of any series of preferred stock with which the warrants are being offered and the number of warrants being offered with each share of common stock or preferred stock; |
| · | the date on and after which the holder of the warrants can transfer them separately from the related common stock or series of preferred stock; |
| · | the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock that can be purchased if a holder exercises the warrant and the price at which such common stock or preferred stock may be purchased upon exercise, including, if applicable, any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price and in the securities or other property receivable upon exercise; |
| · | the terms of any rights to redeem or call, or accelerate the expiration of, the warrants; |
| · | the date on which the right to exercise the warrants begins and the date on which that right expires; |
| · | federal income tax consequences of holding or exercising the warrants; and |
| · | any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the warrants. |
Exercise of Warrants
Each holder of a warrant is entitled to purchase the principal amount of debt securities or number of shares of common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be, at the exercise price described in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. After the close of business on the day when the right to exercise terminates (or a later date if we extend the time for exercise), unexercised warrants will become void.
A holder of warrants may exercise them by following the general procedure outlined below:
| · | delivering to the warrant agent the payment required by the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus to purchase the underlying security; |
| · | properly completing and signing the reverse side of the warrant certificate representing the warrants; |
| · | delivering the warrant certificate representing the warrants to the warrant agent within five business days of the warrant agent receiving payment of the exercise price. |
If you comply with the procedures described above, your warrants will be considered to have been exercised when the warrant agent receives payment of the exercise price, subject to the transfer books for the securities issuable upon exercise of the warrant not being closed on such date. After you have completed those procedures and subject to the foregoing, we will, as soon as practicable, issue and deliver to you the debt securities, common stock or preferred stock that you purchased upon exercise. If you exercise fewer than all of the warrants represented by a warrant certificate, a new warrant certificate will be issued to you for the unexercised amount of warrants. Holders of warrants will be required to pay any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with transferring the underlying securities in connection with the exercise of the warrants.
Amendments and Supplements to the Warrant Agreements
We may amend or supplement a warrant agreement without the consent of the holders of the applicable warrants to cure ambiguities in the warrant agreement, to cure or correct a defective provision in the warrant agreement, or to provide for other matters under the warrant agreement that we and the warrant agent deem necessary or desirable, so long as, in each case, such amendments or supplements do not materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of the warrants.
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Warrant Adjustments
Unless the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus states otherwise, the exercise price of, and the number of securities covered by, a common stock warrant or preferred stock warrant will be adjusted proportionately if we subdivide or combine our common stock or preferred stock, as applicable. In addition, unless the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus states otherwise, if we, without receiving payment:
| · | issue capital stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stock or preferred stock, or any rights to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire any of the foregoing, as a dividend or distribution to holders of our common stock or preferred stock; |
| · | pay any cash to holders of our common stock or preferred stock other than a cash dividend paid out of our current or retained earnings or other than in accordance with the terms of the preferred stock; |
| · | issue any evidence of our indebtedness or rights to subscribe for or purchase our indebtedness to holders of our common stock or preferred stock; or |
| · | issue common stock or preferred stock or additional stock or other securities or property to holders of our common stock or preferred stock by way of spinoff, split-up, reclassification, combination of shares or similar corporate rearrangement, |
then the holders of common stock warrants and preferred stock warrants, as applicable, will be entitled to receive upon exercise of the warrants, in addition to the securities otherwise receivable upon exercise of the warrants and without paying any additional consideration, the amount of stock and other securities and property such holders would have been entitled to receive had they held the common stock or preferred stock, as applicable, issuable under the warrants on the dates on which holders of those securities received or became entitled to receive such additional stock and other securities and property.
Except as stated above or as otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, the exercise price and number of securities covered by a common stock warrant and preferred stock warrant, and the amounts of other securities or property to be received, if any, upon exercise of those warrants, will not be adjusted or provided for if we issue those securities or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for those securities, or securities carrying the right to purchase those securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for those securities.
Holders of common stock warrants and preferred stock warrants may have additional rights under the following circumstances:
| · | certain reclassifications, capital reorganizations or changes of the common stock or preferred stock, as applicable; |
| · | certain share exchanges, mergers, or similar transactions involving us and which result in changes of the common stock or preferred stock, as applicable; or |
| · | certain sales or dispositions to another entity of all or substantially all of our property and assets. |
If one of the above transactions occurs and holders of our common stock or preferred stock are entitled to receive stock, securities or other property with respect to or in exchange for their securities, the holders of the common stock warrants and preferred stock warrants then outstanding, as applicable, will be entitled to receive upon exercise of their warrants the kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities or property that they would have received upon the applicable transaction if they had exercised their warrants immediately before the transaction.
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DESCRIPTION OF OUR RIGHTS
We may issue rights for the purchase of shares of our Class A common stock or shares of our preferred stock. Each series of rights will be issued under a separate rights agreement which we will enter into with a bank or trust company, as rights agent, all as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The rights agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the certificates relating to the rights and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holders of rights certificates or beneficial owners of rights. We will file the rights agreement and the rights certificates relating to each series of rights with the SEC and incorporate them by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part on or before the time we issue a series of rights.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any rights we issue, including as applicable:
| · | the date for determining the persons entitled to participate in the rights distribution; |
| · | the aggregate number or amount of underlying securities purchasable upon exercise of the rights and the exercise price; |
| · | the aggregate number of rights being issued; |
| · | the date, if any, on and after which the rights may be transferable separately; |
| · | the date on which the right to exercise the rights commences and the date on which such right expires; |
| · | the designation and terms of any securities with which the warrants are issued; |
| · | a discussion of any material or special U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the rights; and |
| · | any other terms of the rights, including the terms, procedures and limitations relating to the distribution, exchange and exercise of the rights. |
Rights will be exercisable for U.S. dollars only and will be in registered form only.
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DESCRIPTION OF OUR UNITS
This section outlines some of the provisions of the units and the unit agreements. This information may not be complete in all respects and is qualified entirely by reference to the unit agreement with respect to the units of any particular series. The specific terms of any series of units will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. If so described in a particular prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, the specific terms of any series of units may differ from the general description of terms presented below.
As specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may issue units consisting of one or more shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, rights or any combination of such securities.
The applicable prospectus supplement will specify the following terms of any units in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered:
| · | the terms of the units and of any of the shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock, debt securities, or warrants comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances the securities comprising the units may be traded separately; |
| · | a description of the terms of any unit agreement governing the units; |
| · | if appropriate, a discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations; and |
| · | a description of the provisions for the payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units. |
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the securities covered by this prospectus directly to purchasers or through underwriters, broker-dealers, or agents, who may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions, or commissions from us. These discounts, concessions, or commissions as to any particular underwriter, broker-dealer, or agent may be in excess of those customary in the types of transactions involved. In addition, we may issue the securities as a dividend or distribution or in a subscription rights offering to our existing security holders.
The securities may be sold in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices. These sales may be effected in transactions which may involve crosses or block transactions.
If underwriters are used in an offering of securities, such offered securities may be resold in one or more transactions:
| · | on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the common stock or the preferred stock may be listed or quoted at the time of sale, including, as of the date of this prospectus, the Nasdaq Capital Market in the case of the common stock; |
| · | in the over-the-counter market; |
| · | in transactions otherwise than on these exchanges or services or in the over-the-counter market; or |
| · | through the writing of options, whether the options are listed on an options exchange or otherwise. |
Each prospectus supplement will state the terms of the offering, including, but not limited to:
| · | the names of any underwriters, dealers, or agents; |
| · | the public offering or purchase price of the securities and the net proceeds that we will receive from the sale |
| · | any underwriting discounts and commissions or other items constituting underwriters’ compensation; |
| · | any discounts, commissions, or fees allowed or paid to dealers or agents; and |
| · | any securities exchange on which the offered securities may be listed. |
If we sell securities to underwriters, we will execute an underwriting agreement with them at the time of the sale and will name them in the applicable prospectus supplement. In connection with these sales, the underwriters may be deemed to have received compensation in the form of underwriting discounts and commissions. The underwriters also may receive commissions from purchasers of securities for whom they may act as agent. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the underwriters will not be obligated to purchase the securities unless the conditions set forth in the underwriting agreement are satisfied, and if the underwriters purchase any of the securities offered by such prospectus supplement, they will be required to purchase all of such offered securities. The underwriters may acquire the securities for their own account and may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or varying prices determined at the time of sale. The underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and those dealers may receive discounts, concessions, or commissions from the underwriters as well as from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent.
We may designate agents who agree to use their reasonable efforts to solicit purchasers for the period of their appointment or to sell securities on a continuing basis. We may also sell securities directly to one or more purchasers without using underwriters or agents.
Under agreements entered into with us, underwriters and agents may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution for payments the underwriters or agents may be required to make. The underwriters, agents, and their affiliates may engage in financial or other business transactions with us and our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.
The aggregate proceeds to us from the sale of the securities will be the purchase price of the securities less discounts and commissions, if any.
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In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if applicable, any securities covered by this prospectus must be sold in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in certain states securities may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.
In order to facilitate the offering of the securities, any underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the price of the securities or any other securities the prices of which may be used to determine payments on such securities. Specifically, any underwriters may overallot in connection with the offering, creating a short position for their own accounts. In addition, to cover overallotments or to stabilize the price of the securities or of any such other securities, the underwriters may bid for, and purchase, the securities or any such other securities in the open market. Finally, in any offering of the securities through a syndicate of underwriters, the underwriting syndicate may reclaim selling concessions allowed to an underwriter or a dealer for distributing the securities in the offering if the syndicate repurchases previously distributed securities in transactions to cover syndicate short positions, in stabilization transactions, or otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities above independent market levels. Any such underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and may end any of these activities at any time.
The applicable prospectus supplement may provide that the original issue date for your securities may be more than three scheduled business days after the trade date for your securities. Accordingly, in such a case, if you wish to trade securities on any date prior to the third business day before the original issue date for your securities, you will be required, by virtue of the fact that your securities initially are expected to settle in more than three scheduled business days after the trade date for your securities, to make alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.
The securities may be new issues of securities and may have no established trading market. The securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. We can make no assurance as to the liquidity of or the existence of trading markets for any of the securities.
In order to comply with the securities laws of some states, if applicable, the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus must be sold in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the shares of common stock may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.
To the extent required, this prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution.
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LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Winston & Strawn LLP, Houston, Texas. Certain legal matters will passed upon for any underwriters, dealers or agents by the law firm identified as counsel to such underwriters, dealers or agents in the applicable prospectus supplement.
EXPERTS
The financial statements of Nxu, Inc. incorporated by reference in this prospectus have been audited by Prager Metis CPAs LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report appearing therein (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern). Such financial statements have been so included in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public on a website maintained by the SEC located at www.sec.gov. We also maintain a website at www.nxu.com. Through our website, we make available, free of charge, annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, our website is not part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The following documents filed by us with the SEC are incorporated by reference in this prospectus:
| · | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 (and with recast audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022 included in the Form 8-K filed on September 18, 2023) filed with the SEC on March 16, 2023 and April 28, 2023, respectively. |
| · | our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2023 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on May 12, 2023 and August 14, respectively; |
| · | our Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January 6, 2023, January 30, 2023, February 15, 2023, April 17, 2023, April 20, 2023, April 28, 2023, May 10, 2023, May 12, 2023, May 12, 2023, June 8, 2023, June 21, 2023, August 10, 2023, September 1, 2023, September 18, 2023, October 10, 2023 and October 13, 2023 and |
| · | the description of our Class A common stock contained in the Registration Statement on Form 8A12B (File No. 001-41702) relating thereto, filed on May 12, 2023, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
We also incorporate by reference all documents we file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15 of the Exchange Act (other than any portions of filings that are furnished rather than filed pursuant to Items 2.02 and 7.01 of a Current Report on Form 8-K) after the date of the initial registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and prior to effectiveness of such registration statement. All documents we file in the future pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering are also incorporated by reference and are an important part of this prospectus.
Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for the purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement.
We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in the prospectus but not delivered with the prospectus. You may request a copy of these filings, excluding the exhibits to such filings which we have not specifically incorporated by reference in such filings, at no cost, by writing to or calling us at:
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Nxu, Inc.
Attn: Chief Legal Officer and Secretary
1828 N Higley Rd., Suite 116
Mesa, Arizona
85205
(760) 515-1133
This prospectus is part of a registration statement we filed with the SEC. You should only rely on the information or representations contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide information other than that provided in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. We are not making an offer of the securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of the document.
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PROSPECTUS
Nxu, Inc.
$75,000,000
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
Rights
Units
, 2023
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
The following table sets forth an estimate of the fees and expenses, other than the underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by us in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered.
| Amount | ||||
| SEC registration fee | $ | 11,070 | ||
| Nasdaq supplemental listing fee | * | |||
| Accounting fees and expenses | * | |||
| Legal fees and expenses | * | |||
| Transfer agent and registrar fees and expenses | * | |||
| Trustee fees and expenses | * | |||
| Printing and miscellaneous fees and expenses | * | |||
| Total | $ | * |
* These fees are calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time.
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Section 145 of the DGCL authorizes a court to award, or a corporation’s board of directors to grant, indemnity to directors and officers in terms sufficiently broad to permit such indemnification under certain circumstances for liabilities, including reimbursement for expenses incurred, arising under the Securities Act.
Nxu’s bylaws provide that Nxu shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of Nxu, or, while a director or officer of Nxu, is or was serving at the request of Nxu as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of Nxu, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful.
Nxu’s bylaws further provide that Nxu shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of Nxu to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of Nxu, or, while a director or officer of Nxu, is or was serving at the request of Nxu as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of Nxu; except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to Nxu unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity by Nxu for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
Any of the foregoing indemnification provisions (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by Nxu only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director or officer is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct described above, which determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination, (i) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (ii) by a committee of such directors designated by a majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (iii) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion or (iv) by the stockholders. Such determination shall be made, with respect to former directors and officers, by any person or persons having the authority to act on the matter on behalf of Nxu. To the extent, however, that a present or former director or officer of Nxu has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith, without the necessity of authorization in the specific case.
| II-1 |
Expenses, including without limitation attorneys’ fees, incurred by a current or former director or officer in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding to which such person is a party or is threatened to be made a party or otherwise involved as a witness or otherwise by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of Nxu, or, while a director or officer of Nxu, is or was serving at the request of Nxu as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, shall be paid by Nxu in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such current or former director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by Nxu.
In addition, Nxu assumed certain customary indemnification agreements that Nxu’s predecessor, Atlis Motor Vehicles Inc., entered into with each of its directors and officers. The assumption of these agreements require Nxu to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.
Nxu purchased and maintains directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures Nxu’s directors and officers against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgement in some circumstances and insures Nxu against its obligations to indemnify the directors and officers.
The foregoing is only a general summary of certain aspects of Delaware law and Nxu’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws dealing with indemnification of directors and officers and does not purport to be complete. It is qualified in its entirety by reference to the detailed provisions of those sections of the DGCL referenced above and Nxu’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws.
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS
| II-2 |
| II-3 |
| 21.1 | List of Subsidiaries of Nxu, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 21.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on September 20, 2023). | |
| 23.1 | Consent of Prager Metis CPAs LLP, independent registered public accounting firm | |
| 23.2 | Consent of Winston & Strawn LLP (included as part of its opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1). | |
| 24.1 | Power of Attorney (included on the signature page to the initial filing of this Registration Statement on Form S-3). | |
| 25.1* | Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility to act as trustee under Indenture. | |
| 101.INS | Inline XBRL Instance Document. | |
| 101.SCH | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. | |
| 101.CAL | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. | |
| 101.DEF | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document | |
| 101.LAB | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document. | |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101). | |
| 107 | Filing Fee Table |
+ Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
† Portions of the exhibit have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K. The Company agrees to furnish a supplemental copy with any omitted information to the SEC upon request.
*To be filed, if necessary, subsequent to the effectiveness of this registration by an amendment to this registration statement or incorporation by reference pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K in connection with an offering of securities.
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS
| (a) | The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes: |
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement.
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
| II-4 |
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(i) If the Registrant is relying on Rule 430B:
(A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; or
(ii) If the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities: The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
| (i) | Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; |
| (ii) | Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant; |
| (iii) | The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and |
| (iv) | Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser. |
(6) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
| II-5 |
(7) To file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of each Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, each Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by a Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of a Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, that Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
| II-6 |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Mesa, State of Arizona, on October 17, 2023.
| NXU, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Mark Hanchett | |
| Mark Hanchett | ||
| Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | ||
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Mark Hanchett and Annie Pratt and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to sign any registration statement for the same offering covered by the registration statement that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act, and all post-effective amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, his, hers or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done or 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 indicated on October 17, 2023.
| Signatures | Title | |
| /s/ Mark Hanchett | Chief Executive Officer and Chairman | |
| Mark Hanchett | (Principal Executive Officer) | |
| /s/ Apoorv Dwivedi | Chief Financial Officer | |
| Apoorv Dwivedi | (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | |
| /s/ Annie Pratt | President and Director | |
| Annie Pratt | ||
| /s/ Britt Ide | Director | |
| Britt Ide | ||
| /s/ Caryn Nightengale | Director | |
| Caryn Nightengale | ||
| /s/ Jessica Billingsley | Director | |
| Jessica Billingsley |
Exhibit 4.5
NXU, INC.
Debt Securities
Indenture
Dated as of [ ]
[ ],
as Trustee
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE
This Cross-Reference Table is not a part of the Indenture.
| TIA Section | Indenture Section |
| 310(a)(1). | 7.10 |
| (a)(2). | 7.10 |
| (a)(3). | N.A. |
| (a)(4). | N.A. |
| (b). | 7.08; 7.10; 11.02 |
| 311(a). | 7.11 |
| (b). | 7.11 |
| (c). | N.A. |
| 312(a). | 2.05 |
| (b). | 11.03 |
| (c). | 11.03 |
| 313(a). | 7.06 |
| (b)(1). | N.A. |
| (b)(2). | 7.06 |
| (c). | 11.02 |
| (d). | 7.06 |
| 314(a). | 4.03; 11.02 |
| (b). | N.A. |
| (c)(1). | 11.04 |
| (c)(2). | 11.04 |
| (c)(3). | N.A. |
| (d). | N.A. |
| (e). | 11.05 |
| 315(a). | 7.01(b) |
| (b). | 7.05; 11.02 |
| (c). | 7.01(a) |
| (d). | 7.01(c) |
| (e). | 6.11 |
| 316(a)(last sentence). | 2.12 |
| (a)(1)(A). | 6.05 |
| (a)(1)(B). | 6.04 |
| (a)(2). | N.A. |
| (b). | 6.07 |
| 317(a)(1). | 6.08 |
| (a)(2). | 6.09 |
| (b). | 2.04 |
| 318(a). | 11.01 |
| N.A. means Not Applicable. |
| i |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Table of Contents is not a part of the Indenture.
| ARTICLE ONE DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE | 1 | |
| Section 1.01 | Definitions | 1 |
| Section 1.02 | Other Definitions | 6 |
| Section 1.03 | Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act | 7 |
| Section 1.04 | Rules of Construction | 7 |
| ARTICLE TWO THE SECURITIES | 8 | |
| Section 2.01 | Form and Dating | 8 |
| Section 2.02 | Execution and Authentication | 10 |
| Section 2.03 | Registrar and Paying Agent | 10 |
| Section 2.04 | Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust | 11 |
| Section 2.05 | Securityholder Lists | 11 |
| Section 2.06 | Transfer and Exchange | 11 |
| Section 2.07 | Replacement Securities | 12 |
| Section 2.08 | Outstanding Securities | 12 |
| Section 2.09 | Temporary Securities | 13 |
| Section 2.10 | Cancellation | 13 |
| Section 2.11 | Defaulted Interest | 13 |
| Section 2.12 | Treasury Securities | 14 |
| Section 2.13 | CUSIP/ISIN Numbers | 14 |
| Section 2.14 | Deposit of Moneys | 14 |
| Section 2.15 | Book-Entry Provisions for Global Security | 14 |
| ARTICLE THREE REDEMPTION | 16 | |
| Section 3.01 | Notices to Trustee | 16 |
| Section 3.02 | Selection of Securities to be Redeemed | 17 |
| Section 3.03 | Notice of Redemption | 17 |
| Section 3.04 | Effect of Notice of Redemption | 18 |
| Section 3.05 | Deposit of Redemption Price | 19 |
| Section 3.06 | Securities Redeemed in Part | 19 |
| ARTICLE FOUR COVENANTS | 19 | |
| Section 4.01 | Payment of Securities | 19 |
| Section 4.02 | Maintenance of Office or Agency | 19 |
| ii |
| Section 4.03 | Compliance Certificate | 19 |
| Section 4.04 | Payment of Taxes; Maintenance of Corporate Existence; Maintenance of Properties | 20 |
| Section 4.05 | Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws | 20 |
| ARTICLE FIVE SUCCESSOR CORPORATION | 21 | |
| Section 5.01 | When Company May Merge, etc. | 21 |
| ARTICLE SIX DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES | 21 | |
| Section 6.01 | Events of Default | 21 |
| Section 6.02 | Acceleration | 23 |
| Section 6.03 | Other Remedies | 24 |
| Section 6.04 | Waiver of Existing Defaults | 24 |
| Section 6.05 | Control by Majority | 24 |
| Section 6.06 | Limitation on Suits | 25 |
| Section 6.07 | Rights of Holders to Receive Payment | 25 |
| Section 6.08 | Collection Suit by Trustee | 25 |
| Section 6.09 | Trustee May File Proofs of Claim | 26 |
| Section 6.10 | Priorities | 26 |
| Section 6.11 | Undertaking for Costs | 26 |
| ARTICLE SEVEN TRUSTEE | 27 | |
| Section 7.01 | Duties of Trustee | 27 |
| Section 7.02 | Rights of Trustee | 28 |
| Section 7.03 | Individual Rights of Trustee | 29 |
| Section 7.04 | Trustee’s Disclaimer | 29 |
| Section 7.05 | Notice of Defaults | 29 |
| Section 7.06 | Reports by Trustee to Holders | 29 |
| Section 7.07 | Compensation and Indemnity | 30 |
| Section 7.08 | Replacement of Trustee | 30 |
| Section 7.09 | Successor Trustee by Merger, etc. | 31 |
| Section 7.10 | Eligibility; Disqualification | 31 |
| Section 7.11 | Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company | 31 |
| ARTICLE EIGHT DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE | 32 | |
| Section 8.01 | Defeasance upon Deposit of Moneys or Government Obligations | 32 |
| Section 8.02 | Survival of the Company’s Obligations | 35 |
| Section 8.03 | Application of Trust Money | 35 |
| Section 8.04 | Repayment to the Company | 36 |
| Section 8.05 | Reinstatement | 36 |
| iii |
| ARTICLE NINE AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS | 36 | |
| Section 9.01 | Without Consent of Holders | 36 |
| Section 9.02 | With Consent of Holders | 37 |
| Section 9.03 | Compliance with Trust Indenture Act | 38 |
| Section 9.04 | Revocation and Effect of Consents | 38 |
| Section 9.05 | Notation on or Exchange of Securities | 39 |
| Section 9.06 | Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc. | 39 |
| ARTICLE TEN SECURITIES IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES | 39 | |
| Section 10.01 | Applicability of Article | 39 |
| ARTICLE ELEVEN MISCELLANEOUS | 40 | |
| Section 11.01 | Trust Indenture Act Controls | 40 |
| Section 11.02 | Notices | 40 |
| Section 11.03 | Communications by Holders with Other Holders | 41 |
| Section 11.04 | Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent | 41 |
| Section 11.05 | Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion | 41 |
| Section 11.06 | Rules by Trustee and Agents | 42 |
| Section 11.07 | Legal Holidays | 42 |
| Section 11.08 | Governing Law | 42 |
| Section 11.09 | No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements | 42 |
| Section 11.10 | No Recourse Against Others | 42 |
| Section 11.11 | Successors and Assigns | 42 |
| Section 11.12 | Duplicate Originals | 43 |
| Section 11.13 | Severability | 43 |
| EXHIBIT A – Form of Security | ||
| iv |
INDENTURE dated as of [ ], (the “Base Indenture”), by and among NXU, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and [ ], as trustee (the “Trustee”).
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Company’s debt securities issued under this Base Indenture:
ARTICLE ONE
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section 1.01 Definitions.
“Affiliate” means, when used with reference to a specified person, any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Person specified.
“Agent” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-Registrar or agent for service of notices and demands.
“Authorizing Resolution” means a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors or by an Officer or committee of Officers pursuant to Board of Directors delegation authorizing a Series of Securities.
“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee thereof.
“Capital Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of or in such Person’s capital stock or other equity interests.
“Capitalized Lease Obligations” of any Person means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under a lease that is required to be capitalized for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP, and the amount of such obligations will be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Company” means the party named as such in this Indenture until a successor replaces it pursuant to the Indenture and thereafter means the successor.
| 1 |
“control” means, when used with respect to any Person, 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.
“Currency Agreement” of any Person means any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect such Person or any of its Subsidiaries against fluctuations in currency values.
“Default” means any event, act or condition that is, or after notice or the passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
“Definitive Security” means a certificated Security registered in the name of the Securityholder thereof.
“Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any Series which the Company shall determine will be issued in whole or in part as a Global Security, DTC, another clearing agency, or any successor registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act, and any other applicable U.S. or foreign statute or regulation, which, in each case, shall be designated by the Company pursuant to Section 2.01.
“Dollars” and “$” mean United States Dollars.
“DTC” means The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Foreign Currency” means any currency, currency unit or composite currency, including, without limitation, the euro, issued by the government of one or more countries other than the United States or by any recognized confederation or association of such governments.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the accounting standards codification of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such or any other entity as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession of the United States, as in effect on the date of this Base Indenture.
“Global Security” means, with respect to any Series of Securities, a Security executed by the Company and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance with the Indenture, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.
| 2 |
“Government Obligations” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of the United States or the other government or governments in the confederation which issued the Foreign Currency in which the principal of or any interest on the Security of the applicable Series shall be payable, in each case for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States or such other government or governments, in each case the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States or such other government or governments, which, in either case are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer or issuers thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such Government Obligations 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 depositary 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 depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of the Government Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.
“Holder” or “Securityholder” means the Person in whose name a Security is registered on the Registrar’s books.
“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent:
| (1) | in respect of borrowed money; |
| (2) | evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments; |
| (3) | in respect of letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof) or banker’s acceptances; |
| (4) | representing Capitalized Lease Obligations; |
| (5) | in respect of the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property, except (i) any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable, or (ii) any obligation to pay a contingent purchase price as long as such obligation remains contingent; or |
| (6) | in respect of any Interest Protection Agreement or Currency Agreement, |
if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit and any Interest Protection Agreement or Currency Agreement) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the term “Indebtedness” includes all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by the specified Person) and, to the extent not otherwise included, the guarantee by such Person of any indebtedness of any other Person.
| 3 |
Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture, the amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date shall be:
| (a) | with respect to contingent obligations, the maximum liability upon the occurrence of the contingency giving rise to the obligation; |
| (b) | with respect to any Interest Protection Agreement or Currency Agreement, the net amount payable thereunder if such agreement were terminated at that time due to default by such Person; |
| (c) | the accreted value thereof, in the case of any Indebtedness issued at a discount to par; or |
| (d) | except as provided above, the principal amount or liquidation preference thereof, in the case of any other Indebtedness. |
“Indenture” means this Base Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time, including pursuant to any Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture pertaining to any Series, and including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture, the provisions of the TIA that are deemed to be a part of and govern this Base Indenture and any such Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture, respectively.
“Interest Protection Agreement” of any Person means any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, option or futures contract or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect such Person or any of its Subsidiaries against fluctuations in interest rates with respect to Indebtedness.
“Issue Date” means, with respect to any Series of Securities, the date on which the Securities of such Series are originally issued under this Indenture.
“Lien” means, with respect to any Property, any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, charge, hypothecation, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such Property. For purposes of this definition, a Person shall be deemed to own, subject to a Lien, any Property which it has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or other title retention agreement relating to such Property.
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“Non-Recourse Indebtedness” with respect to any Person means Indebtedness of such Person for which (i) the sole legal recourse for collection of principal and interest on such Indebtedness is against the specific Property identified in the instruments evidencing or securing such Indebtedness (and any accessions thereto and proceeds thereof) and such Property was acquired with the proceeds of such Indebtedness or such Indebtedness was incurred within 180 days after the acquisition of such Property and (ii) no other assets of such Person may be realized upon in collection of principal or interest on such Indebtedness. Indebtedness which is otherwise Non-Recourse Indebtedness will not lose its character as Non-Recourse Indebtedness because there is recourse to the borrower, any guarantor or any other Person for (i) environmental or tax warranties and indemnities and such other representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities as are customarily required in such transactions, or (ii) indemnities for and liabilities arising from fraud, misrepresentation, misapplication or non-payment of rents, profits, insurance and condemnation proceeds and other sums actually received by the borrower from secured assets to be paid to the lender, waste and mechanics’ liens.
“NYUCC” means the New York Uniform Commercial Code, as in effect from time to time.
“Officer” means the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, the Controller or the Secretary of the Company, as applicable.
“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by two Officers or by an Officer and an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary of the Company.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or the Trustee.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Property” of any Person means all types of real, personal, tangible, intangible or mixed property owned by such Person, whether or not included in the most recent consolidated balance sheet of such Person under GAAP.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency performing the duties now assigned to it under the TIA.
“Securities” means any Securities that are issued under this Base Indenture.
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“Series” means a series of Securities established under this Base Indenture.
“Subsidiary” of any Person means any corporation or other entity of which a majority of the Capital Stock having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such entity or other persons performing similar functions is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person.
“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as in effect from time to time, except as otherwise provided herein.
“Trustee” means the party named as such in this Base Indenture until a successor replaces it pursuant to this Base Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder; provided, however, that if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean only the Trustee with respect to Securities of that Series.
“Trust Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President or any other officer or assistant officer of the Trustee assigned by the Trustee to administer its corporate trust matters.
“United States” means the United States of America.
Section 1.02 Other Definitions.
| Term | Defined in Section | |
| Agent Members | 2.15 | |
| Base Indenture | Preamble | |
| Business Day | 11.07 | |
| Covenant Defeasance | 8.01 | |
| Custodian | 6.01 | |
| Event of Default | 6.01 | |
| Legal Defeasance | 8.01 | |
| Legal Holiday | 11.07 | |
| Paying Agent | 2.03 | |
| Payment Default | 6.01 | |
| Registrar | 2.03 | |
| Successor | 5.01 |
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Section 1.03 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:
“Commission” means the SEC.
“Indenture Securities” means the Securities of a particular Series.
“Indenture Security Holder” means a Securityholder.
“Indenture to be Qualified” means this Indenture.
“Indenture Trustee” or “Institutional Trustee” means the Trustee.
“Obligor” on the Indenture Securities means the Company or any other obligor on the Securities of a Series.
All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule have the meanings so assigned to them.
Section 1.04 Rules of Construction.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
| (1) | a term has the meaning assigned to it herein; |
| (2) | an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP and all accounting determinations shall be made in accordance with GAAP; |
| (3) | “or” is not exclusive and “including” means “including without limitation”; |
| (4) | words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular; |
| (5) | “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and other words of similar import, refer to this Indenture as a whole (including any Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture relating to the relevant Series) and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision; |
| (6) | all exhibits are incorporated by reference herein and expressly made a part of this Indenture; and |
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| (7) | any transaction or event shall be considered “permitted by” or made “in accordance with” or “in compliance with” this Indenture or any particular provision thereof if such transaction or event is not expressly prohibited by this Indenture or such provision, as the case may be. |
ARTICLE TWO
THE SECURITIES
Section 2.01 Form and Dating.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be issued under this Base Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued from time to time in one or more Series. Each Series shall be created by an Authorizing Resolution or a supplemental indenture that establishes the terms of the Series, which may include the following:
| (1) | the title of the Series; |
| (2) | the aggregate principal amount (or any limit on the aggregate principal amount) of the Series and, if any Securities of a Series are to be issued at a discount from their face amount, the method of computing the accretion of such discount; |
| (3) | the interest rate or method of calculation of the interest rate; |
| (4) | the date from which interest will accrue; |
| (5) | the record dates for interest payable on Securities of the Series; |
| (6) | the dates when, places where and manner in which principal and interest are payable; |
| (7) | the Registrar and Paying Agent; |
| (8) | the terms of any mandatory (including any sinking fund requirements) or optional redemption by the Company; |
| (9) | the terms of any redemption at the option of Holders; |
| (10) | the permissible denominations in which Securities of such Series are issuable, if different from $2,000 and multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; |
| (11) | whether Securities of such Series will be issued in registered or bearer form and the terms of any such forms of Securities; |
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| (12) | whether the Securities of the Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security or Securities, the terms and conditions, if different from those contained in this Base Indenture, upon which such Global Security or Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for Definitive Securities; the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities; the form of any legend or legends, if any, to be borne by any such Global Security or Securities in addition to or in lieu of the legends referred to in Section 2.15; |
| (13) | the currency or currencies (including any composite currency) in which principal or interest or both may be paid; |
| (14) | if payments of principal or interest may be made in a currency other than that in which Securities of such Series are denominated, the manner for determining such payments, including the time and manner of determining the exchange rate between the currency in which such Securities are denominated and the currency in which such Securities or any of them may be paid, and any deletions from or modifications of or additions to the terms of this Indenture to provide for or to facilitate the issuance of Securities denominated or payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof or otherwise, in a Foreign Currency; |
| (15) | provisions for electronic issuance of Securities or issuance of Securities of such Series in uncertificated form; |
| (16) | any Events of Default, covenants and/or defined terms in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in this Base Indenture; |
| (17) | whether and upon what terms Securities of such Series may be defeased or discharged if different from the provisions set forth in this Base Indenture; |
| (18) | the form of the Securities of such Series, which, unless the Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture otherwise provides, shall be in the form of Exhibit A; |
| (19) | any terms that may be required by or advisable under applicable law; |
| (20) | the percentage of the principal amount of the Securities of such Series which is payable if the maturity of the Securities of such Series is accelerated in the case of Securities issued at a discount from their face amount; |
| (21) | whether the Securities of such Series are senior or subordinated debt securities, and if subordinated debt securities, the terms of such subordination; |
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| (22) | whether the Securities of the Series will be convertible into or exchangeable for other Securities, common shares or other securities of any kind of the Company or another obligor, and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, including the initial conversion or exchange price or rate or the method of calculation, how and when the conversion price or exchange ratio may be adjusted, whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at the Company’s option, the conversion or exchange period, and any other provision in relation thereto; and |
| (23) | any other terms in addition to or different from those contained in this Base Indenture applicable to such Series. |
All Securities of one Series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, a Series may be reopened for issuances of additional Securities of such Series pursuant to an Authorizing Resolution, an Officers’ Certificate or in any indenture supplemental hereto.
The creation and issuance of a Series and the authentication and delivery thereof are not subject to any conditions precedent.
Section 2.02 Execution and Authentication.
One Officer shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Security, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.
A Security shall not be valid until the Trustee manually signs the certificate of authentication on the Security. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Base Indenture.
The Trustee shall authenticate Securities for original issue upon receipt of an Officers’ Certificate of the Company. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
Section 2.03 Registrar and Paying Agent.
The Company shall maintain an office or agency where Securities may be presented for registration of transfer or where Securities of a Series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange (“Registrar”), an office or agency where Securities may be presented for payment (“Paying Agent”) and an office or agency where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Registrar shall keep a register of the Securities and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may have one or more co-Registrars and one or more additional Paying Agents. The term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent.
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The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Agent not a party to this Base Indenture. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such Agent. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any such Agent and the Trustee shall have the right to inspect the Securities Register at all reasonable times to obtain copies thereof, and the Trustee shall have the right to rely upon such register as to the names and addresses of the Holders and the principal amounts and certificate numbers thereof. If the Company fails to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent or fails to give the foregoing notice, the Trustee shall act as such.
The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent.
Section 2.04 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.
Each Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Securityholders and the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Securities, and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money and hold it as a separate trust fund. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon doing so the Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money.
Section 2.05 Securityholder Lists.
The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Securityholders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least five Business Days before each semiannual interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Securityholders.
Section 2.06 Transfer and Exchange.
Where a Security is presented to the Registrar or a co-Registrar with a request to register a transfer, the Registrar shall register the transfer as requested if the requirements of Section 8-401(a) of the NYUCC are met and the other provisions of this Section 2.06 are satisfied. Where Securities are presented to the Registrar or a co-Registrar with a request to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of other denominations, the Registrar shall make the exchange as requested if the same requirements are met. To permit transfers and exchanges, the Trustee shall authenticate Securities at the Registrar’s request. The Registrar need not transfer or exchange any Security selected for redemption or repurchase, except the unredeemed or repurchased part thereof if the Security is redeemed or repurchased in part, or transfer or exchange any Securities for a period of 15 days before a selection of Securities to be redeemed or repurchased. Any exchange or transfer shall be without charge, except that the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto except in the case of exchanges pursuant to Sections 2.09, 3.06, or 9.05 not involving any transfer.
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Any Holder of a Global Security shall, by acceptance of such Global Security, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such Global Security may be effected only through a book-entry system maintained by the Holder of such Global Security (or its agent), and that ownership of a beneficial interest in the Security shall be required to be reflected in a book entry.
Section 2.07 Replacement Securities.
If the Holder of a Security claims that the Security has been lost, destroyed, mutilated or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue and execute a replacement security and, upon written request of any Officer of the Company, the Trustee shall authenticate such replacement Security, provided, in the case of a lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Security, that the requirements of Section 8-405 of the NYUCC are met. If any such lost, destroyed, mutilated or wrongfully taken Security shall have matured or shall be about to mature, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Security therefor, pay such Security without requiring (except in the case of a mutilated Security) the surrender thereof. An indemnity bond must be sufficient in the judgment of the Company and the Trustee to protect the Company, the Trustee and any Agent from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Security is replaced, including the acquisition of such Security by a bona fide purchaser. The Company and the Trustee may charge for its expenses in replacing a Security.
Section 2.08 Outstanding Securities.
Securities outstanding at any time are all Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those cancelled by it and those described in this Section. A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or one of its Affiliates holds the Security.
If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a “protected purchaser” (as such term is defined in the NYUCC).
If the Paying Agent holds on a redemption date, purchase date or maturity date money sufficient to pay Securities payable on that date, then on and after that date such Securities cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.
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Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, 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.
Section 2.09 Temporary Securities.
Until Definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and, upon surrender for cancellation of the temporary Security, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Securities in exchange for temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities authenticated and delivered hereunder.
Section 2.10 Cancellation.
The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange, redemption, purchase or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel and destroy, or retain in accordance with its standard retention policy, all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, redemption, purchase, payment or cancellation. Unless the Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture so provides, the Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that it has previously paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.11 Defaulted Interest.
If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Securities of any Series, it shall pay the defaulted interest plus any interest payable on the defaulted interest to the persons who are Securityholders of such Series on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix such special record date and a payment date which shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee. At least 15 days before such special record date, the Company shall mail to each Securityholder of the relevant Series a notice that states the record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid. On or before the date such notice is mailed, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the amount of defaulted interest to be so paid. The Company may pay defaulted interest in any other lawful manner if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.
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Section 2.12 Treasury Securities.
In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities of a Series have concurred in any direction, waiver, consent or notice, Securities owned by the Company or any of its respective Affiliates shall be considered as though they are not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Securities which the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so considered.
Section 2.13 CUSIP/ISIN Numbers.
The Company in issuing the Securities of any Series may use a “CUSIP” and/or “ISIN” or other similar number, and if so, the Trustee shall use the CUSIP and/or ISIN or other similar number in notices of redemption or exchange as a convenience to Holders of such Securities; provided that no representation is hereby deemed to be made by the Trustee as to the correctness or accuracy of any such CUSIP and/or ISIN or other similar number printed in the notice or on such Securities, and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on such Securities. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of any change in any CUSIP and/or ISIN or other similar number.
Section 2.14 Deposit of Moneys.
Prior to 11:00 a.m. New York City time on each interest payment date and maturity date with respect to each Series of Securities, the Company shall have deposited with the Paying Agent in immediately available funds money in the applicable currency sufficient to make cash payments due on such interest payment date or maturity date, as the case may be, in a timely manner which permits the Paying Agent to remit payment to the Holders of such Series on such interest payment date or maturity date, as the case may be.
Section 2.15 Book-Entry Provisions for Global Security.
(a) Any Global Security of a Series initially shall (i) be registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of such Depositary, (ii) be delivered to the Trustee as custodian for such Depositary and (iii) bear any required legends.
Members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by the Depositary, or the Trustee as its custodian, or under the Global Security, and the Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of the Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a Holder of any Security.
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(b) Transfers of any Global Security shall be limited to transfers in whole, but not in part, to the Depositary, its successors or their respective nominees. Interests of beneficial owners in the Global Security may be transferred or exchanged for Definitive Securities in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Depositary. In addition, Definitive Securities shall be transferred to all beneficial owners in exchange for their beneficial interests in a Global Security if (i) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Global Security and a successor depository is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of such notice or (ii) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Registrar has received a request from the Depositary to issue Definitive Securities.
(c) In connection with any transfer or exchange of a portion of the beneficial interest in any Global Security to beneficial owners pursuant to paragraph (b), the Registrar shall (if one or more Definitive Securities are to be issued) reflect on its books and records the date and a decrease in the principal amount of the Global Security in an amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interest in the Global Security to be transferred, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, one or more Definitive Securities of like Series and amount.
(d) In connection with the transfer of an entire Global Security to beneficial owners pursuant to paragraph (b), the Global Security shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, to each beneficial owner identified by the Depositary in exchange for its beneficial interest in the Global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Securities of the same Series in authorized denominations.
(e) The Holder of any Global Security may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any person, including Agent Members and persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Securities of such Series.
(f) Unless otherwise provided in the Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture for a particular Series of Securities, each Global Security of such Series shall bear legends in substantially the following forms:
“THIS GLOBAL SECURITY IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS SECURITY) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE HOLDERS OF BENEFICIAL INTERESTS HEREIN, AND IS NOT
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TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE ANY SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.”
“UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SECURITIES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR TO ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF ANY ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO SUCH ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”
ARTICLE THREE
REDEMPTION
Section 3.01 Notices to Trustee.
Securities of a Series that are redeemable prior to maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and, unless the Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture provides otherwise, in accordance with this Article Three.
If the Company wants to redeem Securities pursuant to Paragraph 4 of the Securities, it shall notify the Trustee in writing of the redemption date and the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed. Any such notice may be cancelled at any time prior to notice of such redemption being mailed to Holders. Any such cancelled notice shall be void and of no effect.
If the Company wants to credit any Securities previously redeemed, retired or acquired against any redemption pursuant to Paragraph 5 of the Securities, it shall notify the Trustee of the amount of the credit and it shall deliver any Securities not previously delivered to the Trustee for cancellation with such notice.
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The Company shall give each notice provided for in this Section 3.01 at least 30 days before the notice of any such redemption is to be mailed to Holders (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee).
Section 3.02 Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.
If fewer than all of the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed by a method the Trustee considers fair and appropriate and in a manner that complies with applicable requirements of the Depositary. The Trustee shall make the selection from Securities outstanding not previously called for redemption and shall promptly notify the Company of the serial numbers or other identifying attributes of the Securities so selected. The Trustee may select for redemption portions of the principal of Securities that have denominations larger than the minimum denomination for the Series. Securities and portions of them it selects shall be in amounts equal to a permissible denomination for the Series. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities called for redemption.
Unless otherwise provided in the Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture relating to a Series, if any Security selected for partial redemption is converted into or exchanged for Common Stock or other securities, cash or other property in part before termination of the conversion or exchange right with respect to the portion of the Security so selected, the converted portion of such Security shall be deemed (so far as may be) to be the portion selected for redemption. Securities which have been converted or exchanged during a selection of Securities to be redeemed shall be treated by the Trustee as outstanding for the purpose of such selection.
Section 3.03 Notice of Redemption.
At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed.
The notice shall identify the Securities to be redeemed and shall state:
| (1) | the redemption date; |
| (2) | the redemption price or the formula pursuant to which such price will be calculated; |
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| (3) | if any Security is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Security to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion shall be issued upon cancellation of the original Security; |
| (4) | in the case of Securities of a Series that are convertible or exchangeable into shares of the Company’s common stock or other securities, cash or other property, the conversion or exchange price or rate, the date or dates on which the right to convert or exchange the principal of the Securities of such Series to be redeemed will commence or terminate and the place or places where such Securities may be surrendered for conversion or exchange; |
| (5) | the name and address of the Paying Agent; |
| (6) | that Securities called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price; |
| (7) | that interest on Securities called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date; and |
| (8) | that the Securities are being redeemed pursuant to the mandatory redemption or the optional redemption provisions, as applicable. |
At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense; provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to the Trustee at least 15 days prior to the date on which notice of redemption is to be mailed or such shorter period as may be satisfactory to the Trustee, an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.
Section 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption.
Once notice of redemption is mailed, Securities called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price as set forth in the notice of redemption. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date.
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Section 3.05 Deposit of Redemption Price.
On or before the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent immediately available funds in the applicable currency sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Securities to be redeemed on that date.
Section 3.06 Securities Redeemed in Part.
Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed in part, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate for each Holder a new Security of the same Series equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.
ARTICLE FOUR
COVENANTS
Section 4.01 Payment of Securities.
The Company shall pay the principal of and interest on a Series on the dates, in the currency and in the manner provided in the Securities of the Series. An installment of principal or interest shall be considered paid on the date it is due if the Paying Agent holds on that date money in the applicable currency designated for and sufficient to pay the installment.
The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate borne by the Series; it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate.
Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Company shall maintain the office or agency required under Section 2.03. The Company shall give prior written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the address of the Trustee.
Section 4.03 Compliance Certificate.
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company an Officers’ Certificate stating whether or not the signers know of any continuing Default by the Company in performing any of its obligations under this Indenture. If they do know of such a Default, the certificate shall describe the Default.
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Section 4.04 Payment of Taxes; Maintenance of Corporate Existence; Maintenance of Properties.
The Company will:
(a) cause to be paid and discharged all lawful taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon the Company or upon the income or profits of the Company or upon Property or any part thereof belonging to the Company before the same shall be in default, as well as all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might become a lien or charge upon such Property or any part thereof; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim so long as the validity or amount thereof shall be contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and the nonpayment thereof does not, in the judgment of the Company, materially adversely affect the ability of the Company to pay all obligations under this Indenture when due; and provided further that the Company shall not be required to cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim if, in the judgment of the Company, such payment shall not be advantageous to the Company in the conduct of its business and if the failure so to pay or discharge does not, in its judgment, materially adversely affect the ability of the Company to pay all obligations under this Indenture when due;
(b) cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect the corporate existence of the Company and to comply with all applicable laws; provided, however, that nothing in this paragraph (b) shall prevent a consolidation or merger of the Company not prohibited by the provisions of Article Five or any other provision of this Indenture pertaining to a Series; and
(c) at all times keep, maintain and preserve all the Property of the Company in good repair, working order and condition (reasonable wear and tear excepted) and from time to time make all needful and proper repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereto, so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided, however, that nothing in this paragraph (c) shall prevent the Company from discontinuing the operation and maintenance of any such properties if such discontinuance, in the judgment of the Company, does not materially adversely affect the ability of the Company to pay all obligations under this Indenture when due.
Section 4.05 Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws.
The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law or any usury law or other law that would prohibit or forgive the Company from paying all or any portion of the principal of or interest on the Securities of any Series as contemplated herein, wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, or which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) the Company 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 Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.
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ARTICLE FIVE
SUCCESSOR CORPORATION
Section 5.01 When Company May Merge, etc.
The Company will not consolidate or merge with or into, or sell, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (including by way of liquidation or dissolution), to any Person (in each case other than in a transaction in which the Company is the survivor of a consolidation or merger, or the transferee in a sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition) unless:
| (1) | the Person formed by or surviving such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company, as the case may be), or to which such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition will be made (collectively, the “Successor”), is a corporation or other legal entity organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, and the Successor assumes by supplemental indenture in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee all of the obligations of the Company under the Securities and the Indenture, and |
| (2) | immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. |
Upon any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the Successor will be substituted for the Company under the Indenture. The Successor may then exercise every power and right of the Company under this Indenture, and except in the case of a lease, the Company will be released from all of its liabilities and obligations in respect of the Securities and the Indenture. If the Company leases all or substantially all of its assets the Company will not be released from its obligations to pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities.
ARTICLE SIX
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 6.01 Events of Default.
An “Event of Default” on a Series occurs if, voluntarily or involuntarily, whether by operation of law or otherwise, any of the following occurs:
| (1) | the failure by the Company to pay interest on any Security of such Series when the same becomes due and payable and the continuance of any such failure for a period of 30 days; |
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| (2) | the failure by the Company to pay the principal of any Security of such Series when the same becomes due and payable at maturity, upon acceleration, redemption or otherwise; |
| (3) | the failure by the Company to comply with any of its agreements or covenants in, or provisions of, the Securities of such Series or this Indenture (as they relate thereto) and such failure continues for the period and after the notice specified below (except in the case of a default with respect to Article Five (or any other provision specified in the applicable supplemental indenture or Authorizing Resolution), which will constitute Events of Default with notice but without passage of time); |
| (4) | default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness (other than Non-Recourse Indebtedness) for money borrowed by the Company (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company), whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists or is created after the Issue Date, if that default: |
| (A) | is caused by a failure to pay at final stated maturity the principal amount of such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness on the date of such default (a “Payment Default”); or |
| (B) | results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity, and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $50 million or more; |
| (5) | failure by the Company to pay final judgments which are non-appealable aggregating in excess of $50 million, net of applicable insurance which has not been denied in writing by the insurer, which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days; |
| (6) | the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law: |
| (A) | commences a voluntary case, |
| (B) | consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case, |
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| (C) | consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its Property, or |
| (D) | makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; |
| (7) | a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that: |
| (A) | is for relief against the Company as debtor in an involuntary case, |
| (B) | appoints a Custodian of the Company or a Custodian for all or substantially all of the Property of the Company, or |
| (C) | orders the liquidation of the Company, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days. |
A Default as described in subparagraph (3) above will not be deemed an Event of Default until the Trustee notifies the Company, or the Holders of at least 25 percent in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of the applicable Series notify the Company and the Trustee, of the Default and (except in the case of a default with respect to Article Five (or any other provision specified in the applicable supplemental indenture or Authorizing Resolution)) the Company does not cure the Default within 60 days after receipt of the notice. The notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that the notice is a “Notice of Default.” If such a Default is cured within such time period, it ceases to exist, without any action by the Trustee or any other Person.
The term “Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, custodian or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
Section 6.02 Acceleration.
If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default with respect to the Company resulting from subparagraph (6) or (7) above), shall have occurred and be continuing under the Indenture, the Trustee by notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25 percent in principal amount of the Securities of the applicable Series then outstanding by notice to the Company and the Trustee, may declare all Securities of such Series to be due and payable immediately. Upon such declaration of acceleration, the amounts due and payable on the Securities of such Series will be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default with respect to the Company specified in subparagraph (6) or (7) above occurs, all amounts due and payable on the Securities of such Series will ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration, notice or other act on the part of the Trustee and the Company or any Holder.
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Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of such Series may rescind an acceleration with respect to such Series and its consequence (except an acceleration due to nonpayment of principal or interest) if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (other than the non-payment of accelerated principal) have been cured or waived.
No such rescission shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent Event of Default, or shall impair any right or power consequent thereon.
Section 6.03 Other Remedies.
If an Event of Default on a Series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy by proceeding at law or in equity to collect the payment of principal of or interest on the Series or to enforce the performance of any provision in the Securities or this Indenture applicable to the Series.
The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Securities or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Securityholder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies are cumulative.
Section 6.04 Waiver of Existing Defaults.
Subject to Section 9.02, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of a Series on behalf of all the Holders of the Series by notice to the Trustee may waive an existing Default on such Series and its consequences. When a Default is waived, it is cured and stops continuing, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.05 Control by Majority.
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of a Series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it with respect to such Series. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction (i) that conflicts with law or this Indenture, (ii) that, subject to Section 7.01, the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Securityholders, (iii) that would involve the Trustee in personal liability, if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that adequate indemnity against such liability is not reasonably assured to it, or (iv) if the Trustee shall not have been provided with indemnity satisfactory to it.
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Section 6.06 Limitation on Suits.
A Securityholder of a Series may not pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Series unless:
| (1) | the Holder gives to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default on the Series; |
| (2) | the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of the Series make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy; |
| (3) | such Holder or Holders offer to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense; |
| (4) | the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer of indemnity; and |
| (5) | no written request inconsistent with such written request shall have been given to the Trustee pursuant to this Section 6.06. |
A Securityholder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of Securities of the same Series or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of Securities of the same Series.
Section 6.07 Rights of Holders to Receive Payment.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on any Security, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Security, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, is absolute and unconditional and shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of the Holder.
Section 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee.
If an Event of Default in payment of interest or principal specified in Section 6.01(1) or (2) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of principal and interest remaining unpaid.
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Section 6.09 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
The Trustee may file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements, and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Securityholders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company or its respective creditors or Property, and unless prohibited by applicable law or regulation, may vote on behalf of the Holders in any election of a Custodian, and shall be entitled and empowered to collect and receive any moneys or other Property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Securityholder to make such payments to the Trustee. Nothing herein shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or vote for or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder except as aforesaid for the election of the Custodian.
Section 6.10 Priorities.
If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article with respect to Securities of any Series, it shall pay out the money in the following order:
First: to the Trustee for amounts due under Section 7.07;
Second: to Securityholders of the Series for amounts due and unpaid on the Series for principal and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Series for principal and interest, respectively; and
Third: to the Company as its interests may appear.
The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Securityholders pursuant to this Section 6.10.
Section 6.11 Undertaking for Costs.
In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having the due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07 or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the Series.
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ARTICLE SEVEN
TRUSTEE
Section 7.01 Duties of Trustee.
(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to Securities of any Series, the Trustee shall, prior to the receipt of directions from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of the Series, exercise its rights and powers and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
| (1) | The Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. |
| (2) | In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. The Trustee, however, shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts or matters stated therein. |
(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
| (1) | This paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section. |
| (2) | The Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Trust Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts. |
| (3) | The Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05 or any other direction of the Holders permitted hereunder. |
(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.
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(e) The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power unless it receives indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.
(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
(g) None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such liability is not reasonably assured to it.
Section 7.02 Rights of Trustee.
Subject to Section 7.01:
(a) The Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting on any document, resolution, certificate, instrument, report, or direction believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document, resolution, certificate, instrument, report, or direction.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both, which shall conform to Sections 11.04 and 11.05 hereof and containing such other statements as the Trustee reasonably deems necessary to perform its duties hereunder. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on the Officers’ Certificate, Opinion of Counsel or any other direction of the Company permitted hereunder.
(c) The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.
(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.
(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel, and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel as to matters of law shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.
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(f) Unless otherwise specifically provided in the Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company.
(g) For all purposes under this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice or knowledge of any Event of Default (other than under Section 6.01(1) or 6.01(2)) unless a Trust Officer assigned to and working in the Trustee’s corporate trust office has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any Event of Default is received by the Trustee at its address specified in Section 11.02 hereof and such notice references the Securities generally, the Company or this Indenture.
Section 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee.
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. The Trustee, however, must comply with Sections 7.10 and 7.11.
Section 7.04 Trustee’s Disclaimer.
The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture, the Securities or of any prospectus used to sell the Securities of any Series; it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities; it shall not be accountable for any money paid to the Company, or upon the Company’s direction, if made under and in accordance with any provision of this Indenture; it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee; and it shall not be responsible for any statement of the Company in this Indenture or in the Securities other than its certificate of authentication.
Section 7.05 Notice of Defaults.
If a Default on a Series occurs and is continuing and if it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder of the Series notice of the Default (which shall specify any uncured Default known to it) within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a default in payment of principal of or interest on a Series, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as the board of directors of the Trustee, the executive or any trust committee of such directors and/or responsible officers of the Trustee in good faith determine(s) that withholding the notice is in the interests of Holders of the Series.
Section 7.06 Reports by Trustee to Holders.
Within 60 days after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following the date of this Base Indenture, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder a brief report dated as of such May 15 that complies with TIA § 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA § 313(a)(1) through (8) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date no report in relation thereto need be transmitted). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA § 313(b).
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A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Securityholders shall be delivered to the Company and filed by the Trustee with the SEC and each national securities exchange on which the Securities are listed. The Company agrees to notify the Trustee of each national securities exchange on which the Securities are listed.
Section 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity.
The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for their respective services subject to any written agreement between the Trustee and the Company. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by it. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel. The Company shall indemnify the Trustee, its officers, directors, employees and agents and hold it harmless against any loss, liability or expense incurred or made by or on behalf of it in connection with the administration of this Indenture or the trust hereunder and its duties hereunder including the costs and expenses of defending itself against or investigating any claim in the premises. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s, or its officers’, directors’, employees’ or agents’ negligence or bad faith.
Unless otherwise provided in any supplemental indenture or Authorizing Resolution relating to any Series, to ensure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a claim prior to the Securities of all Series on all money or Property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of or interest on particular Securities. When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01 or in connection with Article Six hereof, the expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for services in connection therewith are to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.
Section 7.08 Replacement of Trustee.
The Trustee may resign with respect to Securities of any or all Series by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities (or of the relevant Series) may remove the Trustee by so notifying the removed Trustee in writing and may appoint a successor trustee with the Company’s consent. Such resignation or removal shall not take effect until the appointment by the Securityholders of the relevant Series or the Company as hereinafter provided of a successor trustee and the acceptance of such appointment by such successor trustee. The Company may remove the Trustee and any Securityholder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee for any or no reason, including if:
| (1) | the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 after written request by the Company or any bona fide Securityholder who has been a Securityholder for at least six months; |
| (2) | the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent; |
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| (3) | a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its Property; or |
| (4) | the Trustee becomes incapable of acting. |
If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of the relevant Series. If a successor trustee does not take office within 45 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or any Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee.
A successor trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Immediately after that, the retiring Trustee shall transfer all Property held by it as Trustee to the successor trustee, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. A successor trustee shall mail notice of its succession to each Securityholder.
Section 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.
If the Trustee consolidates with, merges with or into or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor trustee.
Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification.
This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1). The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $10,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 310(b).
Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.
The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.
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ARTICLE EIGHT
DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE
Section 8.01 Defeasance upon Deposit of Moneys or Government Obligations.
(a) The Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have either paragraph (b) or paragraph (c) below be applied to the outstanding Securities of any Series upon compliance with the applicable conditions set forth in paragraph (d).
(b) Upon the Company’s exercise under paragraph (a) of the option applicable to this paragraph (b) with respect to any Series, the Company shall be deemed to have been released and discharged from its respective obligations with respect to the outstanding Securities of the Series on the date the applicable conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, such Legal Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Securities of a Series, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of the Sections and matters under this Indenture referred to in (i) and (ii) below, and the Company shall be deemed to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned, except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (i) the rights of Holders of outstanding Securities of a Series to receive solely from the trust fund described in paragraph (d) below and as more fully set forth in such paragraph, payments in respect of the principal of and interest on such Securities when such payments are due and (ii) obligations listed in Section 8.02, subject to compliance with this Section 8.01. The Company may exercise its option under this paragraph (b) with respect to a Series notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under paragraph (c) below with respect to the Securities of the Series.
(c) Upon the Company’s exercise under paragraph (a) of the option applicable to this paragraph (c) with respect to a Series, the Company shall be released and discharged from the obligations under any covenant contained in Article Five and any other covenant contained in or referenced in the Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture relating to such Series (to the extent such release and discharge shall not be prohibited thereby), on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Securities of such Series shall thereafter be deemed to be not “outstanding” for the purpose 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 the outstanding Securities of a Series, 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 any 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 Section 6.01(3) or otherwise, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.
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(d) The following shall be the conditions to application of either paragraph (b) or paragraph (c) above to the outstanding Securities of the applicable Series:
| (1) | The Company shall have irrevocably deposited in trust with the Trustee (or another qualifying trustee), pursuant to an irrevocable trust and security agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, money in the currency in which the Securities of such Series are payable or Government Obligations or a combination thereof in such amounts and at such times as are sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of and interest on the outstanding Securities of such Series to maturity or redemption; provided, however, that the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) shall have received an irrevocable written order from the Company instructing the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to apply such money or the proceeds of such Government Obligations to said payments with respect to the Securities of such Series to maturity or redemption; |
| (2) | No Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from non-compliance with any covenant from which the Company is released upon effectiveness of such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) hereof, as applicable) shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or result therefrom; |
| (3) | Such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other material instrument or agreement to which the Company is a party or by which its Property is bound; |
| (4) | (i) In the event the Company elects paragraph (b) hereof, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, to the effect that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the Issue Date pertaining to such Series, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall state that, or (ii) in the event the Company elects paragraph |
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(c) hereof, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, to the effect that, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), and subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and the defeasance contemplated hereby and will be subject to federal income tax in the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred;
| (5) | The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate, stating that the deposit under clause (1) was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Securities of such Series over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company or others; and |
| (6) | The Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent specified herein relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section 8.01 have been complied with. |
In the event all or any portion of the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed through such irrevocable trust, the Company must make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee, at the time of such deposit, for the giving of the notice of such redemption or redemptions by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.
(e) In addition to the Company’s rights above under this Section 8.01, the Company may terminate all of its obligations under this Indenture with respect to a Series, when:
| (1) | All Securities of such Series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.07 and Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (A) have become due and payable, (B) will become due and payable at maturity within one year or (C) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at |
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the expense, of the Company, and in each such case, the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another qualifying trustee) as trust funds in trust solely for that purpose an amount of money in the currency in which the Securities of such Series are payable or Government Obligations or a combination thereof sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Securities of such Series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal of and interest on the Securities of such Series, on the date of such deposit or to the maturity or redemption date, as the case may be;
| (2) | The Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; |
| (3) | The Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee (or such other qualifying trustee), to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Securities of such Series at maturity or redemption, as the case may be; and |
| (4) | The Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, stating that all conditions precedent specified in this Section 8.01(e) relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with. |
Section 8.02 Survival of the Company’s Obligations.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture under Section 8.01, the Company’s obligations in Paragraph 8 of the Securities and Sections 2.03 through 2.07, 4.01, 7.07, 7.08, 8.04 and 8.05, however, shall survive until the Securities of an applicable Series are no longer outstanding. Thereafter, the Company’s obligations in Paragraph 8 of the Securities of such Series and Sections 7.07, 8.04 and 8.05 shall survive (as they relate to such Series).
Section 8.03 Application of Trust Money.
The Trustee shall hold in trust money or Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to Section 8.01. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from Government Obligations in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities of the defeased Series.
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Section 8.04 Repayment to the Company.
The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall promptly pay to the Company upon request any excess money or securities held by them at any time. The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, provided, however, that the Trustee 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 a newspaper of general circulation in the City of New York or mail to each such Holder 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 or mailing, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company. After payment to the Company, Securityholders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless applicable abandoned property law designates another person and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such money shall cease.
Section 8.05 Reinstatement.
If the Trustee is unable to apply any money or Government Obligations in accordance with Section 8.01 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities relating to the Series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.01 until such time as the Trustee is permitted to apply all such money or Government Obligations in accordance with Section 8.01; provided, however, that (a) if the Company has made any payment of interest on or principal of any Securities of the Series because of the reinstatement of its obligations hereunder, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or Government Obligations held by the Trustee and (b) unless otherwise required by any legal proceeding or any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority, the Trustee shall return all such money or Government Obligations to the Company promptly after receiving a written request therefor at any time, if such reinstatement of the Company’s obligations has occurred and continues to be in effect.
ARTICLE NINE
AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS
Section 9.01 Without Consent of Holders.
The Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities of a Series without notice to or consent of any Securityholder of such Series:
| (1) | to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency; |
| (2) | to comply with Article Five; |
| (3) | to provide that specific provisions of this Indenture shall not apply to a Series not previously issued or to make a change to specific provisions of this Indenture that only applies to any Series not previously issued or to additional Securities of a Series not previously issued; |
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| (4) | to create a Series and establish its terms; |
| (5) | to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities; |
| (6) | to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA; and |
| (7) | to make any other change that does not adversely affect the rights of Securityholders. |
After an amendment under this Section 9.01 becomes effective, the Company shall mail notice of such amendment to the Securityholders.
Section 9.02 With Consent of Holders.
The Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities of a Series without notice to any Securityholder of such Series but with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each Series affected by the amendment (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities of such Series). Each such Series shall vote as a separate class. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may waive compliance by the Company with any provision of the Securities of such Series or of this Indenture relating to such Series without notice to any Securityholder (including any waiver granted in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities of such Series). Without the consent of each Holder of a Security affected thereby, however, an amendment, supplement or waiver, including a waiver pursuant to Section 6.04, may not:
| (1) | reduce the amount of Securities of the relevant Series whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver; |
| (2) | reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest, including defaulted interest, on any Security; |
| (3) | reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Security or alter the provisions (including related definitions) with respect to redemption of any Security pursuant to Article Three hereof or with respect to any obligations on the part of the Company to offer to purchase or to redeem Securities of a Series pursuant to the Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture pertaining to such Series; |
| (4) | make any change that adversely affects any right of a Holder to convert or exchange any Security into or for shares of the Company’s common stock or other securities, cash or other property in accordance with the terms of such Security; |
| (5) | modify the ranking or priority of the Securities of the relevant Series; |
| (6) | make any change in Sections 6.04, 6.07 or this Section 9.02; |
| (7) | waive a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security; or |
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| (8) | make any Security payable at a place or in money other than that stated in the Security, or impair the right of any Securityholder to bring suit as permitted by Section 6.07. |
An amendment of a provision included solely for the benefit of one or more Series does not affect the interests of Securityholders of any other Series.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplement, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.
Section 9.03 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.
Every amendment to or supplement of this Indenture or any Securities shall comply with the TIA as then in effect.
Section 9.04 Revocation and Effect of Consents.
A consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver by a Holder shall bind the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. Unless otherwise provided in the consent or the consent solicitation statement or other document describing the terms of the consent, any Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to its Security or portion of a Security. Any revocation of a consent by the Holder of a Security or any such subsequent Holder shall be effective only if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date on which the Trustee receives an Officers’ Certificate from the Company certifying that the requisite number of consents have been received.
The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Securities of any Series entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver, which record date shall be at least 10 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent. If a record date is fixed, and if Holders otherwise have a right to revoke their consent under the consent or the consent solicitation statement or other document describing the terms of the consent, then notwithstanding the second to last sentence of the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 90 days after such record date.
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An amendment, supplement or waiver with respect to a Series becomes effective upon the (i) receipt by the Company or the Trustee of the requisite consents, (ii) satisfaction of any conditions to effectiveness as set forth in this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto containing such amendment, supplement or waiver and (iii) execution of such amendment, supplement or waiver (or the related supplemental indenture) by the Company and the Trustee. After an amendment, supplement or waiver with respect to a Series becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder of such Series, unless it makes a change described in any of clauses (1) through (8) of Section 9.02, in which case, the amendment, supplement or waiver shall bind a Holder of a Security who is affected thereby only if it has consented to such amendment, supplement or waiver and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security; provided that no such waiver shall impair or affect the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on a Security, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates without the consent of such Holder.
Section 9.05 Notation on or Exchange of Securities.
If an amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Security, the Company may require the Holder of the Security to deliver it to the Trustee, at which time the Trustee shall place an appropriate notation on the Security about the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Company or the Trustee so determines, the Company in exchange for the Security shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Security that reflects the changed terms.
Section 9.06 Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.
Subject to Section 7.02(b), the Trustee shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article if the amendment, supplement or waiver does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may but need not sign it. In signing or refusing to sign such amendment or supplemental indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that such amendment, supplement or waiver is authorized or permitted by this Indenture, that it is not inconsistent herewith, and that it will be valid and binding upon the Company in accordance with its terms.
ARTICLE TEN
SECURITIES IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES
Section 10.01 Applicability of Article.
Whenever this Indenture provides for (i) any action by, or the determination of any of the rights of, Holders of Securities of any Series in which not all of such Securities are denominated in the same currency, or (ii) any distribution to Holders of Securities, in the absence of any provision to the contrary pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities of any particular Series, any amount in respect of any Security denominated in a Foreign Currency shall be treated for any such action or distribution as that amount of Dollars that could be obtained for such amount on such reasonable basis of exchange and as of the record date with respect to Securities of such Series (if any) for such action, determination of rights or distribution (or, if there shall be no applicable record date, such other date reasonably proximate to the date of such action, determination of rights or distribution) as the Company may specify in a written notice to the Trustee or, in the absence of such written notice, as the Trustee may determine.
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ARTICLE ELEVEN
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 11.01 Trust Indenture Act Controls.
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision which is required to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, the required provision shall control.
Section 11.02 Notices.
Any order, consent, notice or communication shall be sufficiently given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
if to the Company:
Nxu, Inc.
1828 N. Higley Road, Suite 116
Mesa, Arizona 85205
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
if to the Trustee:
[ ]
[ ]
[ ]
[ ]
Attention: [ ]
The Company or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
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Any notice or communication mailed to a Securityholder shall be mailed to him by first class mail at his address as it appears on the registration books of the Registrar and shall be sufficiently given to him if so mailed within the time prescribed.
Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Securityholder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Securityholders. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it except that notice to the Trustee shall only be effective upon receipt thereof by the Trustee.
If the Company mails notice or communications to the Securityholders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee at the same time.
Section 11.03 Communications by Holders with Other Holders.
Securityholders may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).
Section 11.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.
Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:
| (1) | an Officers’ Certificate (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 11.05) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and |
| (2) | an Opinion of Counsel (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 11.05) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action or inaction, have been complied with. |
Section 11.05 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:
| (1) | a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; |
| (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; |
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| (3) | a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and |
| (4) | a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with. |
Section 11.06 Rules by Trustee and Agents.
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Securityholders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for its functions.
Section 11.07 Legal Holidays.
A “Legal Holiday” is a Saturday, a Sunday, a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in Santa Ana, California and New York, New York are not required to be open. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday, payment may be made on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period. If this Indenture provides for a time period that ends or requires performance of any non-payment obligation by a day that is not a Business Day, then such time period shall instead be deemed to end on, and such obligation shall instead be performed by, the next succeeding Business Day. A “Business Day” is any day other than a Legal Holiday.
Section 11.08 Governing Law.
The laws of the State of New York shall govern this Indenture and the Securities of each Series.
Section 11.09 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.
This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or a Subsidiary. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
Section 11.10 No Recourse Against Others.
All liability described in Paragraph 12 of the Securities of any director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company is waived and released.
Section 11.11 Successors and Assigns.
All covenants and agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind their respective successors and assigns. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns.
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Section 11.12 Duplicate Originals.
The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.
Section 11.13 Severability.
In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in the Securities of a Series shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of such Securities.
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SIGNATURES
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the date first above written.
| NXU, INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| [ ], as Trustee | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| 44 |
EXHIBIT A
| No.: | CUSIP/ISIN | ||
| No.: |
[Title of Security]
NXU, INC.
a Delaware corporation
promises to pay to or registered assigns
the principal sum of [Dollars]* on
Interest Payment Dates: and
Record Dates: and
| Authenticated: | Dated: | |
| NXU, INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
[ ], as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Securities referenced in the within mentioned Indenture.
| By: | ||
| Authorized Signatory |
| * | Or other currency. Insert corresponding provisions on the reverse side of Security in respect of foreign currency denomination or interest payment requirement. |
| Exhibit A-1 |
NXU, INC.
[Title of Security]
NXU, INC., a Delaware corporation (together with its successors and assigns, the “Company”), issued this Security under an Indenture dated as of , (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance therewith, the “Base Indenture”), as supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture dated as of (the “Supplemental Indenture” and together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), by and among the Company and [ ], as trustee (in such capacity, the “ Trustee”), to which reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authorized and delivered. All terms used in this Security that are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them therein.
| 1. | Interest. |
The Company promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Security at the rate per annum shown above. The Company will pay interest semiannually on and of each year, commencing, , until the principal is paid or made available for payment. Interest on the Securities will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for or, if no interest has been paid, from , , provided that, if there is no existing default in the payment of interest, and if this Security is authenticated between a record date referred to on the face hereof and the next succeeding interest payment date, interest shall accrue from such interest payment date. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
| 2. | Method of Payment. |
The Company will pay interest on the Securities (except defaulted interest, if any, which will be paid on such special payment date to Holders of record on such special record date as may be fixed by the Company) to the persons who are registered Holders of Securities at the close of business on the [Insert record dates] immediately preceding the interest payment date. Holders must surrender Securities to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Company will pay principal and interest in money of [Insert applicable country or currency] that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.
| Exhibit A-2 |
| 3. | Paying Agent and Registrar. |
Initially, the Trustee will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change or appoint any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-Registrar without notice. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their Affiliates may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-Registrar.
| 4. | Optional Redemption.1 |
The Company may redeem the Securities at any time on or after , in whole or in part, at the following redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of their principal amount) together with interest accrued and unpaid to the date fixed for redemption:
If redeemed during the twelve-month period commencing on and ending on in each of the following years Percentage
[Insert provisions relating to redemption at option of Holders, if any]
Notice of redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed at its registered address. Securities in denominations larger than 2 may be redeemed in part. On and after the redemption date interest ceases to accrue on Securities or portions of them called for redemption, provided that if the Company shall default in the payment of such Securities at the redemption price together with accrued interest, interest shall continue to accrue at the rate borne by the Securities.
| 5. | Mandatory Redemption.3 |
The Company shall redeem [ ]% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities originally issued under the Indenture on each of [ ], which redemptions are calculated to retire [ ]% of the Securities originally issued prior to maturity. Such redemptions shall be made at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, together with accrued interest to the redemption date. The Company may reduce the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed pursuant to this Paragraph 5 by the principal amount of any Securities previously redeemed, retired or acquired, otherwise than pursuant to this Paragraph 5 that the Company has delivered to the Trustee for cancellation and not previously credited to the Company’s obligations under this Paragraph 5. Each such Security shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the redemption price and the amount of such mandatory redemption payment shall be reduced accordingly.
| 1 | If applicable. |
| 2 | Insert applicable denominations and multiples. |
| 3 | If applicable. |
| Exhibit A-3 |
| 6. | Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. |
The Securities are in registered form only without coupons in denominations of 4 and integral multiples of in excess thereof.5 A Holder may transfer or exchange Securities by presentation of such Securities to the Registrar or a co-Registrar with a request to register the transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of other denominations. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not transfer or exchange any Security selected for redemption or purchase, except the unredeemed or unpurchased part thereof if the Security is redeemed or purchased in part, or transfer or exchange any Securities for a period of 15 days before a selection of Securities to be redeemed or purchased.
| 7. | Persons Deemed Owners. |
The registered Holder of this Security shall be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.
| 8. | Unclaimed Money. |
Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon written request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, and thereafter, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors.
| 9. | Amendment, Supplement, Waiver. |
Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture or the Securities may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each Series affected by the amendment and any past default or compliance with any provision relating to any Series of the Securities may be waived in a particular instance with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series.6 Without the consent of any Securityholder, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Securities in certain respects as specified in the Indenture.
| 4 | Insert applicable denominations and multiples. |
| 5 | Insert applicable denominations and multiples. |
| 6 | If different terms apply, insert a brief summary thereof. |
| Exhibit A-4 |
| 10. | Successor Corporation. |
When a successor corporation assumes all the obligations of its predecessor under the Securities and the Indenture, the predecessor corporation will be released from those obligations.
| 11. | Trustee Dealings With Company. |
Subject to certain limitations imposed by the TIA, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its affiliates, as if it were not Trustee, including owning or pledging the Securities.
| 12. | No Recourse Against Others. |
A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.
| 13. | Discharge of Indenture. |
The Indenture contains certain provisions pertaining to defeasance and discharge, which provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth herein.
| 14. | Authentication. |
This Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Security.
| 15. | Abbreviations. |
Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gift to Minors Act).
| Exhibit A-5 |
| 16. | GOVERNING LAW. |
THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
| 17. | CUSIP and ISIN Numbers. |
Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP and ISIN numbers to be printed on the Securities and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP and ISIN numbers in notices of repurchase as a convenience to Holders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of repurchase and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.
| 18. | Copies. |
The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture and the applicable Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture. Requests may be made to: Nxu, Inc., 1828 N. Higley Road, Suite 116, Mesa, Arizona 85205; Attention: Chief Financial Officer.
| Exhibit A-6 |
ASSIGNMENT FORM
If you the Holder want to assign this Security, fill in the form below:
I or we assign and transfer this Security to:
|
(Insert assignee’s social security number or tax ID number)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Print or type assignee’s name, address, and zip code) |
And irrevocably appoint
Agent to transfer this Security on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.
Date:
| Your signature: |
| (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security) |
| Signature Guarantee: |
Exhibit 5.1
 |
|
 |
October 17, 2023
Nxu, Inc.
1828 N. Higley Road, Suite 116
Mesa, AZ 85205
| Re: | Nxu, Inc. – Registration Statement on Form S-3 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special counsel to Nxu, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation of the Company’s shelf registration statement on Form S-3 initially filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on October 17, 2023 (the “Registration Statement”), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Registration Statement relates to the proposed offer, issuance and sale from time to time on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, as set forth in the Registration Statement, the prospectus contained therein and any supplement to the prospectus, of one or more series of the following securities of the Company: (a) shares of Class A common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”); (b) shares of preferred stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”); (c) debt securities of the Company, in one or more series (the “Debt Securities”), which will be issued under an Indenture, a form of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (as amended or supplemented, the “Indenture”), to be entered into by and between the Company and the trustee named therein (the “Trustee”); (d) warrants to purchase shares of the Common Stock or the Preferred Stock (the “Warrants”), which will be issued pursuant to a warrant agreement, which will be filed at a later date by amendment or as an exhibit to a document incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, to be entered into by and between the Company and a bank or trust company as warrant agent; (e) rights to purchase the Common Stock, the Preferred Stock and/or other securities under the Registration Statement (the “Rights”); and (f) units of the Company comprised of any combination of the Common Stock, the Preferred Stock, the Debt Securities or the Rights (the “Units” and, together with the Common Stock, the Preferred Stock, the Debt Securities, the Warrants and the Units, the “Securities”).
It is understood that the opinions set forth below are to be used only in connection with the offer, issuance and sale of the Securities while the Registration Statement is in effect. The Registration Statement provides that the Securities may be offered in amounts, at prices and on terms to be set forth in one or more prospectus supplements or free writing prospectuses.
This opinion letter is being delivered in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act.
In rendering the opinions set forth below, we examined and relied upon such certificates, corporate records, agreements, instruments and other documents, and examined such matters of law, that we considered necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions. In rendering the opinions set forth below, we have examined and are familiar with originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of (i) the Registration Statement, (ii) the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as in effect on the date hereof (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), (iii) the Bylaws of the Company, as in effect on the date hereof (the “Bylaws”), (iv) resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) relating to the filing of the Registration Statement, (v) the Indenture, and (vi) such other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions set forth below. In our examination, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. As to any facts material to the opinions expressed herein that we did not independently establish or verify, we have relied upon oral or written statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and others.
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October 17, 2023 Page 2 |
On the basis of the foregoing, and subject to (i) the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto being effective under the Securities Act, (ii) the Indenture having been duly authorized, validly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto, (iii) the Trustee being qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, (iv) the applicable warrant agreement pursuant to which the Warrants will be issued having been duly authorized, validly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto, (v) a prospectus supplement having been filed with the Commission describing the Securities being offered thereby, (vi) all Securities being issued and sold in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the applicable prospectus supplement and in accordance with a duly executed and delivered purchase, underwriting or similar agreement with respect to the Securities, and (vii) all other assumptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
1. With respect to the Common Stock, when (i) the Board, or a committee thereof, has taken all corporate action necessary to approve the final terms of the issuance and sale of the shares of the Common Stock, and (ii) the Company has received the consideration therefor (and such consideration per share is not less than the par value per share of the Common Stock), the Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
2. With respect to any series of Preferred Stock, when (i) the Board, or a committee thereof, has taken all corporate action necessary to approve the final terms of the issuance and sale of such Preferred Stock, (ii) the terms of the series of the Preferred Stock have been duly established in conformity with the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws, and (iii) the Company has received the consideration therefor (and such consideration per share is not less than the par value per share of the Preferred Stock), the Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
3. With respect to the Debt Securities, when (i) the Board, or a committee thereof, has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the final terms of the issuance and sale of the Debt Securities, (ii) the terms of the Debt Securities have been duly established in conformity with the Indenture and do not violate any applicable law or result in a default under, or breach of, an agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, (iii) such Debt Securities have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the Indenture, and (iv) the Company has received the consideration therefor, such Debt Securities will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.
4. With respect to the Warrants, when (i) the Board, or a committee thereof, has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the final terms of the issuance and sale of the Warrants, (ii) the terms of the Warrants have been duly established in conformity with the applicable warrant agreement and do not violate any applicable law or result in a default under, or breach of, an agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, (iii) the applicable warrant agreement relating to the Warrants has been duly authorized, executed and delivered, (iv) the Warrants are executed, countersigned and delivered in accordance with the applicable warrant agreement against payment therefor, and (v) the Company has received the consideration therefor, the Warrants will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.
5. With respect to the Rights, when (i) the Board, or a committee thereof, has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the final terms of the issuance and sale of the Rights, (ii) the rights offering subscription agreement relating to the Rights has been duly authorized, executed and delivered, (iii) the certificates representing the Rights have been executed, countersigned and delivered in accordance with the applicable rights offering subscription agreement against payment therefor, and (iv) the Company has received the consideration therefor, the Rights will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.
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October 17, 2023 Page 3 |
6. With respect to the Units, when (i) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the final terms of the issuance and sale of the Units, (ii) the purchase agreement relating to the Units has been duly authorized, executed and delivered, (iii) the Units have been executed, countersigned and delivered in accordance with the applicable purchase agreement against payment therefor, and (iv) the Company has received the consideration therefor, the Units will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.
The opinions expressed herein are based upon and limited to the laws of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (including the statutory provisions, all applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and reported judicial decisions interpreting the foregoing). We express no opinion herein as to any other laws, statutes, regulations or ordinances. The opinions expressed herein that are based on the laws of the State of New York are limited to the laws generally applicable in transactions of the type covered by the Registration Statement.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are experts within the meaning of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission or that this consent is required by Section 7 of the Securities Act.
| Very truly yours, | |
| /s/ Winston & Strawn LLP |
Exhibit 23.1
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Nxu, Inc.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM’S CONSENT
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated March 16, 2023, (September 18, 2023 as to Note 1 and Note 11, under the heading “Reorganization, Merger and Incorporation of Nxu, Inc.”), (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph related to Nxu, Inc.’s ability to continue as a going concern) related to our audit of the financial statements of Nxu, Inc. as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 and for the years then ended, which report was included in Nxu, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 18, 2023. We also consent to the reference to our Firm under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
| /s/ Prager Metis CPAs, LLP |
| El Segundo, CA |
| October 17, 2023 |
Exhibit 107
Calculation of Filing Fee Table
Form S-3
(Form Type)
Nxu, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Table 1: Newly Registered Securities
| Security Type |
Security Title |
Fee Calculation Carry Rule |
Amount Registered(1) |
Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share(2) |
Maximum Aggregate Price |
Fee Rate |
Amount of Registration Fee |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fees to be Paid | Equity | Class A common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share(3) | 457 | (o) | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity | Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value per share(4) | 457 | (o) | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | Debt Securities(5) | 457 | (o) | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | Warrants(6) | 457 | (o) | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Debt | Rights(7) | 457 | (o) | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | Units(8) | 457 | (o) | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unallocated (Universal) Shelf | (1) | 457 | (o) | $ | 75,000,000 | $ | — | $ | 75,000,000 | $ | 0.00014760 | $ | 11,070 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 75,000,000 | $ | — | $ | 75,000,000 | — | $ | 11,070 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (1) | The table lists each class of securities being registered and the aggregate proceeds to be raised in the offering and does not specify by each class information as to the amount to be registered or the proposed maximum offering price per security. Any securities registered hereunder for the offering may be sold separately or together in combination with other securities registered hereunder for the offering. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with any other securities registered hereunder. In no event will the aggregate offering price of all securities issued from time to time in the offering pursuant to the registration statement of which this Exhibit 107 is a part, exceed $75,000,000, inclusive of any exercise price thereof. Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the securities being registered hereunder also include such indeterminate number of securities as may be issued from time to time with respect to the securities being registered hereunder as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions. |
| (2) | The proposed maximum offering price per security will be determined from time to time by the registrant in connection with the issuance by the registrant of the securities registered hereunder and is not specified as to each class of security pursuant to Instruction 2.A(iii)(b) of Item 16(b) of Form S-3 under the Securities Act. |
| (3) | Including such indeterminate amount of common stock as may be issued from time to time at indeterminate prices or upon conversion of debt securities, preferred stock registered hereby or upon exercise of warrants registered hereby or upon exercise of rights registered hereby, as the case may be. In the event of a stock split, stock dividend or recapitalization involving the common stock, the number of shares registered shall automatically be adjusted to cover the additional shares of common stock issuable pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act. |
| (4) | Including such indeterminate amount of preferred stock as may be issued from time to time at indeterminate prices or upon conversion of debt securities, preferred stock registered hereby or upon exercise of warrants registered hereby or upon exercise of rights registered hereby, as the case may be. |
| (5) | Including such indeterminate principal amount of debt securities as may be issued from time to time at indeterminate prices or upon exercise of warrants or rights registered hereby, as the case may be. |
| (6) | Warrants may be sold separately or together with any of the securities registered hereby and may be exercisable for shares of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or units registered hereby. Because the warrants will provide a right only to purchase such securities offered hereunder, no additional registration fee is required. |
| (7) | Because the rights will provide a right only to purchase such securities offered hereunder, no additional registration fee is required. |
| (8) | Because the units will provide a right only to purchase such securities offered hereunder, no additional registration fee is required. |