As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2026
Registration No. 333-288884
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to
Form F-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Abivax SA
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| France | 2834 | Not Applicable | ||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Abivax SA
7-11 boulevard Haussmann
76009 Paris
France
+33 (0) 1 53 83 09 63
(Address and telephone number of Registrant’s principal executive offices)
Abivax LLC
880 Winter Street, Suite 1020
Waltham, MA 02451
+33 (0) 1 53 83 09 63
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
Copies of all communications, including communications sent to agent for service, should be sent to:
| Divakar Gupta Marc Recht Ryan Sansom Minkyu Park Cooley LLP 55 Hudson Yards New York, NY 10001 +1 212 479 6000 |
Alain Decombe Vianney Toulouse Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (Europe) LLP 61 rue des Belles Feuilles 75116 Paris, France +33 1 53 53 75 00 |
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 under the Securities Act of 1933, 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 on filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933.
Emerging growth company ☒
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
| | The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012. |
Explanatory Note
This Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 (this “Post-Effective Amendment”) relates to the Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-288884) of Abivax SA, which was originally filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on July 23, 2025. This Post-Effective Amendment is being filed with the SEC in order to register, in addition to the classes of securities originally registered, debt securities as an additional class of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to update certain information and to file or incorporate by reference additional exhibits. The base prospectus dated July 23, 2025 that has formed part of the Registration Statement to date is being replaced in its entirety by the base prospectus filed with this Post-Effective Amendment. This Post-Effective Amendment shall become effective immediately upon filing with the SEC.
PROSPECTUS
Ordinary Shares
American Depositary Shares representing Ordinary Shares
Warrants to Purchase Ordinary Shares or American Depositary Shares
Debt Securities
We and/or any selling security holder may offer and sell from time to time the securities described in this prospectus, either individually or in any combination, in one or more offerings at prices and on terms that will be determined at the time of the offering.
This prospectus describes the general terms of these securities and the general manner in which these securities will be offered. We will provide you with the specific terms of any offering in one or more supplements to this prospectus. We and/or our selling security holders may offer these securities in amounts, at prices and on terms determined at the time of offering. We and/or our selling security holders may sell the securities through public or private transactions directly to you, through agents, or through underwriters and dealers on or off the Nasdaq Global Market. The prospectus supplements will also describe the specific manner in which these securities will be offered and may also supplement, update or amend information contained in this document. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, as well as any documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, carefully before you invest.
Our securities may be sold directly by us or any selling security holders to you, through agents designated from time to time or to or through underwriters or dealers, on a continuous or delayed basis. For additional information on the methods of sale, you should refer to the section titled “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus and in the applicable prospectus supplement. Other than any securities sold in connection with a rights offering, we will only sell securities pursuant to this prospectus for which preferential subscription rights shall have been waived by our shareholders in accordance with French law. If any underwriters or agents are involved in the sale of our securities with respect to which this prospectus is being delivered, the names of such underwriters or agents and any applicable fees or commissions and over-allotment options will be set forth in a prospectus supplement. The price to the public of such securities and the net proceeds that we expect to receive from such sale will also be set forth in a prospectus supplement.
Our ADSs are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “ABVX.” On June 29, 2026, the last reported sale price of the ADSs on the Nasdaq Global Market was $96.15 per ADS. Our ordinary shares are listed on Euronext Paris under the symbol “ABVX.” On June 29, 2026, the closing price of our ordinary shares on Euronext Paris was 83.30 per ordinary share. Each ADS represents the right to receive one ordinary share, and the ADSs may be evidenced by American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to any other listing, if any, on the Nasdaq Global Market or any securities market or other securities exchange of the securities covered by the prospectus supplement. There is currently no market through which warrants may be sold, and purchasers may not be able to resell warrants purchased under this prospectus. This may affect the pricing of any warrants in the secondary market, the transparency and availability of trading prices, the liquidity of the warrants and the extent of issuer regulation. Prospective purchasers of our securities are urged to obtain current information as to the market prices of our securities, where applicable.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before deciding whether to invest in our securities, you should consider carefully the risks that we have described under the caption “Risk Factors” on page 6 of this prospectus and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and any other reports or documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We may also include specific risk factors in supplements to this prospectus under the caption “Risk Factors.” This prospectus may not be used to sell our securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
Owning our securities may subject you to tax consequences both in France and in the United States. This prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement may not describe these tax consequences fully. You should read the tax discussion in any applicable prospectus supplement. In addition, your ability to enforce civil liabilities under U.S. federal securities laws may be affected adversely by the fact that we are incorporated under the laws of France, many of the members of our board of directors and experts named in this prospectus are residents of France or elsewhere outside of the United States, and a substantial portion of our assets and the assets of such persons are located outside the United States. See “Enforcement of Civil Liabilities.”
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is June 30, 2026.
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This prospectus is part of an automatic registration statement on Form F-3 that we filed with the SEC using a “shelf” registration process available to us as a “well-known seasoned issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Under this shelf registration process, we may offer ordinary shares, including ordinary shares represented by ADSs, warrants to purchase ordinary shares or ADSs, and debt securities, either individually or in combination, in one or more offerings. No limit exists on the aggregate number or amount of securities we may sell pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer.
Under this shelf registration process, we and/or our selling security holders may offer the securities described in this prospectus from time to time at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of offering. Registration of the securities covered by this prospectus does not mean that these securities will necessarily be offered or sold. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we and/or our selling security holders may offer. Each time we and/or our selling security holders offer a type or series of securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and other important terms of the securities.
Each time we and/or our selling security holders sell securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in any documents that we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should read this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, together with the information incorporated herein by reference as described under the heading “Incorporation of Documents by Reference,” before investing in any of the securities offered.
THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO CONSUMMATE A SALE OF SECURITIES UNLESS IT IS ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.
Neither we, nor any agent, underwriter or dealer, has authorized any person to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. This prospectus, any applicable supplement to this prospectus or any related free writing prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered securities to which it relates, nor does this prospectus, any applicable supplement to this prospectus or any related free writing prospectus constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction.
You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front of the document or that any information we have incorporated by reference is correct on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference, even though this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus is delivered, or securities are sold, on a later date.
This prospectus and the information incorporated herein by reference contain summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but you should refer 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 More Information.”
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Unless otherwise indicated in this prospectus, “Abivax,” “the Company,” “our Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Abivax SA and its consolidated subsidiary, taken as a whole.
In this prospectus, references to “euro” or “” are to the legal currency of the countries of the European Union, including the Republic of France, and references to “dollars,” “U.S. dollars” or “$” are to the legal currency of the United States of America.
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The following summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus and does not contain all of the information that you need to consider in making your investment decision. We urge you to read this entire prospectus, including the more detailed consolidated financial statements, notes to the consolidated financial statements and other information incorporated by reference from our other filings with the SEC or included in any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. Investing in our securities involves risks. Therefore, carefully consider the risk factors set forth in any prospectus supplements and in our most recent filings with the SEC including our Annual Reports on Form 20-F and reports on Form 6-K, as well as other information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplements and the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein, before purchasing our securities. Each of the risk factors could adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition, as well as adversely affect the value of an investment in our securities.
Company Overview
We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing therapeutics that harness the body’s natural regulatory mechanisms to stabilize the immune response in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases. We focus on indications where existing treatments have left patients with significant unmet needs, and where we believe our investigational agents have the potential to be meaningfully differentiated from currently available therapies. Our initial focus is on inflammatory bowel diseases (“IBD”), chronic conditions involving inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, of which the two most common forms are ulcerative colitis (“UC”) and Crohn’s disease (“CD”).
We believe our lead drug candidate, obefazimod, is differentiated from competing approaches for the treatment of IBD via its novel mechanism of action. Obefazimod was demonstrated to specifically enhance the expression of a single micro-RNA, miR-124, which plays a critical role in the regulation of the inflammatory response. In the context of inflammation, miR-124 is a natural regulator of the inflammatory response, controlling progression of inflammation and restoring homeostasis of the immune system, without causing broader immunosuppression. In contrast to currently available advanced therapies, prescribed post-conventional therapies, some of which target only a single cytokine or pathway, miR-124 modulates the expression of several key cytokines and pathways. Modulating multiple inflammatory pathways simultaneously may lead to more durability of efficacy results over the long-term, which is critical in lifelong conditions such as IBD, potentially differentiating obefazimod from currently available IBD treatments.
Our lead drug candidate, obefazimod, is currently being developed for the treatment of moderately to severely active UC and CD. We are also evaluating potential combination therapy opportunities in IBD to pursue. In parallel, we are in the process of strengthening our development portfolio by generating follow-on compounds based on our miR-124 platform and assessing external early drug candidates in IBD.
Corporate Information
We were incorporated as a société anonyme (limited liability company) on December 4, 2013 and registered at the Paris Trade and Company Register on December 27, 2013 for a period of 99 years until December 22, 2112, subject to extension or early dissolution, under the number 799 363 718. Our principal executive offices are located at 7-11 boulevard Haussmann 75009 Paris, France, and our telephone number is +33 (0) 1 53 83 09 63. We have one wholly owned subsidiary, Abivax LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, formed on March 20, 2023.
Our ADSs began trading on the Nasdaq Global Market in October 2023.
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The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is www.sec.gov. Our website address is www.abivax.com. The reference to our website is an inactive textual reference only and information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website or any other website cited in this prospectus is not part of this prospectus.
Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company
We qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the U.S. Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (“JOBS Act”). As an emerging growth company, we may take advantage of specified reduced disclosure and other requirements that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include:
| | exemption from the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; and |
| | to the extent that we no longer qualify as a foreign private issuer, (1) reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements and (2) exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation, including golden parachute compensation. |
We may take advantage of these provisions until December 31, 2028 or until such earlier time that we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company. We would cease to be an emerging growth company upon the earliest to occur of: (i) the last day of the fiscal year in which our annual gross revenues exceed $1.235 billion; (ii) the first day of the year following the first year in which, as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter, the market value of our common equity held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million; (iii) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the previous three years; and (iv) the last day of the fiscal year ending after the fifth anniversary of our initial public offering of our ADSs.
We may choose to take advantage of some but not all of these exemptions. For example, Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can use the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act, for complying with new or revised accounting standards. Given that we currently report and expect to continue to report under IFRS, as issued by the IASB, we have irrevocably elected not to avail ourselves of this extended transition period, and, as a result, we will adopt new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required by the IASB. Since IFRS make no distinction between public and private companies for purposes of compliance with new or revised accounting standards, the requirements for our compliance as a private company and as a public company are the same.
Implications of Being a Foreign Private Issuer
We are also considered a “foreign private issuer” under U.S. securities laws. In our capacity as a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from certain rules under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that impose certain disclosure obligations and procedural requirements for proxy solicitations under Section 14 of the Exchange Act. In addition, members of our board of directors and our principal shareholders are exempt from the “short-swing” profit recovery provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules under the Exchange Act with respect to their purchases and sales of our securities. Moreover, we are not required to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act. In addition, we are not required to comply with Regulation FD, which restricts the selective disclosure of material information.
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We may take advantage of these exemptions until such time as we are no longer a foreign private issuer. We will remain a foreign private issuer until such time that more than 50% of our outstanding voting securities are held by U.S. residents and any of the following three circumstances applies: (1) the majority of our executive officers or directors are U.S. citizens or residents; (2) more than 50% of our assets are located in the United States; or (3) our business is administered principally in the United States.
The Securities We and/or Our Selling Security Holders May Offer
Under this prospectus, we and/or our selling security holders may offer ordinary shares, including ADSs representing our ordinary shares, warrants to purchase ordinary shares or ADSs, and debt securities, either individually or in any combination, from time to time at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of the offering. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we and/or our selling security holders may offer. Each time we and/or our selling security holders offer a type or series of securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and other important terms of the securities, including, to the extent applicable:
| | designation or classification; |
| | aggregate principal amount or aggregate offering price; |
| | maturity, if applicable; |
| | original issue discount; |
| | rates and times of payment of interest or dividends, if any; |
| | redemption, conversion or sinking fund terms, if any; |
| | conversion or exchange prices or rates, if any, and, if applicable, any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the conversion or exchange prices or rates in the securities or other property receivable upon conversion or exchange; |
| | ranking, if applicable; |
| | restrictive covenants, if any; |
| | voting or other rights, if any; and |
| | conversion or exercise prices, if any. |
The prospectus supplement also may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in documents we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. However, no prospectus supplement will fundamentally change the terms that are set forth in this prospectus or offer a security that is not registered and described in this prospectus at the time of its effectiveness.
We and/or our selling security holders may sell the securities directly to investors or to or through agents, underwriters or dealers. We, and our agents or underwriters, reserve the right to accept or reject all or part of any proposed purchase of securities. If we and/or our selling security holders offer securities through agents or underwriters, we will include in the applicable prospectus supplement:
| | the names of those agents or underwriters; |
| | applicable fees and commissions to be paid to them; |
| | details regarding over-allotment options, if any; and |
| | the net proceeds to us or our selling security holders. |
This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of any securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
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Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully review the risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F as updated by our subsequent filings including our Reports on Form 6-K that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, before deciding whether to purchase any of the securities being registered pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Each of the risk factors could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, as well as adversely affect the value of an investment in our securities, and the occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial may also significantly impair our business operations.
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than present and historical facts and conditions, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, business strategy, plans and our objectives for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “is designed to,” “may,” “might,” “objective,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “should,” “will,” “would” or the negative of these and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about:
| | the prospects of attaining, maintaining and expanding marketing authorization for our lead drug candidate, obefazimod; |
| | the potential attributes and clinical advantages of obefazimod and our future drug candidates; |
| | the initiation, timing, progress and results of our preclinical and clinical trials (and those conducted by third parties) and other research and development programs; |
| | the timing of the availability of data from our clinical trials, including our Phase 3 maintenance trial of obefazimod in moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis and Phase 2b trial of obefazimod in CD; |
| | the timing of and our ability to advance drug candidates through clinical development; |
| | the timing or likelihood of regulatory meetings and filings; |
| | the timing of and our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals for obefazimod and any of our future drug candidates; |
| | our ability to identify and develop new drug candidates from our preclinical studies; |
| | our ability to develop sales and marketing capabilities and transition into a commercial-stage company; |
| | the effects of increased competition as well as innovations by new and existing competitors in our industry; |
| | our ability to enter into strategic relationships or partnerships; |
| | our ability to obtain, maintain, protect and enforce our intellectual property rights and propriety technologies and to operate our business without infringing the intellectual property rights and proprietary technology of third parties; |
| | our estimates regarding expenses, future revenues, capital requirements and the need for additional financing; |
| | the impact of government laws and regulations; |
| | our competitive position; |
| | unfavorable conditions in our industry, the global economy or global supply chain, including financial and credit market fluctuations, international trade relations, political turmoil, natural catastrophes, warfare, and terrorist attacks; and |
| | other risks and uncertainties indicated in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein, including those under the heading “Risk Factors,” and the other documents filed or to be filed with the SEC by us. |
You should refer to the “Risk Factors” section contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into
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this prospectus, for a discussion of important factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. As a result of these factors, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this prospectus will prove to be accurate. Furthermore, if our forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by us or any other person that we will achieve our objectives and plans in any specified time frame or at all.
Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
You should read this prospectus and the documents that we reference in this prospectus and have filed as exhibits to this prospectus completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.
This prospectus contains market data and industry forecasts that were obtained from industry publications. These data involve a number of assumptions and limitations, and you are cautioned not to give undue weight to such estimates. We have not independently verified any third-party information. While we believe the market position, market opportunity and market size information included in this prospectus is generally reliable, such information is inherently imprecise.
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We will retain broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds from the sale of the securities we offer pursuant to this prospectus. We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus our intended use for the net proceeds received from the sale of any securities sold pursuant to the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. Pending these uses, we intend to invest the net proceeds in a variety of capital preservation investments, including short-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing instruments.
We will not receive any proceeds from the sale by selling security holders of the securities covered by this prospectus.
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Selling security holders are persons or entities that, directly or indirectly, have acquired or will from time to time acquire from us, our securities. Such selling security holders may be parties to registration rights agreements with us, or we otherwise may have agreed or will agree to register their securities for resale. The initial purchasers of our securities, as well as their transferees, pledges, donees or successors, all of whom we refer to as “selling security holders,” may from time to time offer and sell our securities pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.
The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the name of each of the selling security holders and the number of securities beneficially owned by such selling security holders that are covered by such prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will also disclose whether any of the selling security holders has held any position or office with, has been employed by or otherwise has had a material relationship with us during the three years prior to the date of the applicable prospectus supplement.
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We and/or our selling security holders may offer securities under this prospectus from time to time pursuant to underwritten public offerings, negotiated transactions, block trades or a combination of these methods. We and/or our selling security holders may sell the securities (1) through underwriters or dealers, (2) through agents and/or (3) directly to one or more purchasers. We and/or our selling security holders may distribute the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, in accordance with applicable law and regulations and existing shareholders delegations of authority, at:
| | a fixed price or prices, which may be changed from time to time; |
| | market prices prevailing at the time of sale; |
| | prices related to such prevailing market prices; or |
| | negotiated prices. |
The distribution of securities may be carried out, from time to time, in one or more transactions, including:
| | to or through underwriters; |
| | block transactions and transactions on the Nasdaq Global Market or any other organized market where such securities may be traded; |
| | purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its own account pursuant to a prospectus supplement; |
| | ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which a broker-dealer solicits purchasers; |
| | sales through an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act, into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise; or |
| | sales in other ways not involving market makers or established trading markets, including direct sales to purchasers. |
Each time that we and/or our selling security holders sell securities covered by this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement or supplements that will describe the method of distribution and set forth the terms and conditions of the offering of such securities, including the offering price of the securities and the proceeds to us, if applicable.
We and/or our selling security holders may directly solicit offers to purchase the securities being offered by this prospectus. We and/or our selling security holders may also designate agents to solicit offers to purchase the securities from time to time. We will name in a prospectus supplement any underwriter or agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities.
If we and/or our selling security holders utilize a dealer in the sale of the securities being offered by this prospectus, we and/or our selling security holders will sell the securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale.
If we and/or our selling security holders utilize an underwriter in the sale of the securities being offered by this prospectus, we and/or our selling security holders will execute an underwriting agreement with the underwriter at the time of sale, and we will provide the name of any underwriter in the prospectus supplement that the underwriter will use to make resales of the securities to the public. In connection with the sale of the securities, we, or the purchasers of the securities for whom the underwriter may act as agent, may compensate the underwriter in the form of underwriting commissions. The underwriter may sell the securities to or through dealers, and the underwriter may compensate those dealers in the form of concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for which they may act as agent. Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, an agent will be acting on a best efforts basis and a dealer will purchase securities as a principal, and may then resell the securities at varying prices to be determined by the dealer.
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We will provide in the applicable prospectus supplement information regarding any compensation we pay to underwriters, dealers or agents in connection with the offering of the securities, and any concessions or commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers. Underwriters, dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any commissions received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting commissions. We may enter into agreements to indemnify underwriters, dealers and agents against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments they may be required to make in respect thereof.
Sales to or through one or more underwriters or agents in at-the-market offerings will be made pursuant to the terms of a distribution agreement with the underwriters or agents. Such underwriters or agents may act on an agency basis or on a principal basis. During the term of any such agreement, shares may be sold on a daily basis on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the ADSs are traded, in negotiated transactions or otherwise as agreed with the underwriters or agents. The distribution agreement will provide that any ADSs sold will be sold at negotiated prices or at prices related to the then prevailing market prices for our ADSs. Therefore, exact figures regarding proceeds that will be raised or commissions to be paid cannot be determined at this time and will be described in a prospectus supplement. Pursuant to the terms of the distribution agreement, we may also agree to sell, and the relevant underwriters or agents may agree to solicit offers to purchase, blocks of our ADSs or other securities. The terms of each such distribution agreement will be described in a prospectus supplement.
In order to facilitate the offering of the securities, certain persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities. This may include over-allotments or short sales of the securities, which involve the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than were sold to them. In these circumstances, these persons would cover such over-allotments or short positions by making purchases in the open market or by exercising their over-allotment option. In addition, these persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the securities by bidding for or purchasing the applicable security in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to dealers participating in the offering may be reclaimed if the securities sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. These transactions may be discontinued at any time.
The underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in other transactions with us, or perform other services for us, in the ordinary course of their business.
12
General
We were incorporated as a société anonyme (limited liability company) on December 4, 2013 and registered at the Paris Trade and Company Register on December 27, 2013 for a period of 99 years until December 22, 2112, subject to extension or early dissolution, under the number 799 363 718. Our corporate purpose in France and abroad includes the research, development and marketing of therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines and small therapeutic molecules that primarily have applications in the anti-infective field, as set forth in Article 4 of our by-laws. We may participate, by any means, directly or indirectly in any operations that may be related to our purpose through the creation of new companies, contribution, subscription or purchase of company securities or rights, merger or otherwise, creation, acquisition, leasing, management lease of any businesses or establishments. Our principal executive offices are located at 7-11 boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris, France, and our telephone number is +33 (0) 1 53 83 09 63.
The following description of our by-laws and share capital does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our by-laws as of the date of this prospectus. Copies of our by-laws may be obtained from the Trade and Company Registry (Greffe du Registre du Commerce et des Sociétés) of Paris, France or our corporate headquarters and are filed as an exhibit to this registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
Share Capital
Share Capital History
As of March 31, 2026, our share capital amounted to 792,911.88 and is divided into 79,291,188 ordinary shares of 0.01 par value each after taking into account:
| Number of Shares |
Par Value |
Amount of Paid Up Capital |
||||||||||
| () | () | |||||||||||
| Ordinary Shares |
79,291,188 | 0.01 | | 792,911.88 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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| Total |
79,291,188 | 0.01 | | 792,911.88 | ||||||||
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|
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All of the shares are fully subscribed and paid. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not issued securities that do not represent our share capital.
The table below shows the changes in our share capital over the last three years.
| Date |
Type of operation |
Prior Share Capital () |
Premium () |
Number of shares created |
Total number of shares after issuance |
Nominal value () |
Share capital after transaction () |
Issue price per share () |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20/01/2023 | Exercise of BCE-2014-4 | 223,131.85 | 0 | 18,400 | 22,331,585 | 0.01 | 223,315.85 | 0.01 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 01/03/2023 | Capital increase through issue of new shares | 223,315.85 | 129,800,000 | 20,000,000 | 42,331,585 | 0.01 | 423,315.85 | 6.50 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10/05/2023 | Exercise of BSA-2014-3 | 423,315.85 | 0 | 16,400 | 42,347,985 | 0.01 | 423,479.85 | 0.01 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 06/06/2023 | Exercise of BSA-2018-KREOS-A | 423,479.85 | 488,786.40 | 67,887 | 42,415,872 | 0.01 | 424,158.72 | 7.21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 06/06/2023 | Exercise of BSA-2018-KREOS-b | 424,158.72 | 338,830.24 | 31,696 | 42,447,568 | 0.01 | 424,475.68 | 10.70 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19/06/2023 | Exercise of BCE-2014-2 | 424,475.68 | 0 | 100,000 | 42,547,568 | 0.01 | 425,475.68 | 0.01 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12/09/2023 | Exercise of BSA-2014-3 | 425,475.68 | 0 | 16,400 | 42,563,968 | 0.01 | 425,639.68 | 0.01 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14/09/2023 | Exercise of BSA-2014-3 | 425,639.68 | 0 | 16,400 | 42,580,368 | 0.01 | 425,803.68 | 0.01 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 24/10/2023 | Capital increase through issue of new shares | 425,803.68 | 223,173,990 | 20,325,500 | 62,905,868 | 0.01 | 629,058.68 | 10.99 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20/11/2023 | Exercise of BSA-2014-5 | 629,058.68 | 0 | 22,950 | 62,928,818 | 0.01 | 629,288.18 | 0.01 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 22/04/2024 | Exercise of BCE-2017-5 | 629,288.18 | 11,130 | 1,000 | 62,929,818 | 0.01 | 629,298.18 | 11.14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23/04/2024 | Exercise of BCE-2017-5 | 629,298.18 | 11,130 | 1,000 | 62,930,818 | 0.01 | 629,308.18 | 11.14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
13
| Date |
Type of operation |
Prior Share Capital () |
Premium () |
Number of shares created |
Total number of shares after issuance |
Nominal value () |
Share capital after transaction () |
Issue price per share () |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11/06/2024 | Exercise of BCE-2017-5 | 629,308.18 | 11,130 | 1,000 | 62,931,818 | 0.01 | 629,318.18 | 11.14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13/06/2024 | Exercise of BCE-2017-5 | 629,318.18 | 11,130 | 1,000 | 62,932,818 | 0.01 | 629,328.18 | 11.14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11/07/2024 | Definitive allocation of free shares | 629,328.18 | 0 | 344,107 | 63,276,925 | 0.01 | 632,769.25 | 0.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 05/09/2024 | Definitive allocation of free shares | 632,769.25 | 0 | 17,728 | 63,294,653 | 0.01 | 632,946.53 | 0.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13/11/2024 | Definitive allocation of free shares | 632,946.53 | 0 | 53,184 | 63,347,837 | 0.01 | 633,478.37 | 0.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23/07/2025 | Exercise of BCE-2018-5 | 634,719.33 | 7,320.00 | 1,000 | 63,472,933 | 0.01 | 634,729.33 | 7.33 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 24/07/2025 | Exercise of BCE-2016-1 | 634,729.33 | 25,997.57 | 3,499 | 63,476,432 | 0.01 | 634,764.32 | 7.44 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25/07/2025 | Exercise of BCE-2018-1 | 634,764.32 | 14,767.50 | 1,650 | 63,478,082 | 0.01 | 634,780.82 | 8.96 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28/07/2025 | Capital increase through issue of new shares | 634,780.82 | 637,228,064.00 | 11,679,400 | 75,157,482 | 0.01 | 751,574.82 | 54.57 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 29/07/2025 | Exercise of BCE-2018-5 | 751,574.82 | 7,320.00 | 1,000 | 75,158,482 | 0.01 | 751,584.82 | 7.33 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 29/07/2025 | Conversion of convertible bonds | 751,584.82 | 9,371,047.91 | 394,447 | 75,552,929 | 0.01 | 755,529.29 | 23.77 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 30/07/2025 | Exercise of BCE-2016-1 | 755,529.29 | 22,290,00 | 3,000 | 75,555,929 | 0.01 | 755,559.29 | 7.44 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 30/07/2025 | Exercise of BCE-2016-1 | 755,559.29 | 26,850.00.00 | 3,000 | 75,558,929 | 0.01 | 755,589.29 | 8.96 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 01/08/2025 | Definitive allocation of free shares | 755,589.29 | 0.00 | 27,728 | 75,586,657 | 0.01 | 755,866.57 | 0.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 04/08/2025 | Exercise of BCE-2018-1 | 755,866.57 | 17,300.00 | 2,000 | 75,588,657 | 0.01 | 755,886.57 | 8.96 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 05/08/2025 | Exercise of BCE-2016-1 | 755,886.57 | 4,829.50 | 650 | 75,589,307 | 0.01 | 755,893.07 | 7.44 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 06/08/2025 | Exercise of BCE-2018-1 | 755,893.07 | 16,110.0 | 1,800 | 75,591,107 | 0.01 | 755,911.07 | 8.96 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 06/08/2025 | Exercise of BCE-2016-1 | 755,911.07 | 29,712.57 | 3,999 | 75,595,106 | 0.01 | 755,951.06 | 7.44 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 07/08/2025 | Exercise of BCE-2016-1 | 755,951.06 | 11,137.57 | 1,499 | 75,596,605 | 0.01 | 755,966.05 | 7.44 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 05/08/2025 | Conversion of convertible bonds | 755,966.05 | 12,494,729.38 | 525,930 | 76,122,535 | 0.01 | 761,225.35 | 23.76 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 08/08/2025 | Conversion of convertible bonds | 761,225.35 | 16,658,807.54 | 785,389 | 76,907,924 | 0.01 | 769,079.24 | 21.21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 08/08/2025 | Exercise of BSA (Kreos) | 769,079.24 | 2,665,728.23 | 95,742 | 77,003,666 | 0.01 | 770,036.66 | 18.67 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 08/08/2025 | Exercise of BSA (Kreos) | 770,036.66 | 2,664,564.29 | 223,509.00 | 77,227,175,00 | 0.01 | 772,271.75 | 9.86 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28/08/2025 | Exercise of BSA (Claret) | 772,985.74 | 1,331,840.08 | 135,263 | 77,433,837 | 0.01 | 774,338.37 | 9.86 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 04/09/2025 | Definitive allocation of free shares | 774,338.37 | 0.00 | 17,728 | 77,451,565 | 0.01 | 774,515.65 | 0.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 04/09/2025 | Exercise of BCE-2016-1 | 774,515.65 | 1,107.07 | 149 | 77,451,714 | 0.01 | 774,517.14 | 7.44 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 08/09/2025 | Exercise of BCE-2016-1 | 774,517.14 | 7,430.00 | 1,000 | 77,452,714 | 0.01 | 774,527.14 | 7.44 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28/09/2025 | Definitive allocation of free shares | 774,527.14 | 0.00 | 377,353 | 77,830,067 | 0.01 | 778,300.67 | 0.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 02/10/2025 | Exercise of BSA-2015-12 | 778,300.67 | 291,592.00 | 16,400 | 77,846,467 | 0.01 | 778,464.67 | 17.79 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23/10/2025 | Exercise of BSA-2017-1 | 778,464.67 | 189,584.00 | 16,400 | 77,862,867 | 0.01 | 778,628.67 | 11.57 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23/10/2025 | Exercise of BCE-2016-1 | 778,628.67 | 37,150.00 | 5,000 | 77,867,867 | 0.01 | 778,678.67 | 7.44 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12/11/2025 | Exercise of BCE-2018-1 | 778,678.67 | 8,860.50 | 990 | 77,868,857 | 0.01 | 778,688.57 | 8.96 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13/11/2025 | Definitive allocation of free shares | 778,688.57 | 0.00 | 35,456 | 77,904,313 | 0.01 | 779,043.13 | 0.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17/11/2025 | Exercise of BSA-2015-11 | 779,043.13 | 1,723,308.72 | 96,924 | 78,001,237 | 0.01 | 780,012.37 | 17.79 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28/11/2025 | Exercise of BSA-2024-1 | 780,012.37 | 63,656.67 | 4,863 | 78,006,100 | 0.01 | 780,061.00 | 13.10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 01/12/2025 | Definitive allocation of free shares | 780,061.00 | 0.00 | 27,625 | 78,033,725 | 0.01 | 780,337.25 | 0.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 02/12/2025 | Conversion of convertible bonds (Claret) | 780,337.25 | 8,329,406.05 | 392,695 | 78,426,420 | 0.01 | 784,264.20 | 21.22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11/12/2025 | Definitive allocation of free shares | 784,264.20 | 0.00 | 17,728 | 78,444,148 | 0.01 | 784,441.48 | 0.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16/12/2025 | Exercise of BCE-2017-1 | 784,441.48 | 212,536.94 | 33,313 | 78,477,461 | 0.01 | 784,774.61 | 6.39 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17/12/2025 | Exercise of BCE-2017-5 | 784,774.61 | 187,462.59 | 16,843 | 78,494,304 | 0.01 | 784,943.04 | 11.14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17/12/2025 | Exercise of BCE-2018-4 | 784,943.04 | 61,649.04 | 8,422 | 78,502,726 | 0.01 | 785,027.26 | 7.33 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19/12/2025 | Exercise of BCE-2017-4 | 785,027.26 | 374,925.18 | 33,686 | 78,536,412 | 0.01 | 785,364.12 | 11.14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12/01/2026 | Exercise of BCE-2018-1 | 785,364.12 | 22,733.00 | 2,540 | 78,538,952 | 0.01 | 785,389.52 | 8.96 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 01/02/2026 | Definitive allocation of free shares | 785,389.52 | 0.00 | 628,480 | 79,167,432 | 0.01 | 791,674.32 | 0.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19/03/2026 | Definitive allocation of free shares | 791,674.32 | 0.00 | 35,456 | 79,202,888 | 0.01 | 792,028.88 | 0.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25/03/2026 | Definitive allocation of free shares | 792,028.88 | 0.00 | 77,050 | 79,279,938 | 0.01 | 792,799.38 | 0,00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28/03/2026 | Definitive allocation of free shares | 792,799.38 | 0.00 | 11,250 | 79,291,188 | 0.01 | 792,911.88 | 0.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 07/05/2026 | Capital increase through issue of new shares | 792,911.88 | 38,451,069.51 | 403,347 | 79,694,535 | 0.01 | 796,945.35 | 95.34 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21/05/2026 | Definitive allocation of free shares | 796,945.35 | 0.00 | 35,456 | 79,729,991 | 0.01 | 797,299.91 | 0.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 27/05/2026 | Definitive allocation of free shares | 797,299.91 | 0.00 | 40,200 | 79,770,191 | 0.01 | 797,701.91 | 0.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 01/06/2026 | Definitive allocation of free shares | 797,299.91 | 0.00 | 12,750 | 79,782,941 | 0.01 | 797,829.41 | 0.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 26/06/2026 | Definitive allocation of free shares | 797,829.41 | 0.00 | 17,728 | 79,800,669 | 0.01 | 798,006.69 | 0.00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
14
Shareholders’ Meetings and Voting Rights (Articles 12, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 of the By-Laws)
General
In accordance with the French Commercial Code (Code de Commerce), there are three types of shareholders’ meetings: ordinary, extraordinary and special.
Ordinary shareholders’ meetings are required to elect, replace or remove directors, appoint independent statutory auditors, approve the annual financial statements, approve share repurchase programs, declare dividends or authorizing dividends to be paid in shares and approve regulated agreements. In addition, pursuant to AMF recommendation, French listed companies may be required to conduct a consultation of the Ordinary Shareholders Meeting prior to the disposal of the majority of their assets, under certain conditions.
Extraordinary shareholders’ meetings are required for approval of matters such as amendments to our by-laws, including amendments required in connection with extraordinary corporate actions (i.e., changing our name, corporate purpose or registered office, increasing or decreasing our share capital and creating a new class of equity securities (ordinary or preferred shares)). Shareholders’ rights may be modified as allowed by French law. Only the extraordinary shareholders’ meeting is authorized to amend any and all provisions of our by-laws. It may not, however, increase shareholder commitments without the prior approval of each shareholder.
Special meetings of holders of a certain category of shares or of securities giving access to our share capital are required for any modification of the rights relating to such categories of shares. The resolutions of the shareholders’ meeting modifying these rights are effective only after they have been approved by the relevant special meeting.
Special Voting Rights of Warrant Holders
Under French law, the holders of warrants of the same class (i.e., warrants that were issued at the same time and with the same rights), including founder’s share warrants (BCEs), are entitled to vote as a separate class at a general meeting of that class of warrant holders under certain circumstances, principally in connection with any proposed modification of the terms and conditions of the class of warrants or any proposed issuance of preferred shares or any modification of the rights of any outstanding class or series of preferred shares.
Shareholders’ Meetings
Our Board convenes an annual ordinary shareholders’ meeting for the approval of the annual financial statements. This meeting is held within six months of the end of each fiscal year. This period may be extended by an order of the President of the French Commercial Court (Tribunal de Commerce) at the request of the Board. The Board may also convene an ordinary or extraordinary shareholders’ meeting upon proper notice at any time during the year.
If the Board fails to convene a shareholders’ meeting at the shareholders’ request, our statutory auditors may call the meeting. In the event of bankruptcy, the liquidator or court-appointed agent may also call a shareholders’ meeting. In addition, any of the following may request the President of the French Commercial Court to appoint an agent to convene the shareholders’ meeting: one or several shareholders holding at least 5% of our share capital, any interested party in cases of urgency, the workers council in cases of urgency or duly qualified associations of shareholders who have held their shares in registered form for at least two years and who together hold a minimum number of the voting rights of our share capital. Shareholders holding a majority of the share capital or voting may also convene a shareholders’ meeting after the filing of a public offer or sale of a controlling interest in our share capital.
Shareholders’ meetings shall be chaired by the chairperson of the Board or, in his or her absence, by a Deputy chairperson or by a director elected for this purpose. Failing that, the meeting itself shall elect a chairperson. Vote counting shall be performed by the two members of the meeting who are present and accept such duties, who represent, either on their own behalf or as proxies, the greatest number of votes.
15
Notice of Shareholders’ Meeting
We are subject to French law requirements in relation to notice of shareholders’ meetings and announce shareholders’ meetings at least 35 days in advance by means of a preliminary notice published in the Bulletin des annonces légales obligatoires (BALO), as well as on our website at least 21 days prior to the meeting. At least 15 days prior to the date set for a shareholders’ meeting, or 10 days if it is a second call, we must publish a final notice in accordance with French law requirements. In addition to the particulars relative to us, the final notice indicates, notably, the meeting’s agenda and the draft resolutions that will be presented. The requests for recording of issues or draft resolutions on the agenda must be addressed to the Company under the conditions provided for in the current legislation.
In general, shareholders can only take action at shareholders’ meetings on matters listed on the agenda for the meeting. As an exception to this rule, shareholders may take action, among other things, with respect to the dismissal of directors, even if these actions have not been included on the agenda. The Board must submit properly proposed resolutions to a vote of the shareholders. When a shareholder submits a blank proxy form without naming a representative, his vote is deemed to be in favor of the resolutions (or amendments) proposed or recommended by the Board and against all others. As of the date of the publication of the final notice of a meeting but no later than four business days before the shareholders’ meeting, any shareholder may submit written questions to the Board relating to the agenda for the meeting. The Board must respond to these questions during the meeting. A common answer can be given to several questions if they have the same content or bear on the same topic. The answer to a written question is deemed to have been given insofar as it is published on our website in a section devoted to questions and answers.
Agenda and Conduct of Annual Shareholders’ Meetings.
The agenda of the shareholders’ meeting shall appear in the notice to convene the meeting and is set by the author of the notice. The shareholders’ meeting may only deliberate on the items on the agenda except for the removal of directors and the appointment of their successors which may be put to vote by any shareholder during any shareholders’ meeting. Pursuant to French law and our current share capital, one or more shareholders representing 5% of our share capital may request the inclusion of items or proposed resolutions on the agenda. Such request must be received at the latest on the 25th day preceding the date of the shareholders’ meeting, and in any event no later than the 20th day following the date of the convening notice to the shareholders’ meeting.
Attendance and Voting at Shareholders’ Meetings
Ownership of one share implies, ipso jure, adherence to our by-laws and the decision of the shareholders’ meeting.
The voting rights attached to equity or dividend shares are proportional to the percentage of the share capital they represent. Each share entitles the holder to one vote.
However, a double voting right compared to that conferred to other shares with regard to the percentage of share capital they represent is allocated to all fully paid-up ordinary shares with proof of being held in registered form by the same owner for at least two (2) years. Under French law, treasury shares or ordinary shares held by entities controlled by us are not entitled to voting rights and do not count for quorum purposes. Purchasers of ADSs or ordinary shares in an offering under this prospectus, in the open market or in subsequent offerings will be unlikely to meet the requirements to have double voting rights attach to any ordinary shares held by them.
In order to participate in any general meeting, shareholders are required to have their shares registered under the conditions and time limits provided for the applicable laws before such general meeting in their name or in the name of an intermediary registered on their behalf, either in the registered shares shareholder account or in the bearer shares shareholder account.
16
Proxies and Votes by Mail or Videoconference
In general, all shareholders who have properly registered and fully paid their shares or duly presented a certificate from their accredited intermediary may participate in shareholders’ meetings. Shareholders may participate in shareholders’ meetings either in person, by proxy or by mail or by videoconference or by any means of telecommunications in accordance with applicable regulations, if the Board provides for such possibility when convening the meeting.
Proxies are sent to any shareholder upon request. In order to be counted, such proxies must be received at our registered office, or at any other address indicated on the notice convening the meeting, prior to the date of the meeting. A shareholder may grant proxies to his or her spouse, civil partner, to another shareholder or to any other person (individual or legal) of his/her/its choice. A shareholder that is a corporation may grant proxies to a legal representative. A shareholder who is a non-resident of France may be represented at a shareholders’ meeting by an intermediary registered under the conditions set forth by French law. Alternatively, the shareholder may send a blank proxy to us without nominating a representative.
With respect to votes by mail, we will send shareholders a voting form. The completed form must be returned to us at least three days prior to the date of the shareholders’ meeting. The final date for returning votes by mail is disclosed in the notice of meeting published in accordance with French law requirements. Under our by-laws, shareholders’ meetings by means of telecommunications permitting their identification are possible if the Board so determines in the preliminary or final notice of the meeting. Shareholders voting by proxy, mail, authorized intermediary or, if provided for in the preliminary or final notice of the meeting by any means of telecommunications permitting them to be identified, will be considered to be present at the meeting for the computation of the quorum and the majority.
A shareholder who has voted by correspondence will no longer be able to participate directly in the meeting or to be represented. In the case of returning the proxy form and the voting by correspondence form, the proxy form is taken into account, subject to the votes cast in the voting by correspondence form.
Quorum
For an ordinary shareholders’ meeting to be quorate, one-fifth of the holders of shares entitled to voting rights must be present in person or vote by mail or by proxy or by authorized intermediary or by any means of telecommunication permitting their identification. An extraordinary shareholders’ meeting is quorate if one-fourth of the holders of shares entitled to voting rights are present or vote by mail or by proxy or by authorized intermediary or by any means of telecommunication. As an exception, an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting deciding upon a share capital increase by capitalization of reserves, profits or share premium has the same quorum requirement as an ordinary shareholders’ meeting.
If the requirements for a quorum are not satisfied, the meeting is adjourned. When an adjourned ordinary shareholders’ meeting is resumed, there is no quorum requirement. Extraordinary shareholders’ meetings require a quorum of one-fifth of the holders of shares entitled to voting rights. If a quorum is not present, the reconvened meeting may be adjourned for a maximum of two months. No deliberation by the shareholders may take place without a quorum. For special meetings of holders of a certain class of shares, the quorum requirement is one-third of the certain class of shares entitled to voting rights for the meeting convened on the first call. Should the special meeting be reconvened, the quorum requirement is one-fifth of the certain class of shares entitled to voting rights for the meeting.
Majority
A simple majority of shareholders may pass a resolution at either an ordinary shareholders’ meeting or an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting deciding upon a share capital increase by capitalization of reserves, profits or share premium. At any other extraordinary shareholders’ meeting, a two-thirds majority of the shareholder
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votes cast is required. A unanimous shareholder vote is required to increase shareholders’ liabilities. Abstention from voting by those present either in person or by means of telecommunications if provided for by the by-laws, or those represented by proxy or voting by mail is counted as a vote against the resolution submitted to a shareholder vote. In general, each shareholder is entitled to one vote per share at any shareholders’ meeting. Under the French Commercial Code, shares of a company held by it or by entities controlled directly or indirectly by that company are not entitled to voting rights and do not count for quorum or majority purposes.
Financial Statements and Other Communications with Shareholders
In connection with the annual ordinary shareholders’ meeting, we must provide or make available to any shareholder a set of documents including, among other things, our annual report, the annual and consolidated accounts, the statutory auditors’ reports and a draft of the meeting’s resolutions.
The chairperson of the Board is required to deliver a special report to the annual ordinary shareholders’ meeting regarding the composition of the Board, the representation of men and women in its composition, the status of the preparation and organization of the work of the Board, the status of the internal control procedures that we have implemented, including those in connection with the treatment of the accounting and financial statements and principles and rules that it establishes to determine management compensation and benefits. French law requires that a special report be provided annually to the ordinary shareholders’ meeting regarding stock options authorized and/or granted by the company.
Rights, Preferences and Restrictions Attaching to Ordinary Shares (Articles 7, 11, 30, 31 and 32 of the By-Laws)
Dividends
We only distribute dividends out of our “distributable profits,” plus any amounts filed in its reserves that the shareholders decide to make available for distribution, other than those reserves that are specifically required by French law or our by-laws. “Distributable profits” consist of our net profit in each fiscal year, as increased or reduced by any profit or loss carried forward from prior years, less any contributions to the reserve accounts pursuant to French law or our by-laws.
Legal Reserve
Under French law, we are required to allocate 5% of our net income for each fiscal year, after reduction for losses carried forward from previous years, if any, to a legal reserve fund until the amount in the legal reserve is equal to 10% of the aggregate nominal value of the share capital. The legal reserve subject to this requirement may only be used to offset losses when other reserves cannot be used and, in particular, may not be distributed to shareholders until our liquidation. As of December 31, 2025, our legal reserve was 0.
Approval of Dividends
Shareholders may decide in an ordinary shareholders’ meeting, upon proposal of the Board, to allocate all or part of the distributable profits to special or general reserves, to carry them forward to the following fiscal year as retained earnings, or to allocate them to the shareholders as dividends. Dividends may be paid in cash or as shares upon the option of the shareholders if such option is granted at the annual ordinary shareholders’ meeting.
If we have earned distributable profits since the end of the preceding fiscal year, as reflected in an interim income statement certified by its auditors, the Board may distribute interim dividends to the extent of the distributable profits for the period covered by the interim income statement before approval of the annual financial statements. Subject to French law, the Board may declare interim dividends paid in cash without obtaining shareholder approval. For interim dividends paid in shares, prior authorization by an ordinary shareholders’ meeting is required.
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Distribution of Dividends and Timing of Payment
In principle, dividends are distributed to shareholders pro rata according to their respective shareholdings.
Timing of Payment
Under French law, we must pay any dividends within nine months of the end of our fiscal year, unless otherwise authorized by an order of the President of the French Commercial Court. Dividends on shares that are not claimed within five years of the date of declared payment revert to the French State.
In the case of interim dividends, distributions are made to shareholders on the date set by our Board during the meeting in which the distribution of interim dividends is approved. The actual dividend payment date is decided by the shareholders at an annual shareholders’ meeting or by our Board in the absence of such a decision by the shareholders. Shareholders that own shares on the actual payment date are entitled to the dividend.
Shareholders may be granted an option to receive dividends in cash or in shares, in accordance with legal conditions. The conditions for payment of dividends in cash shall be set at the shareholders’ meeting or, failing this, by the Board.
Increases in Share Capital
Our share capital may only be increased by obtaining the approval of the shareholders at an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting upon the recommendation of the Board. The decision to increase share capital through increases in the nominal value of existing shares requires unanimous approval at an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting. The decision to increase share capital through the capitalization of reserves, profits and/or share premiums must be submitted to an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting applying the quorum and majority requirements applicable to ordinary shareholders’ meetings. In the case of an increase in share capital in connection with the payment of a share dividend the voting and quorum procedures of an ordinary shareholders’ meetings apply. All other share capital increases require the approval of an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting. See “—Shareholders’ Meetings and Voting Rights (Articles 6, 12 and 22 of the By-Laws)” above.
Increases in our share capital may be effected by:
| | issuing additional shares; |
| | increasing the par value of existing shares; |
| | creating a new class of equity securities; and |
| | exercising the rights attached to securities giving access to the share capital. |
Increases in share capital by issuing additional securities may be effected through one or a combination of the following:
| | in consideration for cash; |
| | in consideration for assets contributed in kind; |
| | through an exchange offer; |
| | by conversion of previously issued debt instruments; |
| | by capitalization of profits, reserves or share premium; and |
| | subject to certain conditions, by way of offset against debt incurred by us. |
Subject to certain conditions, shareholders may delegate the authority (délégation de compétence) or the powers (délégation de pouvoirs) to carry out certain increases in our share capital to the Board following approval at an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting. The Board may further sub-delegate this right to the Chief Executive Officer.
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Reduction in Share Capital
Under French law, any reduction in our share capital requires approval of the shareholders at an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting. The share capital may be reduced either by decreasing the nominal value of the outstanding shares or by reducing the number of outstanding shares. The number of outstanding shares may be reduced by the repurchase and cancellation of the shares.
Holders of each class of shares must be treated equally unless each affected shareholder agrees otherwise. As a general matter, reductions of capital occur pro rata among all shareholders, except (i) in the case of a share buyback program, or a public tender offer to repurchase shares, where such a reduction occurs pro rata only among tendering shareholders and (ii) in the case where all shareholders unanimously consent to a non-pro-rata reduction. In any case, we must not own more than 10% of our outstanding share capital. The extraordinary shareholders’ meeting may authorize the buy-back program for a period not exceeding 18 months. In addition, we may not cancel more than 10% of our outstanding share capital over any 24-month period.
Preferential Subscription Rights
According to French law, existing shareholders have preferential subscription rights to these securities on a pro rata basis if we issue certain kinds of additional securities. These preferential subscription rights require us to give priority treatment to existing shareholders. The rights entitle the individual or entity that holds them to subscribe to an issue of any securities that may increase our share capital by means of a cash payment or a settling of cash debts. Subscription rights are transferable during a period starting two days prior the opening of the subscription period (or, if such day is not a business day, the preceding trading day) and ending two days prior the closing of the subscription period (or, if such day is not a business day, the preceding trading day).
A two-thirds majority of the shares entitled to vote at an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting may vote to waive preferential subscription rights with respect to any particular offering or a portion of that offering. French law requires that the Board and our statutory auditors present reports that specifically address any proposal to waive preferential subscription rights. In the event of a waiver, the issue of securities must be completed within the period prescribed by French law. The shareholders may also decide at an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting to give existing shareholders a non-transferable priority right to subscribe to such new securities during a limited period of time. Shareholders also may notify us that they wish to waive their own preferential subscription rights with respect to any particular offering if they so choose.
In the event of a share capital increase without preferential subscription rights to existing shareholders through a public offering, the extraordinary shareholders’ meeting may authorize the Board to freely set the issuing price or to set the issuing price in accordance with the terms established by the extraordinary shareholders’ meeting.
Form, Holding and Transfer of Shares (Articles 10 and 11 of the By-Laws)
Form of Shares
Our by-laws provide that the shares once fully paid may be held in registered or bearer form at the option of the shareholder, subject to applicable laws. Shares not fully paid must be nominal.
Holding of Shares
In accordance with French law, shareholders’ ownership rights are represented by book entries instead of share certificates. Shares issued are registered in individual accounts opened by us or any authorized intermediary, in the name of each shareholder and kept according to the terms and conditions laid down by the legal and regulatory provisions.
Any owner of our shares may elect to have its shares held in registered form and registered in its name in an account currently maintained by Uptevia, 90–110 Esplanade du Général de Gaulle – 92931 Paris La Défense
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Cedex, France for and on our behalf or held in bearer form and recorded in its name in an account maintained by an accredited financial intermediary, such as a French broker, bank or other authorized financial institution. Any shareholder may, at its expense, change from one form of holding to the other. Both methods are operated through Euroclear. In addition, according to French law, shares held by any non-French resident may be held on the shareholder’s behalf in a collective account or in several individual accounts by an intermediary.
When our shares are held in bearer form by a beneficial owner who is not a resident of France, Euroclear may agree to issue, upon our request, a bearer depository receipt with respect to such shares for use only outside France. In this case, the name of the holder is deleted from the accredited financial intermediary’s books. Title to the shares represented by a bearer depository receipt will pass upon delivery of the relevant receipt outside France.
In accordance with applicable laws, we may request the information referred to in Article L.228-2 of the French Commercial Code at any time from the central depository responsible for holding our shares. Thus, we are at any time entitled to request the name and year of birth or, in the case of a legal entity, the name and the year of incorporation, nationality and address of the holders of our shares or other securities granting immediate or future voting rights, held in bearer form, and the number of shares or other securities so held and, if applicable, the restrictions relating to such securities. Furthermore, under French law, any intermediary who acts on behalf of one or more persons who are not domiciled in France must declare that it is acting as an intermediary. We may also request the identity of the shareholders on whose behalf it is acting. Consequently, the owner of shares recorded in a collective account or in several individual accounts by an intermediary will be represented in the shareholders’ meetings by this intermediary.
Transfer of Shares
Our by-laws do not contain any restrictions relating to the transfer of shares. Shares are freely negotiable, subject to applicable legal and regulatory provisions. French and European law provide for standstill obligations and prohibition of insider trading.
Liquidation Rights
If we are liquidated, any assets remaining after payment of our debts, liquidation expenses and all of our remaining obligations will be distributed first to repay in full the nominal value of our shares (up to the amount of the paid-up and non-liquidated share capital). Any surplus will be distributed pro rata among shareholders in proportion to the nominal value of their shareholdings, taking into account, where applicable, the rights attached to shares of different classes. Shareholders shall only bear losses up to the amount of their contributions.
Disclosure Requirements for Holdings Exceeding Certain Thresholds
Declaration of Crossing of Ownership Thresholds (Article 11.2 of the By-laws)
We are subject to certain disclosure requirements under French law. Any individual or entity, acting alone or in concert with others, that acquires, either directly or indirectly, shares representing more than 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 33 1/3%, 50%, 66 2/3%, 90% or 95% of our outstanding share capital or voting rights or that increases or decreases its shareholding or voting rights above or below any of those percentage thresholds, must notify us and the French Market Authority (Autorité des Marchés Financiers) (“AMF”) within four trading days of the date on which such threshold was crossed. French law and AMF regulations impose additional reporting requirements on persons who acquire more than 10%, 15%, 20% or 25% of the outstanding shares or voting rights of a listed company.
If a shareholder fails to comply with the notification requirements under French law, the shares or voting rights in excess of the relevant threshold will be deprived of voting rights until the end of a two-year period following the date on which the owner of such shares has complied with the notification requirements. They may also be suspended for up to five years and may be subject to criminal fines.
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Our by-laws provide that any shareholder, acting alone or in concert, who comes into possession, in any manner whatsoever, either directly or indirectly, of a number of shares representing 2% of our share capital and/or voting rights must, by registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt sent to the registered office, or any other equivalent means for the shareholders or security holders residing outside of France, within five trading days of crossing such threshold, notify us of the total number of shares and voting rights he or she owns and the number of securities he or she owns that give access to the capital and voting rights attached thereto. This disclosure requirement shall apply, under the conditions above, each time a new threshold of 2% of capital and/or voting rights is met or exceeded, for whatever reason, including beyond the legal threshold of 5%. If the shares have not been reported under the above conditions, the shares exceeding the fraction that should have been reported are denied the right to vote in shareholders’ meetings, if at a shareholders’ meeting, the failure to report was recorded and if one or more shareholders holding together not less than 5% of capital or voting rights so request at that meeting. The denial of voting rights applies to any shareholders’ meeting to be held until the expiration of a period of two years from the date of regularization of the reporting.
We are required to publish the total number of voting rights and shares composing the share capital (if such numbers vary from the numbers previously published) on a monthly basis. The AMF makes this information public. We are subject to AMF regulations regarding public tender offers.
Further, and subject to certain exemptions, any shareholder crossing, alone or acting in concert, the 30% threshold shall file a mandatory public tender offer with the AMF. Also, any shareholder holding directly or indirectly a number between 30% and 50% of the capital or voting rights and who, in less than 12 consecutive months, increases his/her/its holding of capital or voting rights by at least 1% of the company’s capital or voting rights, shall file a mandatory public tender offer.
Treasury Shares and Purchases of our Own Shares
We are not permitted to hold more than 10% of our share capital in treasury shares or to have more than 10% of our share capital to be held for us by our subsidiaries. Treasury shares are not entitled to dividends, voting rights or preferential subscription rights.
Repurchase and Redemption of Shares
Under French law, we may acquire our own shares. Such acquisition may be challenged on the ground of market abuse regulations. However, EU Market Abuse Regulation 596/2014 of April 16, 2014 (“MAR”) provides for safe harbor exemptions when the acquisition is made for the following purposes only:
| | to decrease our share capital, provided that such a decision is not driven by losses and that a purchase offer is made to all shareholders on a pro rata basis, with the approval of the shareholders at an extraordinary meeting. In this case, the shares repurchased must be cancelled within one month from the expiry of the purchase offer; |
| | to meet obligations arising from debt securities that are exchangeable into equity instruments; |
| | to provide shares for distribution to employees or managers under a profit-sharing, free share or share option plan. In this case the shares repurchased must be distributed within 12 months from their repurchase failing which they must be cancelled; or |
| | under a buy-back program to be authorized by the shareholders in accordance with the provisions of Article L. 22-10-62 of the French Commercial Code and in accordance with the general regulations of, and market practices accepted by the AMF. |
All other purposes, and especially share buy-backs made for external growth operations in pursuance of Article L. 22-10-62 of the French Commercial Code, while not forbidden, must be pursued in strict compliance of market manipulation and insider dealing rules.
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Under MAR and in accordance with the general regulations (réglement général) of the AMF (the “General Regulations”), a corporation shall report to the competent authority of the trading value on which the shares have been admitted to trading or are traded, no later than by the end of the seventh daily market session following the date of the execution of the transaction, all the transactions relating to the buy-back program, in a detailed form and in an aggregated form.
No such repurchase of shares may result in us holding, directly or through a person acting on our behalf, more than 10% of our issued share capital. Shares repurchased by us continue to be deemed “issued” under French law but are not entitled to dividends or voting rights so long as we hold them directly or indirectly, and we may not exercise the preferential subscription rights attached to them.
Ownership of Shares by Non-French Persons
EU and non-EU residents are required to file an administrative notice (déclaration administrative) with the French authorities in connection with certain direct or indirect investments in us, including through ownership of ADSs, on the date a binding purchase agreement is executed or a tender offer is made public. Under existing administrative rulings the following transactions qualify as foreign investments in us that require the filing of an administrative notice:
| | any transaction carried out on our capital by a non-French resident provided that after the transaction the cumulative amount of the capital or the voting rights held by non-French residents exceeds 1/3 of our capital or voting rights; |
| | any transaction mentioned above by a corporation incorporated under French law whose capital or voting rights are held for more than 33.33% by non-French residents; |
| | any transaction carried out abroad resulting in a change of the controlling shareholder of a corporation incorporated under a foreign law that holds a shareholding or voting rights in us if our capital or voting rights are held for more than 33.33% by non-French residents; |
| | loans and guarantees granted by the acquirer to us in amounts evidencing control over our financing; and |
| | patent licenses granted by an acquirer or management or technical assistance agreements with such acquirer that place us in a dependent position vis-à-vis such party or its group. |
Non-French residents must file a declaration for statistical purposes with the Bank of France (Banque de France) within twenty working days following the date of certain direct foreign investments in us, including any purchase of our ADSs. In particular, such filings are required in connection with investments exceeding 15,000,000 that lead to the acquisition of at least 10% of our Company’s share capital or voting rights or cross such 10% threshold. Violation of this filing requirement may be sanctioned by five years of imprisonment and a fine up to twice the amount of the relevant investment. This amount may be increased fivefold if the violation is made by a legal entity.
Differences in Corporate Law
The laws applicable to French sociétés anonymes (limited liability companies) differ from laws applicable to U.S. corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of certain differences between the provisions of the French Commercial Code applicable to us and the Delaware General Corporation Law, the law under which many public companies in the United States are incorporated, relating to shareholders’ rights and protections. This summary is not intended to be a complete discussion of the respective rights, and it is qualified in its entirety by reference to Delaware law and French law.
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| Number of Directors |
Under French law, a société anonyme must have at least three and may have up to 18 directors. The number of directors is fixed by or in the manner provided in the by-laws. The number of directors of each gender may not be less than 40%. In case a board of directors comprises up to eight members, the difference between the number of directors of each gender may not exceed two. Any appointment made in violation of this limit that is not remedied within six months of this appointment will be null and void and payment of directors’ compensation will be suspended. | Under Delaware law, a corporation must have at least one director and the number of directors shall be fixed by or in the manner provided in the by-laws (unless specified in the certificate of incorporation of the corporation). | ||
| Director Qualifications |
Under French law, a corporation may prescribe qualifications for directors under its by-laws. In addition, under French law, members of a board of directors may be legal entities, and such legal entities must designate an individual to represent them and to act on their behalf at meetings of the board of directors. | Under Delaware law, a corporation may prescribe qualifications for directors under its certificate of incorporation or by-laws. | ||
| Removal of Directors |
Under French law, directors may be removed from office, with or without cause, at any shareholders’ meeting without notice or justification, by a simple majority vote of the shareholders present and voting at the meeting in person or by proxy. | Under Delaware law, unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, directors may be removed from office, with or without cause, by a majority stockholder vote, though in the case of a corporation whose board is classified, shareholders may effect such removal only for cause. | ||
| Vacancies on the board of directors |
Under French law, vacancies on the board of directors resulting from death or a resignation, provided that at least three directors remain in office, may be filled by a majority of the remaining directors pending ratification by the shareholders by the next shareholders’ meeting. | Under Delaware law, vacancies on a corporation’s board of directors, including those caused by an increase in the number of directors, unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, may be filled by the board of directors or other governing body. | ||
| Annual Shareholders’ Meeting |
Under French law, the annual shareholders’ meeting shall be held at such place, on such date and at such time as decided each year by the board of directors and notified to the shareholders in the convening notice of the annual meeting, within six months after the close of the relevant fiscal year unless such period is extended by court order. | Under Delaware law, the annual meeting of stockholders shall be held at such place, on such date and at such time as may be designated from time to time by the board of directors or as provided in the certificate of incorporation or by the by-laws. | ||
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| Shareholders’ Meeting |
Under French law, shareholders’ meetings may be called by the board of directors or, failing that, by the statutory auditors, or by a court appointed agent or liquidator in certain circumstances, or by the majority shareholder in capital or voting rights following a public tender offer or exchange offer or the transfer of a controlling block on the date decided by the board of directors or the relevant person. | Under Delaware law, special meetings of the stockholders may be called by the board of directors or by such person or persons as may be authorized by the certificate of incorporation or by the by-laws. | ||
| Notice of Shareholders’ Meetings |
A meeting notice (avis de réunion) is published in the Bulletin des annonces légales obligatoires (“BALO”) at least 35 days prior to a meeting and made available on the website of the company at least 21 days prior to the meeting. Additionally, a convening notice (avis de convocation) is published at least 15 days prior to the date of the meeting, in a legal announcement bulletin of the registered office department and in the BALO. Further, the holders of registered shares (actions nominatives) for at least a month at the time of the convening notice shall be summoned individually, by regular letter (or by registered letter if they request it and include an advance of expenses) sent to their last known address. This notice may also be transmitted by electronic means of telecommunication, in lieu of any such mailing, in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements. | Under Delaware law, unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or by-laws, written notice of any meeting of the stockholders must be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting not less than ten nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting and shall specify the place, date, hour, means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote, the record date for voting if it is different from the record date determining notice and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes of the meeting. | ||
| The meeting notice must also indicate the conditions under which the shareholders may vote by correspondence, the places and conditions in which they can obtain voting forms, and as the case may be, the e-mail address to which they may send written questions. | ||||
| Proxy | Each shareholder has the right to attend the meetings and participate in the discussions (i) personally, (ii) by granting proxy to any individual or legal entity of his choosing, (iii) by sending a proxy to the company without indication of the mandate (in which case such proxy shall be cast in favor of the resolutions supported by the board of directors), (iv) by voting by correspondence or (v) by videoconference or another means of telecommunication allowing identification in accordance with applicable laws. The | Under Delaware law, at any meeting of stockholders, a stockholder may designate another person to act for such stockholder by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. | ||
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| proxy is only valid for a single meeting or for successive meetings convened with the same agenda. It can also be granted for two meetings, one ordinary the other extraordinary, held on the same day or within a period of 15 days. | ||||
| Shareholder Action by Written Consent |
Under French law, shareholders’ action by written consent is not permitted in a société anonyme. | Under Delaware law, a corporation’s certificate of incorporation (i) may permit stockholders to act by written consent if such action is signed by all stockholders, (ii) may permit stockholders to act by written consent signed by stockholders having the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to take such action at a meeting or (iii) may prohibit actions by written consent. | ||
| Preferential Subscription Rights |
Under French law, in case of issuance of additional shares or other securities for cash or set-off against cash debts, the existing shareholders have preferential subscription rights to these securities on a pro rata basis unless such rights are waived by a two-thirds majority of the votes held by the shareholders present at the extraordinary meeting deciding or authorizing the capital increase, voting in person or represented by proxy or voting by mail. In case such rights are not waived by the extraordinary general meeting, each shareholder may individually either exercise, assign or not exercise its preferential subscription rights. | Under Delaware law, unless otherwise provided in a corporation’s certificate of incorporation, a stockholder does not, by operation of law, possess preemptive rights to subscribe to additional issuances of the corporation’s stock. | ||
| Sources of Dividends |
Under French law, dividends may only be paid by a French société anonyme out of “distributable profits,” plus any distributable reserves and “distributable premium” that the shareholders decide to make available for distribution, other than those reserves that are specifically required by-law. “Distributable profits” consist of the unconsolidated net profits of the relevant corporation for each fiscal year, as increased or reduced by any profit or loss carried forward from prior years, minus the amounts to be set aside to the statutory reserve (at least 5% of the profit until the reserve has reached 10% of the amount of the share capital) and to the reserve set forth in the company’s by-laws (if any).
“Distributable premium” refers to the contribution paid by the shareholders in |
Under Delaware law, dividends may be paid by a Delaware corporation either out of (i) surplus, as defined in and computed in accordance with Delaware law, or (ii) in case there is no surplus, out of its net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and/or the preceding fiscal year, except when the capital is diminished by depreciation in the value of its property, or by losses or otherwise, to an amount less than the aggregate amount of capital represented by issued and outstanding stock having a preference on the distribution of assets. | ||
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| addition to the par value of their shares for their subscription that the shareholders decide to make available for distribution.
Except in the case of a share capital reduction, no distribution can be made to the shareholders when the net equity is, or would become, lower than the amount of the share capital plus the reserves which cannot be distributed in accordance with the law or the by-laws. |
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| Repurchase of Shares |
Under French law, a corporation may acquire its own shares. Such acquisition may be challenged on the ground of market abuse regulations. However, MAR provides for safe harbor exemptions when the acquisition is made for the following purposes only:
to decrease its share capital, provided that such decision is not driven by losses and that a purchase offer is made to all shareholders on a pro rata basis, with the approval of the shareholders at the extraordinary general meeting deciding the capital reduction; or to meet obligations arising from debt securities, that are exchangeable into equity instruments.
with a view to distributing within one year of their repurchase the relevant shares to employees or managers under a profit-sharing, free share or share option plan; or
under a buy-back program to be authorized by the shareholders in accordance with the provisions of Article L. 22-10-62 of the French Commercial Code and in accordance with the general regulations of the AMF.
All other purposes, and especially share buy-backs for external growth operations by virtue of Article L. 22-10-62 of the French Commercial Code, while not forbidden, must be pursued in strict compliance of market manipulations and insider dealing rules. |
Under Delaware law, a corporation may generally redeem or repurchase shares of its stock unless the capital of the corporation is impaired or such redemption or repurchase would impair the capital of the corporation. | ||
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No such repurchase of shares may result in the company holding, directly or through a person acting on its behalf, more than 10% of its issued share capital.
Under MAR and in accordance with the General Regulations, a corporation shall report to the competent authority of the trading venue on which the shares have been admitted to trading or are traded, no later than by the end of the seventh daily market session following the date of the execution of the transaction, all the transactions relating to the buy-back program, in a detailed form and in an aggregated form. |
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| Liability of Directors and Officers |
Under French law, the by-laws may not include any provisions limiting the liability of directors. | Under Delaware law, a corporation’s certificate of incorporation may include a provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director or officer to the corporation and its stockholders for damages arising from a breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer. However, no provision can limit the liability of a director or officer for:
any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders;
acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;
intentional or negligent payment of unlawful dividends or stock purchases or redemptions;
a director approving and transaction from which the director or officer derives an improper personal benefit; or
an officer in any action by or in the right of the corporation. | ||
| Voting Rights | French law provides that, unless otherwise provided in the by-laws, each shareholder is entitled to one vote for each share of share capital held by such shareholder. Further, pursuant to the introduction of Law No. 2014-384 dated March 29, 2014 (Loi Florange), shares registered for more | Delaware law provides that, unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, each stockholder is entitled to one vote for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder. | ||
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| than two years in the name of the same shareholder are automatically be granted double voting rights from 2016, unless the by-laws expressly reject this measure. | ||||
| Shareholder Vote on Certain Transactions |
Generally, under French law, completion of a merger, dissolution or sale or exchange of all or substantially all of a corporation’s assets (apport partiel d’actifs) requires:
the approval of the board of directors; and
approval by a two-thirds majority of the votes held by the shareholders present, represented by proxy or voting by mail at the relevant meeting or, in the case of a merger with a non-EU company, approval of all shareholders of the corporation. |
Generally, under Delaware law, unless the certificate of incorporation provides for the vote of a larger portion of shares, completion of a merger, consolidation, sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of a corporation’s assets or dissolution requires:
the approval of the board of directors; and
approval by the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding stock or, if the certificate of incorporation provides for more or less than one vote per share, a majority of the votes of the outstanding stock of a corporation entitled to vote on the matter. | ||
| Dissent or Dissenters Appraisal Rights |
French law does not provide for any such right but provides that a merger is subject to shareholders’ approval by a two-thirds majority vote, as stated above. | Under Delaware law, a holder of shares of any class or series has the right, in specified circumstances, to dissent from a merger or consolidation by demanding payment in cash for the stockholder’s shares equal to the fair value of those shares, as determined by the Delaware Chancery Court in an action timely brought by the corporation or a dissenting stockholder. Delaware law grants these appraisal rights only in the case of mergers or consolidations and not in the case of a sale or transfer of assets or a purchase of assets for shares. Further, no appraisal rights are available for shares of any class or series that is listed on a national securities exchange or held of record by more than 2,000 stockholders, unless the agreement of merger or consolidation requires the holders to accept for their shares anything other than:
shares of stock of the surviving corporation;
shares of another corporation that are either listed on a national securities exchange or held of record by more than 2,000 stockholders;
cash in lieu of fractional shares of the stock described in the two preceding bullet points; or
any combination of the above. | ||
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In addition, appraisal rights are not available to holders of shares of the surviving corporation in specified mergers that do not require the vote of the stockholders of the surviving corporation. | ||||
| Standard of Conduct for Directors |
French law does not contain specific provisions setting forth the standard of conduct of a director. However, directors have a duty to act without self-interest, on a well-informed basis, and not to take any decision against a corporation’s corporate interest (intérêt social). | Delaware law does not contain specific provisions setting forth the standard of conduct of a director. The scope of the fiduciary duties of directors is generally determined by the courts of the State of Delaware. In general, directors have a duty to act without self-interest, on a well-informed basis and in a manner they reasonably believe to be in the best interest of the stockholders. | ||
| Shareholder Suits |
French law provides that a shareholder, or a group of shareholders, may initiate a legal action to seek indemnification from the directors of a corporation in the corporation’s interest if it fails to bring such legal action itself. If so, any damages awarded by the court are paid to the corporation and any legal fees relating to such action are borne by the relevant shareholder or the group of shareholders.
The plaintiff must remain a shareholder through the duration of the legal action.
There is no other case where shareholders may initiate a derivative action to enforce a right of a corporation.
A shareholder may alternatively or cumulatively bring individual legal action against the directors, provided he has suffered distinct damages from those suffered by the corporation. In this case, any damages awarded by the court are paid to the relevant shareholder. |
Under Delaware law, a stockholder may initiate a derivative action to enforce a right of a corporation if the corporation fails to enforce the right itself. The complaint must:
state that the plaintiff was a stockholder at the time of the transaction of which the plaintiff complains or that the plaintiff’s shares thereafter devolved on the plaintiff by operation of law; and
allege with particularity the efforts made by the plaintiff to obtain the action the plaintiff desires from the directors and the reasons for the plaintiff’s failure to obtain the action; or
state the reasons for not making the effort.
Additionally, the plaintiff must remain a stockholder through the duration of the derivative suit. The action will not be dismissed or compromised without the approval of the Delaware Court of Chancery. | ||
| Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation |
Unlike companies incorporated under Delaware law, the organizational documents, which comprise both a certificate of incorporation and by-laws, companies incorporated under French law only have by-laws (statuts) as organizational documents.
As indicated in the paragraph below, only the extraordinary shareholders’ meeting is |
Under Delaware law, generally a corporation may amend its certificate of incorporation if:
its board of directors has adopted a resolution setting forth the amendment proposed and declared its advisability; and
the amendment is adopted by the affirmative votes of a majority (or greater percentage as may be | ||
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| FRANCE |
DELAWARE | |||
| authorized under French law to adopt or amend the by-laws. | specified by the corporation) of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on the amendment and a majority (or greater percentage as may be specified by the corporation) of the outstanding shares of each class or series of stock, if any, entitled to vote on the amendment as a class or series. | |||
| Amendment of by-laws |
Under French law, only the extraordinary shareholders’ meeting is authorized to adopt or amend the by-laws (two-thirds majority). The extraordinary shareholders’ meeting may authorize the board of directors to amend the by-laws to comply with legal provisions, subject to the ratification of such amendments by the next extraordinary shareholders’ meeting. The board of directors is authorized to amend the by-laws as a result of a decision to relocate the company’s registered office in France, subject to ratification by the next ordinary shareholders’ meeting. | Under Delaware law, the stockholders entitled to vote have the power to adopt, amend or repeal by-laws. A corporation may also confer, in its certificate of incorporation, that power upon the board of directors. | ||
Legal Name; Formation; Registered Office
Our legal name and commercial name is Abivax SA. We were incorporated as a société anonyme (limited liability company) on December 4, 2013. Our headquarters are located at 7-11 boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris, France. We were registered at the Paris Trade and Company Register on December 27, 2013 for a period of 99 years until December 22, 2112, subject to extension or early dissolution, under the number 799 363 718. Our telephone number at our principal executive offices is +33 (0) 1 53 83 09 63. Our website address is www.abivax.com. The reference to our website is an inactive textual reference only and information contained in, or that can be assessed through, our website is not part of this prospectus.
Listing
Our ADSs are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “ABVX” and our ordinary shares are listed on Euronext Paris under the symbol “ABVX.”
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The depositary for our ADSs is Citibank, N.A. Uptevia is our transfer agent and registrar for our ordinary shares and currently maintains our share register for our ordinary shares. The share register reflects only record owners of our ordinary shares. Holders of our ADSs will not be treated as one of our shareholders and their names will therefore not be entered in our share register. The depositary, the custodian or their nominees will be the holder of the shares underlying the ADSs. Holders of our ADSs have a right to receive the ordinary shares underlying their ADSs. For discussion on our ADSs and ADS holder rights, see “Description of American Depositary Shares” in this prospectus.
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LIMITATIONS AFFECTING SHAREHOLDERS OF A FRENCH COMPANY
Ownership of ADSs by Non-French Residents
Neither the French Commercial Code nor our by-laws currently impose any restrictions on the right of non-French residents or non-French shareholders to own and vote shares. However, non-French residents must file a declaration for statistical purposes with the Bank of France (Banque de France) within 20 working days following the date of certain direct foreign investments in us, including any purchase of our ADSs. In particular, such filings are required in connection with investments exceeding 15,000,000 that lead to the acquisition of at least 10% of our share capital or voting rights or cross such 10% threshold. Violation of this filing requirement may be sanctioned by five years of imprisonment and a fine of up to twice the amount of the relevant investment. This amount may be increased fivefold if the violation is made by a legal entity.
Further, any investment:
(i) by (a) any non-French citizen, (b) any French citizen not residing in France, (c) any non-French entity or (d) any French entity controlled by one of the aforementioned persons or entities;
(ii) that will result in the relevant investor (a) acquiring control of an entity registered in France, (b) acquiring all or part of a business line of an entity registered in France, or (c) for non-EU or non-EEA investors crossing, directly or indirectly, alone or in concert, a 25% threshold of voting rights in an entity registered in France; and
(iii) developing activities in certain strategic industries related to (a) activity likely to prejudice national defense interests, participating in the exercise of official authority or are likely to prejudice public policy and public security (including weapons, double-use items, IT systems, cryptology, date capturing devices, gambling, toxic agents or storage of data), (b) activities relating to essential infrastructure, goods or services (including energy, water, transportation, space, telecom, public health, farm products, media, and critical raw materials), and (c) research and development activity related to critical technologies (including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, robotics, additive manufacturing, semiconductors, quantum technologies, energy storage, biotechnologies, low carbon energy or photonics) or dual-use items, is subject to the prior authorization of the French Ministry of Economy, which authorization may be conditioned on certain undertakings.
The Decree (décret) n° 2023-1293 of December 28, 2023 made permanent the temporary regime under Decree (décret) n° 2020-892 dated July 22, 2020, as amended on December 28, 2020 by the Decree (décret) n° 2020-1729, on December 22, 2021 by the Decree (décret) n° 2021-1758, and on December 23, 2022 by the Decree (décret) n° 2022-1622, creating a new 10% threshold of the voting rights for the non-European investments made (i) in an entity with its registered office in France and (ii) whose shares are admitted to trading on a French-, EU- or EEA-regulated market, in addition to the 25% above-mentioned threshold. A fast-track procedure shall apply for any non-European investor exceeding this 10% threshold who will have to notify the Minister of Economy who will then have 10 days to decide whether or not the transaction should be subject to further examination.
In the absence of such authorization, the relevant investment shall be deemed null and void. The relevant investor may be found criminally liable and may be sanctioned with a fine not to exceed the greater of the following amounts: (i) twice the amount of the relevant investment, (ii) 10% of the annual turnover before tax of the target company or (iii) 5 million (for a company) or 1 million (for an individual).
Foreign Exchange Controls
Under current French foreign exchange control regulations there are no limitations on the amount of cash payments that we may remit to residents of foreign countries. Laws and regulations concerning foreign exchange controls do, however, require that all payments or transfers of funds made by a French resident to a non-resident such as dividend payments be handled by an accredited intermediary. All registered banks and substantially all credit institutions in France are accredited intermediaries.
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Availability of Preferential Subscription Rights
While our current shareholders waived their preferential subscription rights with respect to certain offerings at a shareholders’ general meeting held on May 21, 2026, in the future our shareholders will have preferential subscription rights. Under French law, shareholders have preferential rights to subscribe for cash issues of new ordinary shares or other securities giving rights to acquire additional ordinary shares on a pro rata basis. Holders of our securities in the United States (which may be in the form of ordinary shares or ADSs) may not be able to exercise preferential subscription rights for their securities unless a registration statement under the Securities Act is effective with respect to such rights or an exemption from the registration requirements imposed by the Securities Act is available. We may, from time to time, issue new ordinary shares or other securities giving rights to acquire additional ordinary shares (such as warrants) at a time when no registration statement is in effect and no Securities Act exemption is available. If so, holders of our securities in the United States will be unable to exercise any preferential subscription rights and their interests will be diluted. We are under no obligation to file any registration statement in connection with any issuance of new ordinary shares or other securities. We intend to evaluate at the time of any rights offering the costs and potential liabilities associated with registering the rights, as well as the indirect benefits to us of enabling the exercise by holders of ADSs in the United States of the subscription rights, and any other factors we consider appropriate at the time, and then to make a decision as to whether to register the rights. We cannot assure you that we will file a registration statement.
For holders of our ordinary shares in the form of ADSs, the depositary may make these rights or other distributions available to ADS holders. If the depositary does not make the rights available to ADS holders and determines that it is impractical to sell the rights, it may allow these rights to lapse. In that case the holders will receive no value for them. The section of this prospectus titled “Description of American Depositary Shares” explains in detail the depositary’s responsibility in connection with a rights offering.
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DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
Citibank, N.A. (“Citibank”) is the depositary for the ADSs representing our ordinary shares. Citibank’s depositary offices are located at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013. ADSs represent ownership interests in securities that are on deposit with the depositary. ADSs may be represented by certificates that are commonly known as American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). The depositary typically appoints a custodian to safekeep the securities on deposit. In this case, the custodian is Citibank Europe plc, located at 1 North Wall Quay, Dublin 1 Ireland.
We have appointed Citibank as depositary pursuant to a deposit agreement. The form of the deposit agreement is on file with the SEC under cover of a registration statement on Form F-6. You may obtain a copy of the deposit agreement from the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). Please refer to registration number 333-274780 when retrieving such copy. The portions of this summary description that are italicized describe matters that may be relevant to the ownership of ADSs but that may not be contained in the deposit agreement.
We are providing you with a summary description of the material terms of the ADSs and of your material rights as an owner of ADSs. Please remember that summaries by their nature lack the precision of the information summarized and that the rights and obligations of an owner of ADSs will be determined by reference to the terms of the deposit agreement and not by this summary. We urge you to review the deposit agreement in its entirety.
Each ADS represents the right to receive, and to exercise the beneficial ownership interests in, one ordinary share that is on deposit with the depositary and/or custodian. An ADS also represents the right to receive, and to exercise the beneficial interests in, any other property received by the depositary or the custodian on behalf of the owner of the ADS but that has not been distributed to the owners of ADSs because of legal restrictions or practical considerations. We and the depositary may agree to change the ADS-to-ordinary shares ratio by amending the deposit agreement. This amendment may give rise to, or change, the depositary fees payable by ADS owners. The custodian, the depositary and their respective nominees will hold all deposited property for the benefit of the holders and beneficial owners of ADSs. The deposited property does not constitute the proprietary assets of the depositary, the custodian or their nominees. Beneficial ownership in the deposited property will under the terms of the deposit agreement be vested in the beneficial owners of the ADSs. The depositary, the custodian and their respective nominees will be the record holders of the deposited property represented by the ADSs for the benefit of the holders and beneficial owners of the corresponding ADSs. A beneficial owner of ADSs may or may not be the holder of ADSs. Beneficial owners of ADSs will be able to receive, and to exercise beneficial ownership interests in, the deposited property only through the registered holders of the ADSs, the registered holders of the ADSs (on behalf of the applicable ADS owners) only through the depositary, and the depositary (on behalf of the owners of the corresponding ADSs) directly, or indirectly, through the custodian or their respective nominees, in each case upon the terms of the deposit agreement.
If you become an owner of ADSs, you will become a party to the deposit agreement and therefore will be bound to its terms and to the terms of any ADR that represents your ADSs. The deposit agreement and the ADR specify our rights and obligations as well as your rights and obligations as an owner of ADSs and those of the depositary. As an ADS holder you appoint the depositary to act on your behalf in certain circumstances. The deposit agreement and the ADRs are governed by New York law. However, our obligations to the holders of ordinary shares will continue to be governed by the laws of France, which may be different from the laws in the United States.
In addition, applicable laws and regulations may require you to satisfy reporting requirements and obtain regulatory approvals in certain circumstances. You are solely responsible for complying with such reporting requirements and obtaining such approvals. Neither the depositary, the custodian, us or any of their or our respective agents or affiliates shall be required to take any actions whatsoever on your behalf to satisfy such reporting requirements or obtain such regulatory approvals under applicable laws and regulations.
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As an owner of ADSs, we will not treat you as one of our shareholders and you will not have direct shareholder rights. The depositary will hold on your behalf the shareholder rights attached to the ordinary shares underlying your ADSs. As an owner of ADSs, you will be able to exercise the shareholders rights for the ordinary shares represented by your ADSs through the depositary only to the extent contemplated in the deposit agreement. To exercise any shareholder rights not contemplated in the deposit agreement you will, as an ADS owner, need to arrange for the cancellation of your ADSs and become a direct shareholder.
As an owner of ADSs, you may hold your ADSs either by means of an ADR registered in your name, through a brokerage or safekeeping account, or through an account established by the depositary in your name reflecting the registration of uncertificated ADSs directly on the books of the depositary (commonly referred to as the “direct registration system” or “DRS”). The manner in which you own the ADSs (e.g., in a brokerage account vs. as registered holder, or as holder of certificated vs. uncertificated ADSs) may affect your rights and obligations, and the manner in which, and extent to which, the depositary’s services are made available to you. The direct registration system reflects the uncertificated (book-entry) registration of ownership of ADSs by the depositary. Under the direct registration system, ownership of ADSs is evidenced by periodic statements issued by the depositary to the holders of the ADSs. The direct registration system includes automated transfers between the depositary and The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), the central book-entry clearing and settlement system for equity securities in the United States. If you decide to hold your ADSs through your brokerage or safekeeping account, you must rely on the procedures of your broker or bank to assert your rights as ADS owner. Banks and brokers typically hold securities such as the ADSs through clearing and settlement systems such as DTC. The procedures of such clearing and settlement systems may limit your ability to exercise your rights as an owner of ADSs. Please consult with your broker or bank if you have any questions concerning these limitations and procedures. All ADSs held through DTC will be registered in the name of a nominee of DTC. This summary description assumes you have opted to own the ADSs directly by means of an ADS registered in your name and, as such, we will refer to you as the “holder.” When we refer to “you,” we assume the reader owns ADSs and will own ADSs at the relevant time.
The registration of the ordinary shares in the name of the depositary or the custodian shall, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, vest in the depositary or the custodian the record ownership in the applicable ordinary shares with the beneficial ownership rights and interests in such ordinary shares being at all times vested with the beneficial owners of the ADSs representing the ordinary shares. The depositary or the custodian shall at all times be entitled to exercise the beneficial ownership rights in all deposited property, in each case only on behalf of the holders and beneficial owners of the ADSs representing the deposited property.
Dividends and Distributions
As a holder of ADSs, you generally have the right to receive the distributions we make on the securities deposited with the custodian. Your receipt of these distributions may be limited, however, by practical considerations and legal limitations. Holders of ADSs will receive such distributions under the terms of the deposit agreement in proportion to the number of ADSs held as of the specified record date, after deduction of the applicable fees, taxes and expenses.
Distributions of Cash
Whenever we make a cash distribution for the securities on deposit with the custodian, we will deposit the funds with the custodian. Upon receipt of confirmation of the deposit of the requisite funds, the depositary will arrange for the funds received in a currency other than U.S. dollars to be converted into U.S. dollars and for the distribution of the U.S. dollars to the holders, subject to the laws and regulations of France.
The conversion into U.S. dollars will take place only if practicable and if the U.S. dollars are transferable to the United States. The depositary will apply the same method for distributing the proceeds of the sale of any property (such as undistributed rights) held by the custodian in respect of securities on deposit.
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The distribution of cash will be made net of the fees, expenses, taxes and governmental charges payable by holders under the terms of the deposit agreement. The depositary will hold any cash amounts it is unable to distribute in a non-interest bearing account for the benefit of the applicable holders and beneficial owners of ADSs until the distribution can be effected or the funds that the depositary holds must be escheated as unclaimed property in accordance with the laws of the relevant states of the United States.
Distributions of Shares
Whenever we make a free distribution of ordinary shares for the securities on deposit with the custodian, we will deposit the applicable number of ordinary shares with the custodian. Upon receipt of confirmation of such deposit, the depositary will either distribute to holders new ADSs representing the ordinary shares deposited or modify the ADS-to-ordinary shares ratio, in which case each ADS you hold will represent rights and interests in the additional ordinary shares so deposited. Only whole new ADSs will be distributed. Fractional entitlements will be sold and the proceeds of such sale will be distributed as in the case of a cash distribution.
The distribution of new ADSs or the modification of the ADS-to-ordinary shares ratio upon a distribution of ordinary shares will be made net of the fees, expenses, taxes and governmental charges payable by holders under the terms of the deposit agreement. In order to pay such taxes or governmental charges, the depositary may sell all or a portion of the new ordinary shares so distributed.
No such distribution of new ADSs will be made if it would violate a law (e.g., the U.S. securities laws) or if it is not operationally practicable. If the depositary does not distribute new ADSs as described above, it may sell the ordinary shares received upon the terms described in the deposit agreement and will distribute the proceeds of the sale as in the case of a distribution of cash.
Distributions of Rights
Whenever we intend to distribute rights to subscribe for additional ordinary shares, we will give prior notice to the depositary and we will assist the depositary in determining whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable to distribute rights to subscribe for additional ADSs to holders.
The depositary will establish procedures to distribute rights to subscribe for additional ADSs to holders and to enable such holders to exercise such rights if it is lawful and reasonably practicable to make the rights available to holders of ADSs, and if we provide all of the documentation contemplated in the deposit agreement (such as opinions to address the lawfulness of the transaction). You may have to pay fees, expenses, taxes and other governmental charges to subscribe for the new ADSs upon the exercise of your rights. The depositary is not obligated to establish procedures to facilitate the distribution and exercise by holders of rights to subscribe for new ordinary shares other than in the form of ADSs.
The depositary will not distribute the rights to you if:
| | We do not timely request that the rights be distributed to you or we request that the rights not be distributed to you; or |
| | We fail to deliver satisfactory documents to the depositary; or |
| | It is not reasonably practicable to distribute the rights. |
The depositary will sell the rights that are not exercised or not distributed if such sale is lawful and reasonably practicable. The proceeds of such sale will be distributed to holders as in the case of a cash distribution. If the depositary is unable to sell the rights, it will allow the rights to lapse.
Elective Distributions
Whenever we intend to distribute a dividend payable at the election of shareholders either in cash or in additional shares, we will give prior notice thereof to the depositary and will indicate whether we wish the elective
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distribution to be made available to you. In such case, we will assist the depositary in determining whether such distribution is lawful and reasonably practicable.
The depositary will make the election available to you only if it is reasonably practicable and if we have provided all of the documentation contemplated in the deposit agreement. In such case, the depositary will establish procedures to enable you to elect to receive either cash or additional ADSs, in each case as described in the deposit agreement.
If the election is not made available to you, you will receive either cash or additional ADSs, depending on what a shareholder in France would receive upon failing to make an election, as more fully described in the deposit agreement.
Other Distributions
Whenever we intend to distribute property other than cash, ordinary shares or rights to subscribe for additional ordinary shares, we will notify the depositary in advance and will indicate whether we wish such distribution to be made to you. If so, we will assist the depositary in determining whether such distribution to holders is lawful and reasonably practicable.
If it is reasonably practicable to distribute such property to you and if we provide to the depositary all of the documentation contemplated in the deposit agreement, the depositary will distribute the property to the holders in a manner it deems practicable.
The distribution will be made net of fees, expenses, taxes and governmental charges payable by holders under the terms of the deposit agreement. In order to pay such taxes and governmental charges, the depositary may sell all or a portion of the property received.
The depositary will not distribute the property to you and will sell the property if:
| | We do not request that the property be distributed to you or if we request that the property not be distributed to you; |
| | We do not deliver satisfactory documents to the depositary; or |
| | The depositary determines that all or a portion of the distribution to you is not reasonably practicable. |
The proceeds of such a sale will be distributed to holders as in the case of a cash distribution.
Redemption
Whenever we decide to redeem any of the securities on deposit with the custodian, we will notify the depositary in advance. If it is practicable and if we provide all of the documentation contemplated in the deposit agreement, the depositary will provide notice of the redemption to the holders.
The custodian will be instructed to surrender the shares being redeemed against payment of the applicable redemption price. The depositary will convert into U.S. dollars upon the terms of the deposit agreement the redemption funds received in a currency other than U.S. dollars and will establish procedures to enable holders to receive the net proceeds from the redemption upon surrender of their ADSs to the depositary. You may have to pay fees, expenses, taxes and other governmental charges upon the redemption of your ADSs. If less than all ADSs are being redeemed, the ADSs to be retired will be selected by lot or on a pro rata basis, as the depositary may determine.
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Changes Affecting Ordinary Shares
The ordinary shares held on deposit for your ADSs may change from time to time. For example, there may be a change in nominal or par value, split-up, cancellation, consolidation or any other reclassification of such ordinary shares or a recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale of our assets.
If any such change were to occur, your ADSs would, to the extent permitted by law and the deposit agreement, represent the right to receive the property received or exchanged in respect of the ordinary shares held on deposit. The depositary may in such circumstances deliver new ADSs to you, amend the deposit agreement, the ADRs and the applicable Registration Statement(s) on Form F-6, call for the exchange of your existing ADSs for new ADSs and take any other actions that are appropriate to reflect as to the ADSs the change affecting the Shares. If the depositary may not lawfully distribute such property to you, the depositary may sell such property and distribute the net proceeds to you as in the case of a cash distribution.
Issuance of ADSs upon Deposit of Ordinary Shares
Upon completion of an offering of ordinary shares pursuant to this prospectus, the ordinary shares being offered pursuant to the prospectus will be deposited by us with the custodian. Upon receipt of confirmation of such deposit, the depositary will issue ADSs pursuant to our instruction.
The depositary may create ADSs on your behalf if you or your broker deposit ordinary shares with the custodian. The depositary will deliver these ADSs to the person you indicate only after you pay any applicable issuance fees and any charges and taxes payable for the transfer of the ordinary shares to the custodian. Your ability to deposit ordinary shares and receive ADSs may be limited by U.S. and French legal considerations applicable at the time of deposit.
The issuance of ADSs may be delayed until the depositary or the custodian receives confirmation that all required approvals have been given and that the ordinary shares have been duly transferred to the custodian. The depositary will only issue ADSs in whole numbers.
When you make a deposit of ordinary shares, you will be responsible for transferring good and valid title to the depositary. As such, you will be deemed to represent and warrant that:
| | The ordinary shares are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable and legally obtained. |
| | All preemptive (and similar) rights, if any, with respect to such ordinary shares have been validly waived or exercised. |
| | You are duly authorized to deposit the ordinary shares. |
| | The ordinary shares presented for deposit are free and clear of any lien, encumbrance, security interest, charge, mortgage or adverse claim, and are not, and the ADSs issuable upon such deposit will not be, “restricted securities” (as defined in the deposit agreement). |
| | The ordinary shares presented for deposit have not been stripped of any rights or entitlements. |
If any of the representations or warranties are incorrect in any way, we and the depositary may, at your cost and expense, take any and all actions necessary to correct the consequences of the misrepresentations.
Transfer, Combination, and Split Up of ADRs
As an ADR holder, you will be entitled to transfer, combine or split up your ADRs and the ADSs evidenced thereby. For transfers of ADRs, you will have to surrender the ADRs to be transferred to the depositary and also must:
| | ensure that the surrendered ADR is properly endorsed or otherwise in proper form for transfer; |
| | provide such proof of identity and genuineness of signatures as the depositary deems appropriate; |
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| | provide any transfer stamps required by the State of New York or the United States; and |
| | pay all applicable fees, charges, expenses, taxes and other government charges payable by ADR holders pursuant to the terms of the deposit agreement, upon the transfer of ADRs. |
To have your ADRs either combined or split up, you must surrender the ADRs in question to the depositary with your request to have them combined or split up, and you must pay all applicable fees, charges and expenses payable by ADR holders, pursuant to the terms of the deposit agreement, upon a combination or split up of ADRs.
Withdrawal of Ordinary Shares Upon Cancellation of ADSs
As a holder, you will be entitled to present your ADSs to the depositary for cancellation and then receive the corresponding number of underlying ordinary shares at the custodian’s offices. Your ability to withdraw the ordinary shares held in respect of the ADSs may be limited by U.S. and French legal considerations applicable at the time of withdrawal. In order to withdraw the ordinary shares represented by your ADSs, you will be required to pay to the depositary the fees for cancellation of ADSs and any charges and taxes payable upon the transfer of the ordinary shares. You assume the risk for delivery of all funds and securities upon withdrawal. Once canceled, the ADSs will not have any rights under the deposit agreement.
If you hold ADSs registered in your name, the depositary may ask you to provide proof of identity and genuineness of any signature and such other documents as the depositary may deem appropriate before it will cancel your ADSs. The withdrawal of the ordinary shares represented by your ADSs may be delayed until the depositary receives satisfactory evidence of compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Please keep in mind that the depositary will only accept ADSs for cancellation that represent a whole number of securities on deposit.
You will have the right to withdraw the securities represented by your ADSs at any time except for:
| | Temporary delays that may arise because (i) the transfer books for the ordinary shares or ADSs are closed, or (ii) ordinary shares are immobilized on account of a shareholders’ meeting or a payment of dividends. |
| | Obligations to pay fees, taxes and similar charges. |
| | Restrictions imposed because of laws or regulations applicable to ADSs or the withdrawal of securities on deposit. |
The deposit agreement may not be modified to impair your right to withdraw the securities represented by your ADSs except to comply with mandatory provisions of law.
Voting Rights
As a holder, you generally have the right under the deposit agreement to instruct the depositary to exercise the voting rights for the ordinary shares represented by your ADSs. The voting rights of holders of ordinary shares are described in the sections of this prospectus entitled “Description of Share Capital” and “Limitations Affecting Shareholders of a French Company.”
At our request, the depositary will distribute to you any notice of shareholders’ meeting received from us together with information explaining how to instruct the depositary to exercise the voting rights of the securities represented by ADSs. In lieu of distributing such materials, the depositary may distribute to holders of ADSs instructions on how to retrieve such materials upon request.
If the depositary timely receives voting instructions from a holder of ADSs, it will endeavor to vote the securities (in person or by proxy) represented by the holder’s ADSs in accordance with such voting instructions.
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Securities for which no voting instructions have been received will not be voted (except as otherwise contemplated in the deposit agreement). Please note that the ability of the depositary to carry out voting instructions may be limited by practical and legal limitations and the terms of the securities on deposit. We cannot assure you that you will receive voting materials in time to enable you to return voting instructions to the depositary in a timely manner.
Fees and Charges
As an ADS holder, you will be required to pay the following fees under the terms of the deposit agreement:
| Service |
Fees | |
| Issuance of ADSs (e.g., an issuance of ADS upon a deposit of ordinary shares, upon a change in the ADS(s)-to-ordinary share ratio, or for any other reason), excluding ADS issuances as a result of distributions of ordinary shares | Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS issued | |
| Cancellation of ADSs (e.g., a cancellation of ADSs for delivery of deposited property, upon a change in the ADS(s)-to ordinary share ratio, or for any other reason) | Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS cancelled | |
| Distribution of cash dividends or other cash distributions (e.g., upon a sale of rights and other entitlements) | Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS held | |
| Distribution of ADSs pursuant to (i) share dividends or other free share distributions, or (ii) exercise of rights to purchase additional ADSs | Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS held | |
| Distribution of securities other than ADSs or rights to purchase additional ADSs (e.g., upon a spin-off) | Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS held | |
| ADS Services | Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS held on the applicable record date(s) established by the depositary | |
| Registration of ADS transfers (e.g., upon a registration of the transfer of registered ownership of ADSs, upon a transfer of ADSs into DTC and vice versa, or for any other reason) | Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS (or fraction thereof) transferred | |
| Conversion of ADSs of one series for ADSs of another series (e.g., upon conversion of Partial Entitlement ADSs for Full Entitlement ADSs, or upon conversion of Restricted ADSs (each as defined in the Deposit Agreement) into freely transferable ADSs, and vice versa). | Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS (or fraction thereof) converted | |
As an ADS holder, you will also be responsible to pay certain charges such as:
| | taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) and other governmental charges; |
| | the registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the registration of ordinary shares on the share register and applicable to transfers of ordinary shares to or from the name of the custodian, the depositary or any nominees upon the making of deposits and withdrawals, respectively; |
| | certain cable, telex and facsimile transmission and delivery expenses; |
| | the fees, expenses, spreads, taxes and other charges of the depositary and/or service providers (which may be a division, branch or affiliate of the depositary) in the conversion of foreign currency; |
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| | the reasonable and customary out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the depositary in connection with compliance with exchange control regulations and other regulatory requirements applicable to ordinary shares, ADSs and ADRs; and |
| | the fees, charges, costs and expenses incurred by the depositary, the custodian, or any nominee in connection with the ADR program. |
ADS fees and charges for (i) the issuance of ADSs, and (ii) the cancellation of ADSs are charged to the person for whom the ADSs are issued (in the case of ADS issuances) and to the person for whom ADSs are cancelled (in the case of ADS cancellations). In the case of ADSs issued by the depositary into DTC, the ADS issuance and cancellation fees and charges may be deducted from distributions made through DTC, and may be charged to the DTC participant(s) receiving the ADSs being issued or the DTC participant(s) holding the ADSs being cancelled, as the case may be, on behalf of the beneficial owner(s) and will be charged by the DTC participant(s) to the account of the applicable beneficial owner(s) in accordance with the procedures and practices of the DTC participants as in effect at the time. ADS fees and charges in respect of distributions and the ADS service fee are charged to the holders as of the applicable ADS record date. In the case of distributions of cash, the amount of the applicable ADS fees and charges is deducted from the funds being distributed. In the case of (i) distributions other than cash and (ii) the ADS service fee, holders as of the ADS record date will be invoiced for the amount of the ADS fees and charges and such ADS fees and charges may be deducted from distributions made to holders of ADSs. For ADSs held through DTC, the ADS fees and charges for distributions other than cash and the ADS service fee may be deducted from distributions made through DTC, and may be charged to the DTC participants in accordance with the procedures and practices prescribed by DTC and the DTC participants in turn charge the amount of such ADS fees and charges to the beneficial owners for whom they hold ADSs. In the case of (i) registration of ADS transfers, the ADS transfer fee will be payable by the ADS holder whose ADSs are being transferred or by the person to whom the ADSs are transferred, and (ii) conversion of ADSs of one series for ADSs of another series, the ADS conversion fee will be payable by the Holder whose ADSs are converted or by the person to whom the converted ADSs are delivered.
In the event of refusal to pay the depositary fees, the depositary may, under the terms of the deposit agreement, refuse the requested service until payment is received or may set off the amount of the depositary fees from any distribution to be made to the ADS holder. Certain depositary fees and charges (such as the ADS services fee) may become payable shortly after the closing of an offering of ADSs pursuant to this prospectus. Note that the fees and charges you may be required to pay may vary over time and may be changed by us and by the depositary. You will receive prior notice of such changes. The depositary may reimburse us for certain expenses incurred by us in respect of the ADR program, by making available a portion of the ADS fees charged in respect of the ADR program or otherwise, upon such terms and conditions as we and the depositary agree from time to time.
Amendments and Termination
We may agree with the depositary to modify the deposit agreement at any time without your consent. We undertake to give holders of ADSs 30 days’ prior notice of any modifications that would materially prejudice any of their substantial rights under the deposit agreement. We will not consider to be materially prejudicial to your substantial rights any modifications or supplements that are reasonably necessary for the ADSs to be registered under the Securities Act or to be eligible for book-entry settlement, in each case without imposing or increasing the fees and charges you are required to pay. In addition, we may not be able to provide you with prior notice of any modifications or supplements that are required to accommodate compliance with applicable provisions of law.
You will be bound by the modifications to the deposit agreement if you continue to hold your ADSs after the modifications to the deposit agreement become effective. The deposit agreement cannot be amended to prevent you from withdrawing the ordinary shares represented by your ADSs (except as permitted by law).
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We have the right to direct the depositary to terminate the deposit agreement. Similarly, the depositary may in certain circumstances on its own initiative terminate the deposit agreement. In either case, the depositary must give notice to the holders at least 30 days before termination. Until termination, your rights under the deposit agreement will be unaffected.
After termination, the depositary will continue to collect distributions received (but will not distribute any such property until you request the cancellation of your ADSs) and may sell the securities held on deposit. After the sale, the depositary will hold the proceeds from such sale and any other funds then held for the holders of ADSs in a non-interest bearing account. At that point, the depositary will have no further obligations to holders other than to account for the funds then held for the holders of ADSs still outstanding (after deduction of applicable fees, taxes and expenses).
In connection with any termination of the deposit agreement, the depositary may make available to owners of ADSs a means to withdraw the ordinary shares represented by ADSs and to direct the depositary of such ordinary shares into an unsponsored American depositary share program established by the depositary. The ability to receive unsponsored American depositary shares upon termination of the deposit agreement would be subject to satisfaction of certain U.S. regulatory requirements applicable to the creation of unsponsored American depositary shares and the payment of applicable depositary fees.
Books of Depositary
The depositary will maintain ADS holder records at its depositary office. You may inspect such records at such office during regular business hours but solely for the purpose of communicating with other holders in the interest of business matters relating to the ADSs and the deposit agreement.
The depositary will maintain in New York facilities to record and process the issuance, cancellation, combination, split-up and transfer of ADSs. These facilities may be closed from time to time, to the extent not prohibited by law.
Transmission of Notices, Reports and Proxy Soliciting Material
The depositary will make available for your inspection at its office all communications that it receives from us as a holder of deposited securities that we make generally available to holders of deposited securities. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, the depositary will also provide to you copies of those communications or otherwise make those communications available to you if we ask it to.
Limitations on Obligations and Liabilities
The deposit agreement limits our obligations and the depositary’s obligations to you. Please note the following:
| | We and the depositary are obligated only to take the actions specifically stated in the deposit agreement without negligence or bad faith. |
| | The depositary disclaims any liability for any failure to carry out voting instructions, for any manner in which a vote is cast or for the effect of any vote, provided it acts in good faith and in accordance with the terms of the deposit agreement. |
| | The depositary disclaims any liability for any failure to accurately determine the lawfulness or practicality of any action, for the content of any document forwarded to you on our behalf or for the accuracy of any translation of such a document, for the investment risks associated with investing in ordinary shares, for the validity or worth of the ordinary shares, for any tax consequences that result from the ownership of ADSs or other deposited property, for the credit-worthiness of any third party, for allowing any rights to lapse under the terms of the deposit agreement, for the timeliness of any of our notices or for our failure to give notice or for any act or omission of or information provided by DTC or any DTC participant. |
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| | The depositary shall not be liable for acts or omissions of any successor depositary in connection with any matter arising wholly after the resignation or removal of the depositary. |
| | We and the depositary will not be obligated to perform any act that is inconsistent with the terms of the deposit agreement. |
| | We and the depositary disclaim any liability if we or the depositary are prevented or forbidden from or subject to any civil or criminal penalty or restraint on account of, or delayed in, doing or performing any act or thing required by the terms of the deposit agreement, by reason of any provision, present or future of any law or regulation including regulations of any stock exchange, or by reason of present or future provision of any provision of our by-laws, or any provision of or governing the securities on deposit, or by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstances beyond our control. |
| | We and the depositary disclaim any liability by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in the deposit agreement or in our by-laws or in any provisions of or governing the securities on deposit. |
| | We and the depositary further disclaim any liability for any action or inaction in reliance on the advice or information received from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Shares for deposit, any holder of ADSs or authorized representatives thereof, or any other person believed by either of us in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information. |
| | We and the depositary also disclaim liability for the inability by a holder or beneficial holder to benefit from any distribution, offering, right or other benefit that is made available to holders of ordinary shares but is not, under the terms of the deposit agreement, made available to you. |
| | We and the depositary may rely without any liability upon any written notice, request or other document believed to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper parties. |
| | We and the depositary also disclaim liability for any consequential or punitive damages for any breach of the terms of the deposit agreement. |
| | No disclaimer of any Securities Act liability is intended by any provision of the deposit agreement. |
Nothing in the deposit agreement gives rise to a partnership or joint venture, or establishes a fiduciary relationship, among us, the depositary and you as ADS holder.
Nothing in the deposit agreement precludes Citibank (or its affiliates) from engaging in transactions in which parties adverse to us or the ADS owners have interests, and nothing in the deposit agreement obligates Citibank to disclose those transactions, or any information obtained in the course of those transactions, to us or to the ADS owners, or to account for any payment received as part of those transactions.
As the above limitations relate to our obligations and the depositary’s obligations to you under the deposit agreement, we believe that, as a matter of construction of the clause, such limitations would likely to continue to apply to ADS holders who withdraw the ordinary shares from the ADS facility with respect to obligations or liabilities incurred under the deposit agreement before the cancellation of the ADSs and the withdrawal of the ordinary shares, and such limitations would most likely not apply to ADS holders who withdraw the ordinary shares from the ADS facility with respect to obligations or liabilities incurred after the cancellation of the ADSs and the withdrawal of the ordinary shares and not under the deposit agreement. In any event, you will not be deemed, by agreeing to the terms of the deposit agreement, to have waived our or the depositary’s compliance with U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. In fact, you cannot waive our or the depositary’s compliance with U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
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Taxes
You will be responsible for the taxes and other governmental charges payable on the ADSs and the securities represented by the ADSs. We, the depositary and the custodian may deduct from any distribution the taxes and governmental charges payable by holders and may sell any and all property on deposit to pay the taxes and governmental charges payable by holders. You will be liable for any deficiency if the sale proceeds do not cover the taxes that are due.
The depositary may refuse to issue ADSs, to deliver, transfer, split and combine ADRs or to release securities on deposit until all taxes and charges are paid by the applicable holder. The depositary and the custodian may take reasonable administrative actions to obtain tax refunds and reduced tax withholding for any distributions on your behalf. However, you may be required to provide to the depositary and to the custodian proof of taxpayer status and residence and such other information as the depositary and the custodian may require to fulfill legal obligations. You are required to indemnify us, the depositary and the custodian for any claims with respect to taxes based on any tax benefit obtained for you.
Foreign Currency Conversion
The depositary will arrange for the conversion of all foreign currency received into U.S. dollars if such conversion is practical, and it will distribute the U.S. dollars in accordance with the terms of the deposit agreement. You may have to pay fees and expenses incurred in converting foreign currency, such as fees and expenses incurred in complying with currency exchange controls and other governmental requirements.
If the conversion of foreign currency is not practical or lawful, or if any required approvals are denied or not obtainable at a reasonable cost or within a reasonable period, the depositary may take the following actions in its discretion:
| | Convert the foreign currency to the extent practical and lawful and distribute the U.S. dollars to the holders for whom the conversion and distribution is lawful and practical. |
| | Distribute the foreign currency to holders for whom the distribution is lawful and practical. |
| | Hold the foreign currency (without liability for interest) for the applicable holders. |
Governing Law/Waiver of Jury Trial
The deposit agreement, the ADRs and the ADSs will be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. The rights of holders of ordinary shares (including ordinary shares represented by ADSs) are governed by the laws of France.
As an owner of ADSs, you irrevocably agree that any legal action arising out of the Deposit Agreement, the ADSs or the ADRs involving us or the Depositary may only be instituted in a state or federal court in the city of New York and irrevocably waive any objection to the laying of venue in, and irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of, such courts in any such legal action.
AS A PARTY TO THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT, YOU IRREVOCABLY WAIVE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, YOUR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT OR THE ADRs AGAINST US AND/OR THE DEPOSITARY.
The deposit agreement provides that, to the extent permitted by law, ADS holders waive the right to a jury trial of any claim they may have against us or the depositary arising out of or relating to our ordinary shares, the ADSs or the deposit agreement, including any claim under U.S. federal securities laws. If we or the depositary opposed a jury trial demand based on the waiver, the court would determine whether the waiver was enforceable in the facts and circumstances of that case in accordance with applicable case law. However, you will not be deemed, by agreeing to the terms of the deposit agreement, to have waived our or the depositary’s compliance with U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
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Warrants (bons de souscription d’actions) may be offered separately or together with ordinary shares or ADSs. Each series of warrants will be issued under any separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and one or more purchasers of such warrants. The applicable prospectus supplement will include details of the warrant agreements and terms and conditions covering the warrants being offered.
The particular terms of each issue or series of warrants will be described in the related prospectus supplement. If warrants for the purchase of ordinary shares or ADSs are offered, the description will include, where applicable:
| | the designation and aggregate number of warrants offered; |
| | the price at which the warrants will be offered; |
| | the currency or currency unit in which the warrants are denominated; |
| | the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and the date on which the right will expire; |
| | the number of ordinary shares or ADSs that may be purchased upon exercise of each warrant and the price at which and currency or currencies in which that amount of ordinary shares or ADSs may be purchased upon exercise of each warrant; |
| | the date or dates, if any, on or after which the warrants and the related ordinary shares or ADSs will be transferable separately; |
| | the minimum or maximum amount, if any, of warrants that may be exercised at any one time; |
| | whether the warrants will be subject to redemption or call, and, if so, the terms of such redemption or call provisions; and |
| | any other terms, conditions and rights (or limitations on such rights) of the warrants. |
We reserve the right to set forth in a prospectus supplement or applicable free writing prospectus specific terms of the warrants that are not within the options and parameters set forth in this prospectus. In addition, to the extent that any particular terms and conditions of the warrants described in a prospectus supplement or applicable free writing prospectus differ from any of the terms described in this prospectus, the description of such terms and conditions set forth in this prospectus shall be deemed to have been superseded or supplemented by the description of such differing terms and conditions set forth in such prospectus supplement or applicable free writing prospectus with respect to such warrants.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
We may issue debt securities from time to time, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any debt securities that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any debt securities offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. Unless the context requires otherwise, whenever we refer to the indenture, we also are referring to any supplemental indentures that specify the terms of a particular series of debt securities.
We will issue the debt securities under the indenture that we will enter into with the trustee named in the indenture. The indenture will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”). We have filed the form of indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and supplemental indentures and forms of debt securities containing the terms of the debt securities 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.
The following summary of material provisions of the debt securities and the indenture is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indenture applicable to a particular series of debt securities. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements and any related free writing prospectuses related to the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as the complete indenture that contains the terms of the debt securities.
General
The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue. It provides that we may issue debt securities up to the principal amount that we may authorize and may be in any currency or currency unit that we may designate. Except for the limitations on consolidation, merger and sale of all or substantially all of our assets contained in the indenture, the terms of the indenture do not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to give holders of any debt securities protection against changes in our operations, financial condition or transactions involving us.
We may issue the debt securities issued under the indenture as “discount securities,” which means they may be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. These debt securities, as well as other debt securities that are not issued at a discount, may be issued with “original issue discount,” or OID, for U.S. federal income tax purposes because of interest payment and other characteristics or terms of the debt securities. Material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities issued with OID will be described in more detail in any applicable prospectus supplement.
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of debt securities being offered, including:
| | the title of the series of debt securities; |
| | any limit upon the aggregate principal amount that may be issued; |
| | the maturity date or dates; |
| | the form of the debt securities of the series; |
| | the applicability of any guarantees; |
| | whether or not the debt securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt; |
| | whether the debt securities rank as senior debt, senior subordinated debt, subordinated debt or any combination thereof, and the terms of any subordination; |
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| | if the price (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount thereof) at which such debt securities will be issued is a price other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount thereof payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof, or if applicable, the portion of the principal amount of such debt securities that is convertible into another security or the method by which any such portion shall be determined; |
| | the interest rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, or the method for determining the rate and the date interest will begin to accrue, the dates interest will be payable and the regular record dates for interest payment dates or the method for determining such dates; |
| | our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period; |
| | if applicable, the date or dates after which, or the period or periods during which, and the price or prices at which, we may, at our option, redeem the series of debt securities pursuant to any optional or provisional redemption provisions and the terms of those redemption provisions; |
| | the date or dates, if any, on which, and the price or prices at which we are obligated, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund or analogous fund provisions or otherwise, to redeem, or at the holder’s option to purchase, the series of debt securities and the currency or currency unit in which the debt securities are payable; |
| | the denominations in which we will issue the series of debt securities, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof; |
| | any and all terms, if applicable, relating to any auction or remarketing of the debt securities of that series and any security for our obligations with respect to such debt securities and any other terms which may be advisable in connection with the marketing of debt securities of that series; |
| | whether the debt securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a global security or securities; the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such global security or securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual securities; and the depositary for such global security or securities; |
| | if applicable, the provisions relating to conversion or exchange of any debt securities of the series and the terms and conditions upon which such debt securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, including the conversion or exchange price, as applicable, or how it will be calculated and may be adjusted, any mandatory or optional (at our option or the holders’ option) conversion or exchange features, the applicable conversion or exchange period and the manner of settlement for any conversion or exchange; |
| | if other than the full principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of debt securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof; |
| | additions to or changes in the covenants applicable to the particular debt securities being issued, including, among others, the consolidation, merger or sale covenant; |
| | additions to or changes in the events of default with respect to the securities and any change in the right of the trustee or the holders to declare the principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, with respect to such securities to be due and payable; |
| | additions to or changes in or deletions of the provisions relating to covenant defeasance and legal defeasance; |
| | additions to or changes in the provisions relating to satisfaction and discharge of the indenture; |
| | additions to or changes in the provisions relating to the modification of the indenture both with and without the consent of holders of debt securities issued under the indenture; |
| | the currency of payment of debt securities if other than U.S. dollars and the manner of determining the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars; |
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| | whether interest will be payable in cash or additional debt securities at our or the holders’ option and the terms and conditions upon which the election may be made; |
| | the terms and conditions, if any, upon which we will pay amounts in addition to the stated interest, premium, if any and principal amounts of the debt securities of the series to any holder in certain circumstances; |
| | any restrictions on transfer, sale or assignment of the debt securities of the series; and |
| | any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities, any other additions or changes in the provisions of the indenture, and any terms that may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations. |
Conversion or Exchange Rights
We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock or our other securities. We will include provisions as to settlement upon conversion or exchange and whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option. We may include provisions pursuant to which the number of shares of our common stock or our other securities that the holders of the series of debt securities receive would be subject to adjustment.
Consolidation, Merger or Sale
Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the indenture will not contain any covenant that restricts our ability to merge or consolidate, or sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of our assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety. However, any successor to or acquirer of such assets (other than a subsidiary of ours) must assume all of our obligations under the indenture or the debt securities, as appropriate.
Events of Default under the Indenture
Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the following are events of default under the indenture with respect to any series of debt securities that we may issue:
| | if we fail to pay any installment of interest on any series of debt securities, as and when the same shall become due and payable, and such default continues for a period of 90 days; provided, however, that a valid extension of an interest payment period by us in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental thereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose; |
| | if we fail to pay the principal of, or premium, if any, on any series of debt securities as and when the same shall become due and payable whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise, or in any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to such series; provided, however, that a valid extension of the maturity of such debt securities in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental thereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any; |
| | if we fail to observe or perform any other covenant or agreement contained in the debt securities or the indenture, other than a covenant specifically relating to another series of debt securities, and our failure continues for 90 days after we receive written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied and stating that such is a notice of default thereunder, from the trustee or holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series; and |
| | if specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur. |
If an event of default with respect to debt securities of any series occurs and is continuing, other than an event of default specified in the last bullet point above, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal
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amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, by notice to us in writing, and to the trustee if notice is given by such holders, may declare the unpaid principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, due and payable immediately. If an event of default specified in the last bullet point above occurs with respect to us, the principal amount of and accrued interest, if any, of each issue of debt securities then outstanding shall be due and payable without any notice or other action on the part of the trustee or any holder.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of an affected series may waive any default or event of default with respect to the series and its consequences, except defaults or events of default regarding payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, unless we have cured the default or event of default in accordance with the indenture. Any waiver shall cure the default or event of default.
If an event of default under an indenture shall occur and be continuing, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under such indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the applicable series of debt securities, unless such holders have offered, and, if requested, provided the trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the trustee. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee, with respect to the debt securities of that series, provided that:
| | the direction so given by the holder is not in conflict with any law or the applicable indenture; and |
| | subject to its duties under the Trust Indenture Act, the trustee need not take any action that might involve it in personal liability or might be unduly prejudicial to the holders not involved in the proceeding (it being understood that the trustee shall have no obligation to determine whether any action is prejudicial to the holders). |
A holder of the debt securities of any series will have the right to institute a proceeding under the indenture or to appoint a receiver or trustee, or to seek other remedies only if:
| | the holder has given written notice to the trustee of a continuing event of default with respect to that series; |
| | the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request, |
| | such holders have offered and, if requested, provided to the trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred by the trustee in compliance with the request; and |
| | the trustee does not institute the proceeding, and does not receive from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series other conflicting directions within 90 days after the notice, request and offer. |
These limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder of debt securities if we default in the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on, the debt securities.
We will periodically file statements with the trustee regarding our compliance with specified covenants in the indenture.
Modification of Indenture; Waiver
We and the trustee may change an indenture without the consent of any holders with respect to specific matters:
| | to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture or in the debt securities of any series; |
| | to comply with the provisions described above under “Description of Debt Securities—Consolidation, Merger or Sale;” |
| | to provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities; |
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| | to add to our covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions such new covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of debt securities, to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and the continuance, of a default in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an event of default or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us in the indenture; |
| | to add to, delete from or revise the conditions, limitations, and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms, or purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of debt securities, as set forth in the indenture; |
| | to make any change that does not adversely affect the interests of any holder of debt securities of any series in any material respect; |
| | to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the debt securities of any series as provided above under “Description of Debt Securities—General” to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of the indenture or any series of debt securities, or to add to the rights of the holders of any series of debt securities; |
| | to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment under any indenture by a successor trustee; or |
| | to comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection with the qualification of any indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. |
In addition, under the indenture, the rights of holders of a series of debt securities may be changed by us and the trustee with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series that is affected. However, unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, we and the trustee may make the following changes only with the consent of each holder of any outstanding debt securities affected:
| | extending the fixed maturity of any debt securities of any series; |
| | reducing the principal amount, reducing the rate of or extending the time of payment of interest, or reducing any premium payable upon the redemption of any series of any debt securities; or |
| | reducing the percentage of debt securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any amendment, supplement, modification or waiver. |
Discharge
Each indenture provides that we can elect to be discharged from our obligations with respect to one or more series of debt securities, except for specified obligations, including obligations to:
| | provide for payment; |
| | register the transfer or exchange of debt securities of the series; |
| | replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities of the series; |
| | pay principal of and premium and interest on any debt securities of the series; |
| | maintain paying agencies; |
| | hold monies for payment in trust; |
| | recover excess money held by the trustee; |
| | compensate and indemnify the trustee; and |
| | appoint any successor trustee. |
In order to exercise our rights to be discharged, we must deposit with the trustee money or government obligations sufficient to pay all the principal of, any premium, if any, and interest on, the debt securities of the series on the dates payments are due.
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Form, Exchange and Transfer
We will issue the debt securities of each series only in fully registered form without coupons and, unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. The indenture provides that we may issue debt securities of a series in temporary or permanent global form and as book-entry securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of DTC or another depositary named by us and identified in the applicable prospectus supplement with respect to that series. To the extent the debt securities of a series are issued in global form and as book-entry, a description of terms relating to any book-entry securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
At the option of the holder, subject to the terms of the indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the holder of the debt securities of any series can exchange the debt securities for other debt securities of the same series, in any authorized denomination and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.
Subject to the terms of the indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the debt securities may present the debt securities for exchange or for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed if so required by us or the security registrar, at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us for this purpose. Unless otherwise provided in the debt securities that the holder presents for transfer or exchange, we will impose no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange, but we may require payment of any taxes or other governmental charges.
We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement the security registrar, and any transfer agent in addition to the security registrar, that we initially designate for any debt securities. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of each series.
If we elect to redeem the debt securities of any series, we and the trustee will not be required to:
| | issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any debt securities of that series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any debt securities that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing; or |
| | register the transfer of or exchange any debt securities so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any debt securities we are redeeming in part. |
Information Concerning the Trustee
The trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of an event of default under an indenture, undertakes to perform only those duties as are specifically set forth in the applicable indenture. Upon an event of default under an indenture, the trustee must use the same degree of care as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers given it by the indenture at the request of any holder of debt securities unless it is offered, and, if requested, provided security and indemnity satisfactory to the trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities that it might incur.
Payment and Paying Agents
Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make payment of the interest on any debt securities on any interest payment date to the person in whose name the debt securities, or one or more predecessor securities, are registered at the close of business on the regular record date for the interest.
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We will pay principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities of a particular series at the office of the paying agents designated by us, except that unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make interest payments by check that we will mail to the holder or by wire transfer to certain holders. Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will designate the corporate trust office of the trustee as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series. We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement any other paying agents that we initially designate for the debt securities of a particular series. We will maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.
Subject to applicable abandoned property law, all money we pay to a paying agent or the trustee for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holder of the debt security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof.
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is applicable.
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Unless the applicable prospectus supplement indicates otherwise, the validity of our ordinary shares, including ordinary shares represented by the ADSs, and certain other matters governed by French law will be passed on for us by Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (Europe) LLP, Paris, France. Unless otherwise indicated in any prospectus supplement, Cooley LLP, New York, New York, will be representing us in regards to certain matters governed by U.S. law in connection with any offering. Additional legal matters may be passed upon for any underwriters, dealers or agents by counsel that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2025 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
The offices of PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit are located at 63, rue de Villiers, 92208 Neuilly-sur-Seine, France.
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ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
We are a société anonyme, organized under the laws of France. The majority of our directors and officers are residents of countries other than the United States, and the majority of our assets are located outside of the United States. We have appointed an agent for service of process in the United States.
Accordingly, U.S. investors may find it difficult and may be unable:
| | to obtain jurisdiction over us or our non-U.S. resident officers and directors in U.S. courts in actions predicated on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws; |
| | to enforce judgments obtained in such actions against us or our non-U.S. resident officers and directors; |
| | to bring an original action in a French court to enforce liabilities based upon the U.S. federal securities laws against us or our officers or directors; and |
| | to enforce against us or our officers or directors in non-U.S. courts, including French courts, judgments of U.S. courts predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws. |
In addition, actions in the United States under U.S. federal securities laws could be affected under certain circumstances by French Law No. 68-678 of July 26, 1968 (relating to the communication of documents and information of an economic, commercial, industrial, financial or technical nature to foreign authorities or persons), as amended by French Law No. 80-538 of July 16, 1980, and French Ordinance No. 2000-916 of September 19, 2000, and as further specified by Decree No. 2022-707 of February 18, 2022 and Order of March 7, 2022, which may preclude or restrict the obtaining of evidence in France or from French persons in connection with those actions. As a result of the above regulations, the U.S. authorities would have to comply with applicable international treaties or agreements and laws and regulations in force (such as the 1970 Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad).
Similarly, French data protection rules (Law No. 78-17 of January 6, 1978 on data processing, data files and individual liberties, as modified) and the General Data Protection Regulation (i.e., Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of April 27, 2016) can limit under certain circumstances the possibility of obtaining information in France or from French persons in connection with a U.S. action.
Nevertheless, a final judgment for the payment of money rendered by any federal or state court in the United States based on civil liability, whether or not predicated solely upon the U.S. federal securities laws, would be recognized and be enforceable in France provided that a French judge considers that this judgment meets the requirements under the French rules of international private law concerning the recognition and the enforcement of foreign judgments and is capable of being immediately enforced in the United States. A French court is therefore likely to grant the enforcement of a foreign judgment without a review of the substantive matters thereby adjudicated, only if: (1) the United States federal or state court has jurisdiction and the dispute is clearly connected to the territory of the court which rendered the judgment (2) the judgment is not tainted by fraud, (3) the judgment complies with French substantive and procedural rules of international public policy (ordre public international), including principles of due process (principe du contradictoire) and notably the right to a fair trial, and (4) the judgment is not irreconcilable with an earlier judgment rendered or recognized by a French court in the same or related matter. The French court may require all relevant supporting documents to be translated into the French language by a “sworn translator” (traducteur assermenté) as a condition to their admissibility into evidence or for purposes of enforcement. The decision granting exequatur is subject to appeal, with the appeal court decision also being rendered on the basis of the above-mentioned criteria.
In addition, French law guarantees full compensation for the harm suffered but is limited to the actual damages, so that the victim does not suffer or benefit from the situation. Such system excludes damages such as, but not limited to, punitive and exemplary damages. Therefore, there is some uncertainty as to whether a foreign judgment awarding punitive and exemplary damages well above actual damages would be granted enforcement in France.
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As a result, the enforcement, by U.S. investors, of any judgments obtained in U.S. courts in civil and commercial matters, including judgments under the U.S. federal securities law against us or members of our Board, officers or certain experts named herein who are residents of France or countries other than the United States would be subject to the above conditions.
Finally, if an original action is brought in France, French courts may refuse to apply foreign law designated by the applicable French rules of conflict (including the law chosen by the parties to govern their contract) if the application of such law is deemed to contravene French international public policy or in case of overriding mandatory rules (as determined on a case by case basis by French courts) or, where all other elements relevant to the situation at the time of the choice are located in a country other than the country whose law has been chosen, the choice of the parties shall not prejudice the application of provisions of the law of that other country which cannot be derogated from by agreement. Furthermore, in an action brought in France on the basis of U.S. federal or state securities laws, French courts may not have the requisite power to grant all the remedies sought.
As a result, there may be doubt as to whether a French court would impose civil liability on us, the members of our Board, our officers or certain experts named herein in an original action predicated solely upon the U.S. federal securities laws brought in a court of competent jurisdiction in France against us or such members, officers or experts, respectively.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act that are applicable to a foreign private issuer. Under the Exchange Act, we file annual reports on Form 20-F and other information with the SEC. We also furnish to the SEC under cover of Form 6-K material information required to be made public in France, filed with and made public by any stock exchange on which we are listed or distributed by us to our shareholders. As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from, among other things, the rules under the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements, and our officers and directors and our principal shareholders are exempt from the short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
The SEC maintains a web site that contains reports and information statements and other information about issuers, such as us, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is www.sec.gov.
This prospectus and any prospectus supplement are part of a registration statement on Form F-3 that we filed with the SEC and do not contain all of the information in the registration statement. The full registration statement may be obtained from the SEC or us, as provided below. Forms of the documents establishing the terms of the offered securities are or may be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Statements in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement about these documents are summaries and each statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which it refers. You should refer to the actual documents for a more complete description of the relevant matters. You may inspect a copy of the registration statement through the SEC’s website, as provided above.
We also maintain a website at www.abivax.com through which you can access our SEC filings. The information set forth on our website is not part of this prospectus.
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INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with them. Incorporation by reference allows us to disclose important information to you by referring you to those other documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We filed a registration statement on Form F-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with the SEC with respect to the securities we may offer pursuant to this prospectus. This prospectus omits certain information contained in the registration statement, as permitted by the SEC. You should refer to the registration statement, including the exhibits, for further information about us and the securities we may offer pursuant to this prospectus. Statements in this prospectus regarding the provisions of certain documents filed with, or incorporated by reference in, the registration statement are not necessarily complete and each statement is qualified in all respects by that reference. Copies of all or any part of the registration statement, including the documents incorporated by reference or the exhibits, may be obtained upon payment of the prescribed rates at the offices of the SEC listed above in “Where You Can Find More Information.” The documents we are incorporating by reference are:
| | our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on March 23, 2026; |
| | our Reports on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on February 23, 2026, April 20, 2026, May 7, 2026, May 20, 2026, May 22, 2026, June 2, 2026 and June 29, 2026, solely to the extent the information in such reports has been incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part; and |
| | the description of ADSs representing our ordinary shares contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on October 18, 2023, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description, including Exhibit 2.3 to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on March 23, 2026. |
We are also incorporating by reference all subsequent Annual Reports on Form 20-F that we file with the SEC and certain reports on Form 6-K that we furnish to the SEC after the date of this prospectus (if they state that they are incorporated by reference into this prospectus) prior to the termination of the offering of securities under this prospectus. In all cases, you should rely on the later information over different information included in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.
Unless expressly incorporated by reference, nothing in this prospectus shall be deemed to incorporate by reference information furnished to, but not filed with, the SEC. Copies of all documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, other than exhibits to those documents unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in this prospectus, will be provided at no cost to each person, including any beneficial owner, who receives a copy of this prospectus on the written or oral request of that person made to:
Abivax SA
7-11 boulevard Haussmann
75009 Paris
France
+33 (0) 1 53 83 09 63
You may also access these documents on our website, www.abivax.com. The information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not a part of this prospectus. We have included our website address in this prospectus solely as an inactive textual reference.
You should rely only on information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We are not making offers to sell the securities in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.
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The following table sets forth fees and expenses payable by the registrant, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered hereby. All amounts set forth below are estimates. All of such expenses are being borne by the registrant.
| U.S. dollar |
||||
| SEC registration fee |
$ | (1 | ) | |
| FINRA filing fee |
$ | (1 | ) | |
| Legal fees and expenses |
(2 | ) | ||
| Accounting fees and expenses |
(2 | ) | ||
| Printing expenses |
(2 | ) | ||
| Miscellaneous expenses |
(2 | ) | ||
| Total |
$ | (2 | ) | |
| (1) | This registration statement relates to the registration of securities having an indeterminate maximum aggregate amount. Payment of the registration fee has been deferred and will be calculated and paid in accordance with Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act. |
| (2) | These fees are calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time. |
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Ordinary Shares
American Depositary Shares representing Ordinary Shares
Warrants to Purchase Ordinary Shares or American Depositary Shares
Debt Securities
PROSPECTUS
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
| Item 8. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers. |
Under French law, provisions of by-laws that limit the liability of directors are prohibited. However, French law allows société anonyme to contract for and maintain liability insurance against civil liabilities incurred by any of their directors and officers involved in a third-party action, provided that they acted in good faith and within their capacities as directors or officers of the company. Criminal liability cannot be indemnified under French law, whether directly by the company or through liability insurance. We maintain liability insurance for our directors and officers, including insurance against liability under the Securities Act.
Certain of our non-employee directors may, through their relationships with their employers or partnerships, be insured and/or indemnified against certain liabilities in their capacity as members of our board of directors.
In any underwriting agreement we enter into in connection with the sale of ordinary shares, ADSs or warrants being registered hereby, the underwriters will agree to indemnify, under certain conditions, us, our directors and officers and persons who control us within the meaning of the Securities Act against certain liabilities.
| Item 9. | Exhibits. |
The following exhibits are filed with this registration statement or are incorporated herein by reference.
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| * | To be subsequently filed, if applicable, by an amendment to this registration statement or as an exhibit to a report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including any Report on Form 6-K, and incorporated herein by reference. |
| Item 10. | 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, as amended (the “Securities Act”);
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii), and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form F-3 and information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), 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 a part of the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) To file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act need not be furnished, provided, that the registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (a)(4) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to registration statements on Form F-3, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act, or Item 8.A of Form 20-F if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Form F-3.
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(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:
(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(6) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:
The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s Annual Report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s Annual Report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
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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 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Paris, France on June 30, 2026.
| Abivax SA | ||
| By: |
/s/ Marc de Garidel | |
| Name: |
Marc de Garidel | |
| Title: |
Chief Executive Officer | |
POWER OF ATTORNEY AND SIGNATURES
We, the undersigned directors, officers and/or authorized representative of Abivax SA, hereby severally constitute and appoint Marc de Garidel and Didier Blondel, and each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys with full power to any of them, and to each of them singly, to sign for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below the Registration Statement on Form F-3 filed herewith and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to said Registration Statement, and any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in connection with said Registration Statement, and to file or cause to be filed the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and generally to do all such things in our name and on our behalf in our capacities as members of the board of directors to enable Abivax SA to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys, and each of them, or their substitute or substitutes, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Name |
Title |
Date | ||
| /s/ Marc de Garidel Marc de Garidel |
Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
June 30, 2026 | ||
| /s/ Didier Blondel Didier Blondel |
Chief Financial Officer and Board Secretary (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) |
June 30, 2026 | ||
| * Sylvie Grégoire |
Chair of the Board |
June 30, 2026 | ||
| * Corinna zur Bonsen-Thomas |
Director |
June 30, 2026 | ||
| * June Lee |
Director |
June 30, 2026 | ||
| * Troy Ignelzi |
Director |
June 30, 2026 | ||
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| * Camilla Soenderby |
Director |
June 30, 2026 | ||
| * Dominik Höchli |
Director |
June 30, 2026 | ||
| *By: | /s/ Marc de Garidel | |
| Marc de Garidel Attorney-in-Fact | ||
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SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Abivax SA, has signed this post-effective amendment to the registration statement on June 30, 2026.
| /s/ Marc de Garidel |
| Name: Marc de Garidel |
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Exhibit 3.1
ABIVAX
A French Société Anonyme (limited company) with share capital of 798,006.69
Registered office: 7-11 Boulevard Haussmann
75009 Paris
Paris Trade and Companies Register No 799 363 718
MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
Updated on June 26, 2026
| Certified as true to the original |
| [Signature] |
|
|
| The Chief Executive Officer |
SECTION I
LEGAL FORM – COMPANY NAME – OBJECTS – REGISTERED OFFICE – TERM OF INCORPORATION
| Article 1. | LEGAL FORM |
Abivax (hereinafter, the ‘Company’) is a French société anonyme (limited company) with a Board of Directors, which is governed by the laws and regulations in force and by these Articles.
| Article 2. | COMPANY NAME |
The name of the Company is:
ABIVAX
In all instruments and documents issued by the Company and intended for third parties, the company name must always be preceded or followed immediately and clearly by the words ‘Société Anonyme’ or the initials ‘SA’, the amount of share capital, the Company’s registration number and the Trade and Companies Register in which it is registered.
| Article 3. | REGISTERED OFFICE |
The registered office is at:
7-11 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009 Paris.
It may be transferred to any location within the same or a neighbouring county (département) by ordinary decision of the Board of Directors, subject to ratification of that decision by the shareholders at their next Ordinary General Meeting, and to any other location by decision taken by the shareholders at an Extraordinary General Meeting. If a transfer is decided by the Board of Directors, the Board is authorised to vary these Articles accordingly.
| Article 4. | OBJECTS |
The Company’s corporate purpose, directly or indirectly, in France and other countries, is:
| | to engage in all research, development and marketing activities in relation to medicines and pharmaceutical products; |
| | to commercially exploit patents and know-how, including by means of licences; |
| | to acquire, subscribe for, hold, manage and transfer, in any form whatsoever, all shares and all transferable securities in all existing or new French or foreign companies, and generally to manage equity interests in the Company’s area of business; |
| | to take part, directly or indirectly, in all operations and transactions that relate to, or are likely to promote the achievement of, any of the above objects, through the creation of new companies, contributions or the subscription or purchase of securities or members’ rights, mergers, business alliances, joint ventures or otherwise; and |
| | generally, to engage in all personal property, real estate, industrial, commercial and financial operations and transactions that relate directly or indirectly to this object or to any similar or related objects, or that may be useful for, or facilitate the achievement of, such object. |
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| Article 5. | TERM OF INCORPORATION |
The Company is incorporated for a term of ninety-nine (99) years from the date it is registered in the Trade and Companies Register, unless it is wound up early or its term of incorporation is extended.
SECTION II
SHARE CAPITAL – SHARES
| Article 6. | SHARE CAPITAL |
The Company’s share capital is set at seven hundred and seven hundred and ninety-eight thousand six euros and sixty-nine cents (EUR 798,006.69).
It is divided into seventy-nine million seventy-nine million eight hundred thousand six hundred and sixty-nine (79,800,669) ordinary shares, each with a par value of one euro cent (EUR 0.01), all of the same class, fully subscribed and paid up.
| Article 7. | ALTERATION OF SHARE CAPITAL |
1 - The share capital may be increased by any method and on any terms provided for by law.
The shareholders at an Extraordinary General Meeting have exclusive authority to decide, on the basis of a report by the Board of Directors, to increase the share capital and to delegate powers or authority to the Board of Directors in order to carry out the capital increase in one or more stages in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, set the applicable terms, record the completion thereof and vary these Articles accordingly.
The shareholders have a preferential right to subscribe for the shares issued for cash in the context of a capital increase, in proportion to the number of shares they already hold, and they may each waive their right. The shareholders at an Extraordinary General Meeting may decide to cancel this preferential subscription right in accordance with the law.
2 - A capital reduction must be authorised or decided by the shareholders at an Extraordinary General Meeting and must not affect shareholder equality under any circumstances.
A capital reduction to an amount less than the minimum required by law may be decided on the condition that the share capital is first increased to an amount at least equal to the amount required by law, unless the legal form of the Company is changed to a form that does not require a share capital higher than that after the reduction thereof.
Otherwise, any interested person may petition a court of law to wind up the Company. A decision to that effect may not be made if, on the day on which the Court decides on the merits of the application, the matter has been resolved.
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| Article 8. | CAPITAL REDEMPTION |
The share capital may be redeemed in accordance with Article L. 225-198 et seq. of the French Commercial Code.
| Article 9. | PAYMENT FOR SHARES |
In the event of a capital increase, at least one quarter of the par value of the shares issued for cash must be paid up upon subscription, together with the entire share premium (if applicable).
The balance must be paid in one or more instalments further to a call made by the Board of Directors, within five (5) years of the date of completion of the capital increase.
Calls for monies unpaid must be sent to the relevant subscribers and shareholders at least fifteen (15) days before the due date for each payment, by registered letter (with acknowledgement of receipt requested).
Any shareholder that does not make the required payments in respect of their shares on the due date will be automatically liable, without notice, to pay the Company default interest calculated daily from the payment due date, at three (3) points above the statutory rate applicable in commercial matters.
In order to obtain monies unpaid, the Company has the right of enforcement and may impose the penalties provided for by Article L. 228-27 et seq. of the French Commercial Code.
| Article | 10. FORM OF SHARES |
The shares may be bearer or registered shares, at the option of the shareholder and in accordance with the law. They shall be registered in an account in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
Subject to compliance with the terms and conditions provided for by law, the shares shall be registered in the name of their holders and at their discretion, either in a registered account managed by the issuing company, in a registered account managed by an outside entity or in bearer form with an approved intermediary.
However, if a shareholder does not have their registered address in French territory within the meaning of Article 102 of the French Civil Code, any intermediary may be registered on behalf of that holder, either in a collective account or in several individual accounts, one for each holder.
The shares may be involved in transactions carried out by the relevant securities clearing house.
| Article 11. | SHARE TRANSFERS – NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR HOLDINGS – RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS ATTACHING TO SHARES |
| 11.1 | Share transfers |
The shares shall be freely negotiable upon issue, in accordance with the law.
They shall be registered in an account in accordance with the terms and conditions provided for by the laws and regulations in force.
Share transfers, irrespective of the form thereof, shall be carried out by way of a transfer from one account to another in accordance with the terms and conditions provided for by law.
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| 11.2 | Notification of major holdings |
In addition to the statutory obligations to disclose information, to give notice of major holdings and, where applicable, to declare their intent, any natural or legal person and any legal entity, acting alone or in concert, who directly or indirectly holds, by any means whatsoever within the meaning of Article L. 233-7 et seq. of the French Commercial Code, a number of shares that represents 2% of the share capital and/or voting rights in the Company, is required to inform the Company of the total number of shares and voting rights or securities they hold directly or indirectly and that grant future access to the share capital of the Company. Such notice must be sent by registered letter (with acknowledgement of receipt requested) to the registered office or by any other equivalent means for the shareholders or securities holders who are resident outside France, within five (5) trading days of the date on which this threshold is exceeded.
Such notice must be given again for each additional 2% of the share capital or voting rights, without limitation.
This disclosure obligation applies on the above terms each time the fraction of share capital and/or voting rights held by a shareholder falls below a multiple of 2% of the share capital or voting rights.
If no disclosure is duly made as stated above, further to a request made by one or more shareholders that hold at least 2% of the share capital or voting rights in the Company and that is recorded in the minutes of the General Meeting, the shares that exceed the percentage that should have been declared will be stripped of the right to vote at any Meeting of shareholders held within two (2) years of the date on which notice is given.
| 11.3 | Rights and obligations associated with shares |
1 - Each share entitles its holder to a portion of the Company’s profit, assets and liquidation surplus, in net proportion to the percentage of share capital it represents.
It also entitles its holder to take part in General Meetings and to vote on resolutions in accordance with the law and these Articles.
2 - Shareholder liability for the Company’s debts is limited to the amounts contributed by them. The rights and obligations attaching to shares shall remain attached thereto, irrespective of the holder.
Share ownership automatically entails acceptance of, and an agreement to comply with, these Articles and the decisions taken at General Meetings of the Company’s shareholders.
3 - Whenever it is necessary to hold several shares in order to exercise a right of whatever kind (exchange, pooling, allotment of securities, capital increase or reduction, merger or any other corporate operation), the holders of single shares or of an insufficient number of shares may exercise this right on the condition that they arrange to pool and potentially purchase or sell the required number of securities.
| 11.4 | Indivisibility of shares – Legal ownership – Beneficial ownership |
1 - The Company recognises only one holder of each share.
The joint owners of undivided shares must be represented at General Meetings by one of their number or by a single representative. In the event of a disagreement, a representative shall be appointed by a court of law at the request of the first joint owner to act.
2 - Beneficial owners (usufruitiers) have the right to vote at Ordinary General Meetings and legal owners (nus-propriétaires) have the right to vote at Extraordinary General Meetings. However, the shareholders may agree to allocate the right to vote at General Meetings differently, providing that the beneficial owner is not deprived of the right to vote on decisions concerning distributions of profit. In such event, they must inform the Company of their agreement by sending a registered letter (with acknowledgement of receipt requested) to the registered office. The Company must apply the agreement for any meeting held more than one (1) month after that letter was received.
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Voting rights shall be exercised by the holder of the securities pledged.
Legal owners may always take part in General Meetings, even if they do not have the right to vote.
| Article 12. | DOUBLE VOTING RIGHT |
The voting right attached to capital shares and dividend shares is proportionate to the amount of share capital they represent. Each share carries one voting right.
However, a double voting right compared to that attached to the other shares in view of the portion of share capital they represent is allocated to all fully paid-up shares that are proven to have been registered for at least two (2) years in the name of the same shareholder.
This double voting right shall also be granted, upon the issue of shares issued in the context of a capital increase through the capitalisation of reserves, profit or share premiums, in respect of the registered shares allotted to a shareholder free of charge on the basis of their existing shares for which they hold a double voting right.
A share transfer carried out as a result of an inheritance, division of marital property or inter vivos gift made to a spouse or relative entitled to inherit will not result in the loss of the right acquired and will not suspend the above period.
The foregoing shall also apply in the event of a share transfer carried out as a result of a merger or spin-off involving a corporate shareholder.
In addition, any merger or spin-off involving the Company will not affect the double voting right, which may be exercised within the beneficiary company or companies if so provided by the Articles of the relevant company or companies.
SECTION III
MANAGEMENT
| Article 13. | BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
The Company shall be managed by a Board of Directors made up of no less than three (3) and no more than eighteen (18) members, subject to the exception provided for by law in the event of a merger.
| Article 14. | DIRECTORSHIPS |
| 14.1 | Appointment of directors |
During the Company’s existence, the directors shall be appointed by the shareholders at an Ordinary General Meeting. However, in the event of a merger or spin-off, they may be appointed by the shareholders at an Extraordinary General Meeting. The directors shall be appointed for a term of four (4) years. Their term of office shall end at the close of the Ordinary General Meeting of shareholders held in the year in which their term of office expires to decide on the financial statements for the previous financial year.
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The directors may be re-elected. They may be removed at any time by decision of the shareholders taken at an Ordinary General Meeting.
No individual over the age of eighty-five (85) may be a director. Any director who reaches this age limit whilst in office will be deemed to have automatically stepped down at the next General Meeting. Any appointment made in breach of the foregoing will be null and void, with the exception of interim appointments.
Upon their appointment and throughout their term of office, all natural person directors must comply with the law on the offices which an individual may concurrently hold in a limited company that has its registered office in mainland France, subject to the exceptions provided for by law.
An employee of the Company may only be appointed as a director if their employment contract corresponds to an actual job position. No more than one third of the directors in office may have an employment contract with the Company.
| 14.2 | Legal entity directors |
The directors may be natural persons or legal entities. Upon the appointment of a legal entity, the latter must appoint a permanent representative, who shall be bound by the same requirements and obligations and shall incur the same liability in civil and criminal law as though they were a director in their own name, without prejudice to the joint and several liability of the legal entity they represent. The permanent representative of a legal entity director shall be subject to the same age limit as that applicable to natural person directors.
The permanent representative appointed by a legal entity director shall be appointed for the term of the legal entity’s directorship.
If the legal entity removes its permanent representative from office, it must promptly notify the Company of the removal and of the identity of its new permanent representative by registered letter. The foregoing shall also apply if the permanent representative dies or resigns.
The appointment of a permanent representative and the termination of their office shall be subject to the same publicity formalities as would apply if the permanent representative were a director in their own name.
| 14.3 | Board vacancies, death, resignation |
If one or more seats on the Board of Directors become vacant due to death or resignation, the Board may appoint interim directors between two General Meetings.
If the number of directors falls below the minimum required by law, the remaining directors must immediately convene an Ordinary General Meeting in order to fill the vacancies.
Interim appointments made by the Board shall be subject to ratification by the shareholders at their next Ordinary General Meeting. In the absence of ratification, the decisions and steps taken previously by the Board shall nevertheless remain valid.
| Article 15. | ORGANISATION AND DECISIONS OF THE BOARD |
| 15.1 | Chairman of the Board |
The Board of Directors shall elect a Chairman from among its members, who must be a natural person, failing which their appointment will be null and void. The Board of Directors shall determine the Chairman’s remuneration in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
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The Chairman of the Board shall organise and oversee the work of the Board and report thereon to the shareholders at a General Meeting. The Chairman shall ensure that the Company’s bodies operate as required, and, in particular, that the directors are able to fulfil their duties.
The Chairman of the Board must be less than eighty-five (85) years of age. If the Chairman reaches this age limit whilst in office, they will be deemed to have automatically stepped down and a new Chairman must be appointed in accordance with this Article.
The Chairman shall be appointed for a term of office that must not exceed the term of their directorship, and they may be re-elected.
The Board of Directors may remove the Chairman from office at any time.
If the Chairman is subject to a temporary impediment or dies, the Board of Directors may appoint a director to fulfil the duties of Chairman.
In the event of a temporary impediment, this authority shall be given for a limited period and may be renewed. If the Chairman dies, it shall apply until such time as a new Chairman has been elected.
| 15.2 | Board meetings |
The Board of Directors shall meet as often as required in the interests of the Company, further to a meeting notice sent by the Chairman or two directors.
If the Board has not met for more than two (2) months, a minimum of one third of Board members may ask the Chairman to convene a Board meeting to decide on a specific agenda.
The Chief Executive Officer may also ask the Chairman to convene a Board meeting to decide on a specific agenda.
The Chairman shall be bound by any requests made to them pursuant to the previous two paragraphs. Meetings may be convened by any means, including verbally.
The Board shall meet at the registered office or at such other location (in France or another country) as may be stated in the meeting notice, and meetings shall be chaired by the Chairman of the Board or, if the Chairman is subject to an impediment, by a member appointed by the Board to act as Chairman.
The participation in the deliberations of the Board of Directors by means of telecommunications is authorised for all the Board’s deliberations, unless excluded or limited to certain deliberations, as set out in the internal regulations where applicable.
The Chairman of the Board shall chair meetings. If the Chairman is subject to an impediment, the Board shall appoint a member present at the meeting to act as Chairman.
At each meeting, the Board may appoint a secretary, who may but need not be a member of the Board.
A register shall be kept and must be signed by the directors who take part in each Board meeting.
The directors, as well as any person who is invited to attend a Board meeting, shall be bound by a duty of discretion with regard to information and data that are designated as confidential by the Chairman.
| 15.3 | Quorum and majority |
The Board may only validly transact business if at least one half of the directors are present or deemed present.
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For the purposes of calculating the quorum and majority, directors who participate in the Board meeting by means of telecommunication, in accordance with the regulations in force, are deemed to be present.
Unless these Articles state otherwise, decisions must be taken by a majority of the votes cast by the members present, deemed present or represented.
In the event of a tie, the Chairman shall have a casting vote.
| 15.4 | Representation |
Any director may give another director written permission to represent them at a Board meeting.
At any given meeting, each director may only hold one proxy form received pursuant to the previous paragraph.
These provisions apply to the permanent representative of a legal entity director.
| 15.5 | Written consultations |
The Board of Directors may also adopt all decisions falling within its own powers by means of written consultation, unless one or more directors in office object to the use of this procedure.
In the event of a written consultation, the Chairman of the Board must send, by any means, including electronically, each of the directors, such documents as are needed to make decisions concerning items included on the agenda of the consultation, with an indication of the appropriate deadline for responding, as assessed by the Chairman according to the decision to be made, the urgency or the time for reflection necessary for the casting of the vote. This deadline may, if necessary, be extended by the Chairman. In the absence of an indication of a time limit, the applicable time limit will be set at five (5) days from the date on which the documents are sent.
The directors shall have such period of time as shall be stated in the relevant documents in which to cast their vote and to submit their observations to the Chairman, by any written means, including electronically.
Any director who has not responded within the allotted time (or, if no specific time is specified in the documents, within a period of five (5) days from the date the documents were sent) is considered to have abstained.
All directors have one working day from the date on which the documents are sent by the Chairman of the Board to object to the use of written consultation. The objection must state the reasons and may be made by any written means, including electronic transmission.
In the event of an objection, the Chairman shall immediately inform the other directors and convene a meeting of the Board of Directors.
Any decision may only be adopted by written consultation if at least half of the members of the Board have participated in the written consultation and if no director has exercised his right to object.
Minutes of written consultations shall be drawn up and signed by the Chairman; they must then be sent along with each director’s response to the Company and retained in the same way as the minutes of Board meetings.
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| 15.6 | Minutes of decisions |
Decisions taken by the Board of Directors shall be recorded in minutes entered in a special minute book, the pages of which must be initialled and signed, and which shall be held at the registered office as required by applicable regulations.
| Article 16. | POWERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS – COMMITTEES – OBSERVERS |
| 16.1 | Powers of the Board of Directors |
The Board of Directors shall determine and oversee the implementation of the Company’s business strategy in its corporate interests, with consideration to be given to the social and environmental challenges associated with its business.
Subject to the powers expressly conferred on the shareholders and within the limit of the Company’s objects, the Board of Directors shall attend to all matters relating to the smooth running of the Company and shall settle matters concerning the Company by virtue of its decisions.
In dealings with third parties, the Company shall be bound even by the acts of the Board of Directors that fall outside the scope of its objects, unless it can prove that the third party involved knew that a particular act was outside the scope of the Company’s objects or could not have disregarded such fact in view of the circumstances, on the understanding that the publication of these Articles alone will not be sufficient proof of the foregoing.
The Board of Directors shall carry out such controls and checks as it deems appropriate.
The Chairman or the Chief Executive Officer is required to provide each director with the information needed to fulfil their duties. Each director may obtain such documents as they consider useful from the Chairman or the Chief Executive Officer.
The Board may vary these Articles as it sees fit in order to render them compliant with the laws and regulations in force, subject to ratification of the relevant decision by the shareholders at their next Extraordinary General Meeting.
| 16.2 | Committees |
The Board of Directors may decide to set up committees responsible for examining and issuing an opinion on matters put to them by the Board or its Chairman. These committees shall report to the Board on their work.
The Board of Directors shall set the composition and duties of the committees, which shall operate under the responsibility of the Board. The Board shall set the remuneration of the committee members.
| 16.3 | Observers |
During the Company’s existence, the shareholders at an Ordinary General Meeting or the Board of Directors may appoint observers, who may but need not be shareholders.
No more than three (3) observers may be appointed.
They shall be appointed for a period of one (1) year. Their duties will end at the close of the Ordinary General Meeting held in the year in which their mandates expire in order for the shareholders to decide on the financial statements for the previous financial year.
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Any outgoing observer may be re-elected providing that they fulfil the requirements imposed under this Article. Their mandates may be renewed by decision taken by the shareholders at an Ordinary General Meeting or by the Board of Directors.
The observers may be removed and replaced at any time by the shareholders at an Ordinary General Meeting or by the Board of Directors, in which case they will not be entitled to any compensation. The duties of observers will also end due to the death or incapacity of a natural person member or the winding-up or compulsory administration of a legal entity member, or their resignation.
They may be natural persons or legal entities. In the latter case, upon its appointment, the legal entity must appoint a permanent representative, who shall be bound by the same requirements and obligations and shall incur the same liability in civil and criminal law as though they were an observer in their own name, without prejudice to the joint and several liability of the legal entity they represent.
The observers must strictly enforce these Articles and put forward their observations at Board meetings. They shall generally provide an ongoing advisory and monitoring service to the Company. However, they must not interfere under any circumstances in the management of the Company or generally act in place of the Company’s statutory bodies.
In the context of their work, the observers may notably:
| | put forward observations to the Board of Directors; |
| | ask to peruse any of the Company’s books, records, registers and documents at the registered office; |
| | request and obtain such information as is useful for their work from senior management and the Company’s statutory auditor; and |
| | present a report on a specific matter to the shareholders at a General Meeting at the request of the Board. |
The observers shall act both individually and collectively solely in an advisory capacity and shall not have the right to vote on the Board.
The observers may be invited to each Board meeting in the same way as the directors.
Decisions taken by the Board of Directors shall be valid notwithstanding any failure to invite an observer or members to a Board meeting or to provide them with documents prior to the meeting.
| Article 17. | SENIOR MANAGEMENT – DELEGATION OF POWERS |
| 17.1 | Senior management |
In accordance with the law, the Company shall be managed, under its responsibility, either by the Chairman of the Board of Directors or by another individual appointed by the Board of Directors with the title of Chief Executive Officer.
The Board of Directors shall choose between the two management methods at any time and at least upon the expiry of the term of office of the Chief Executive Officer or of the Chairman of the Board of Directors if the latter is also the senior manager of the Company.
The shareholders and third parties must be informed of this decision in accordance with the applicable decree.
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The Board’s decision concerning the choice of management method must be taken by a majority of the directors present, represented or deemed present, on the understanding that the Chairman will not have a casting vote.
If the Company is managed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the following provisions concerning the Chief Executive Officer shall apply to the Chairman.
| 17.2 | Chief Executive Officer |
The Chief Executive Officer has the broadest powers to act in all circumstances in the name of the Company. They shall exercise these powers within the limit of the Company’s objects and subject to the powers expressly conferred by law on the shareholders at a General Meeting and on the Board of Directors.
The Chief Executive Officer shall represent the Company in its dealings with third parties. The Company shall be bound even by the acts of the Chief Executive Officer that do not come within the scope of its objects, unless it can prove that the third party concerned knew that a particular act was not within the scope of its objects or could not have disregarded such fact in view of the circumstances, on the understanding that the publication of these Articles alone will not be sufficient proof of the foregoing.
If the Board of Directors chooses to separate the duties of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, it shall appoint the Chief Executive Officer, set their term of office, determine their remuneration in accordance with the laws and regulations in force and, if applicable, set restrictions on their powers.
No-one aged seventy-five (75) or over may be appointed as Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer’s term of office will automatically end at the annual Ordinary General Meeting convened to approve the Company’s financial statements and held after the date on which the Chief Executive Officer reaches such age. Subject to this reservation, the Chief Executive Officer may be re-elected.
The Chief Executive Officer may be removed from office at any time by the Board of Directors.
| 17.3 | Deputy Chief Executive Officers |
On a proposal by the Chief Executive Officer, whether they are also the Chairman of the Board of Directors or a different person, the Board of Directors may appoint one or more individuals as Deputy Chief Executive Officers – who may but need not be directors or shareholders – to assist the Chief Executive Officer.
There may not be more than five (5) Deputy Chief Executive Officers.
If a Deputy Chief Executive Officer is a director, their term of office shall not exceed the term of their directorship.
No-one aged seventy-five (75) or over may be appointed as Deputy Chief Executive Officer. The Deputy Chief Executive Officer’s term of office will automatically end at the annual Ordinary General Meeting convened to approve the Company’s financial statements and held after the date on which the Deputy Chief Executive Officer reaches such age. Subject to this reservation, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer may be re-elected.
The Deputy Chief Executive Officers may be removed from office at any time by the Board of Directors, on a proposal by the Chief Executive Officer.
In agreement with the Chief Executive Officer, the Board of Directors shall determine the scope and term of validity of the powers conferred on the Deputy Chief Executive Officers. The Board of Directors shall determine their remuneration in accordance with the law.
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In dealings with third parties, the Deputy Chief Executive Officers shall have the same powers as the Chief Executive Officer.
If the Chief Executive Officer ceases or is unable to perform their duties, unless the Board of Directors decides otherwise, the Deputy Chief Executive Officers shall retain their duties and responsibilities until a new Chief Executive Officer has been appointed.
| 17.4 | Delegation of powers |
The Board of Directors may appoint agents – who may but need not be directors – to perform such occasional or permanent tasks as shall be determined by the Board, delegate powers to those agents and set their remuneration as it sees fit.
| Article 18. | DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION |
The shareholders at a General Meeting may allocate an annual fixed amount to the directors as remuneration for their work, which the shareholders shall determine without being bound by previous decisions. Any such remuneration shall be booked as operating expenses.
The Board of Directors shall distribute the full allotted amount between its members as it sees fit. It may notably allot to the directors who are members of specialist committees an amount higher than that allotted to the other directors.
The Board of Directors may allot exceptional fees in connection with the tasks or assignments allocated to directors.
The Board may authorise the reimbursement of the travel and other expenses incurred by the directors in the Company’s interests.
| Article 19. | AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND A DIRECTOR, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, A DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OR A SHAREHOLDER THAT HOLDS MORE THAN 10% OF VOTING RIGHTS |
| 19.1 | Agreements subject to authorisation |
Any agreement other than those concerning ordinary transactions entered into under arm’s length conditions that is entered into directly or through an intermediary between the Company and one of its directors, the Chief Executive Officer, a Deputy Chief Executive Officer or a shareholder that holds more than 10% of voting rights in the Company or, in the case of a legal entity shareholder, the company that controls it within the meaning of Article L. 233-3 of the French Commercial Code, are subject to the prior authorisation of the Board of Directors.
The foregoing also applies to agreements in which any of the persons referred to in the previous paragraph has an indirect interest.
Agreements entered into between the Company and an undertaking are also subject to prior authorisation if the Chief Executive Officer, a Deputy Chief Executive Officer or a director of the Company is the owner, a partner or shareholder with unlimited liability, a manager, a director, a Supervisory Board member or, generally, an executive of that undertaking.
These agreements must be authorised and approved as required by law.
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| 19.2 | Prohibited agreements |
The directors other than legal entity directors are prohibited from taking out any form of loan with the Company, from having the Company grant them an overdraft on a current account or otherwise, and from having the Company guarantee or endorse their commitments to third parties, failing which the relevant agreement will be null and void.
The same prohibition applies to the Chief Executive Officer, the Deputy Chief Executive Officers and the permanent representatives of legal entity directors. It also applies to the spouses, ascendants and descendants of the persons referred to in this Article and to any intermediary.
| 19.3 | Ordinary agreements |
Agreements concerning ordinary operations that are entered into under arm’s length conditions are not subject to the statutory authorisation and approval procedure.
SECTION IV
AUDITS OF THE COMPANY’S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
| Article 20. | APPOINTMENT OF STATUTORY AUDITORS |
The Company’s financial statements shall be audited by one or more principal – and, if applicable, alternate – statutory auditors, who shall be appointed and who shall perform their duties as required by law.
During the Company’s existence, the statutory auditors shall be appointed by the shareholders at an Ordinary General Meeting.
For each principal statutory auditor, an alternate statutory auditor may be appointed. Any alternate statutory auditors shall be appointed at the same time as the principal statutory auditors and for the same term, and shall replace the principal statutory auditors if the latter refuse to act, are subject to an impediment, resign or die.
The statutory auditors shall be appointed for six (6) financial years by the shareholders at an Ordinary General Meeting. Their engagements will expire after the Ordinary General Meeting held to decide on the financial statements for the sixth financial year.
| Article 21. | STATUTORY AUDITORS’ DUTIES |
The statutory auditors are vested with the duties and powers conferred on them by the laws and regulations in force. They may carry out such checks and audits as they consider appropriate at any time of the year.
The statutory auditors must be convened to all shareholder meetings at the latest at the same time as the shareholders themselves.
The statutory auditors’ remuneration shall be determined in accordance with the regulations in force.
They must be convened to the Board of Directors’ meeting at which the Board approves the financial statements for the previous year and, if applicable, to any other Board meeting, at the same time as the directors themselves.
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The statutory auditors must be convened by registered letter (with acknowledgement of receipt requested).
SECTION V
SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS
| Article 22. | QUORUM AND MAJORITY |
At General Meetings, the shareholders shall transact business in accordance with the law.
Ordinary and Extraordinary General Meetings shall be held when convened for the first – or second if applicable – time in accordance with the quorum requirements imposed by law.
Decisions taken at General Meetings must be taken in accordance with the majority requirements imposed by law.
The shareholders at an Ordinary General Meeting shall make all decisions other than those that are within the exclusive remit of the shareholders at an Extraordinary General Meeting according to the law and these Articles.
The shareholders at an Extraordinary General Meeting have exclusive remit to vary the provisions of these Articles, subject to the provisions of Articles 3 and 16 hereof.
If a meeting is held by video-conference or other method of telecommunication permitted by law in accordance with Article 23 below, for the purpose of calculating the quorum and majority, the shareholders who take part in the meeting by video-conference or method of telecommunication will be deemed to be present.
| Article 23. | NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS |
General meetings shall be convened by the Board of Directors, by the statutory auditors or by an agent appointed by a court of law in accordance with the terms and conditions provided for by law.
They shall be held at the registered office or at such other location as may be stated in the meeting notice.
For so long as the shares in the Company are admitted to trading on a regulated market or if the shares are not all registered shares, the Company is required, at least thirty-five (35) days before any meeting, to publish notice of the meeting – such notice to contain the information required by the laws and regulations in force – in the Bulletin des Annonces Légales Obligatoires (BALO, the Gazette of Compulsory Legal Announcements).
General Meetings must be convened through publication of a notice in a newspaper authorised to publish legal announcements in the county in which the registered office is located and in the Bulletin des Annonces Légales Obligatoires (BALO).
However, in place of the notices published as stated in the previous paragraph, notice may be given, at the Company’s expense, by letter sent by ordinary post or registered letter to each shareholder. Notice may also be given electronically in accordance with the regulations in force.
Any shareholder may also, if the Board so decides when a meeting is convened, take part in and vote at meetings held by video-conference or any method of telecommunication by which they can be identified, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the laws and regulations in force.
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Any meeting that is not convened as required may be cancelled. However, action to declare a meeting null and void will be inadmissible if all the shareholders were present or represented.
| Article 24. | MEETING AGENDA |
The agenda of a meeting shall be set by the person who convenes the meeting.
However, one or more shareholders representing at least 5% of the share capital (or a group of shareholders that fulfil the requirements imposed by law) may, in accordance with the law, ask for draft resolutions to be added to the agenda of a meeting. Such requests must be sent along with the draft resolutions and may or may not be sent along with a brief explanation of the reasons for the request.
Such draft resolutions, of which the shareholders must be informed, shall be added to the agenda and put to the vote at the meeting.
At the meeting, the shareholders may only discuss items included on the agenda.
Nonetheless, they may remove and replace one or more directors in any circumstances.
The agenda of a reconvened meeting must be identical to the agenda of the meeting originally convened.
| Article 25. | ADMISSION TO MEETINGS |
Any shareholder may take part, in person, by proxy or by correspondence, in all types of General Meetings.
In order to be entitled to take part in General Meetings, the shareholders must produce proof of the following:
| | for registered shares, that they were registered, within the time limit imposed by law prior to the Meeting, in the registered share accounts held by the Company; and |
| | for bearer shares, that they were registered, within the time limit imposed by law prior to the Meeting, in the bearer share accounts held by the authorised intermediary. |
The booking or registration of securities in the bearer securities accounts kept by the authorised intermediary shall be recorded in a certificate issued by the said intermediary.
Any shareholder whose shares have not been fully paid-up may not attend meetings.
| Article 26. | SHAREHOLDER REPRESENTATION AND POSTAL BALLOTS |
| 26.1 | Shareholder representation |
A shareholder may be represented by another shareholder, by their spouse or partner with whom they have entered into a civil partnership or by any person of their choosing.
Any shareholder may receive a proxy form in order to represent another shareholder at a meeting. In this respect, no limits apply other than those imposed by law that set the maximum number of votes that may be held by the same person, in their own name and as a proxy.
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| 26.2 | Postal ballots |
When a meeting has been convened, a postal ballot form and its attachments must be delivered in person or sent, at the Company’s expense, to any shareholder who makes a written request to that effect.
The Company must accept any request deposited or received at the registered office at least six (6) days before the date of the meeting.
| Article 27. | MEETING OFFICERS |
Shareholder meetings must be chaired by the Chairman of the Board of Directors or, in their absence, by a director appointed for that purpose by the Board. Otherwise, the shareholders must elect a chairman themselves.
If a meeting is convened by the statutory auditors, a court-appointed agent or the liquidators, it must be chaired by the person or one of the persons who convened it.
The two consenting persons present at the meeting who hold the most votes shall act as tellers.
The meeting officers must appoint a secretary, who may but need not be a shareholder.
| Article 28. | MINUTES OF DECISIONS |
The decisions taken at shareholder meetings must be recorded in minutes drawn up and signed by the meeting officers.
They must state the date and venue of the meeting, the method used to convene the meeting, the agenda, the meeting officers, the number of shares involved in the vote and the quorum reached, the documents and reports submitted to the shareholders, a summary of the discussions, the resolutions put to the vote and the results of the voting process.
Minutes must be entered in a special minute book kept at the registered office in accordance with the regulations in force.
If, in the absence of the required quorum, the shareholders cannot validly transact business, minutes must be drawn up by the officers of the meeting to record the foregoing.
| Article 29. | SHAREHOLDERS’ RIGHT TO INFORMATION AND RIGHT OF SCRUTINY |
Before each meeting, the Board of Directors must make available to the shareholders the documents they need to make informed decisions and to make an informed judgment on the management and running of the Company.
Following receipt of the above documents, any shareholder may submit written questions, in accordance with the laws and regulations in force, to which the Board of Directors must respond at the meeting.
Any shareholder has the right to obtain, at any time, the documents that the Board of Directors is required to make available to them at the registered office or to send to them in accordance with the laws and regulations in force.
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SECTION VI
FINANCIAL YEAR – ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION – APPROPRIATION OF PROFIT/LOSSES
| Article 30. | FINANCIAL YEAR |
The financial year has a term of twelve months. It begins on the first of January and ends on the thirty-first of December each year.
| Article 31. | ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
At the end of each financial year, the Board of Directors must prepare a statement of the Company’s assets and liabilities at year end, as well as the annual financial statements.
It must draw up a management report on the Company’s position and business during the past year, its operating results, the progress made and difficulties encountered, its foreseeable development and future prospects, any significant events that have occurred between year end and the date of the report, and its research and development activities.
The annual financial statements, the management report and, where applicable, the consolidated financial statements and group management report must be made available to the statutory auditors at the registered office at least one month before the meeting at which the shareholders are to decide on the Company’s annual financial statements is convened.
| Article 32. | APPROPRIATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF PROFIT/LOSSES |
If the annual financial statements approved by the shareholders at a General Meeting show that the Company has generated a distributable profit, as defined by law, the shareholders may decide to appropriate that profit to one or more reserves – in which case they must decide how it will be allocated or used –, carry the profit forward or distribute it.
The shareholders at a General Meeting may choose to receive the whole or part of any dividend or interim dividend in cash or shares, in accordance with the law.
Following the approval of the financial statements by the shareholders at a General Meeting, any loss must be carried forward and set off against profit for future financial years until it has been cleared.
The portion of profit to which each shareholder is entitled and each shareholder’s liability for any loss shall be proportionate to its interest in the share capital.
| Article 33. | EQUITY LESS THAN ONE HALF OF SHARE CAPITAL |
If, owing to losses recorded in the accounting documents, the Company’s equity falls below one half of its share capital, the Board of Directors is required, within four (4) months of the approval of the financial statements showing the loss, to convene an Extraordinary General Meeting of shareholders to decide whether to wind up the Company early.
Page 18
If a decision is made not to wind up the Company, subject to the provisions of Article L. 224-2 of the French Commercial Code, the Company is required, by the end of the second financial year following that in which the loss was recorded, to reduce its share capital at least by the amount of the loss that cannot be appropriated to the reserves unless, within that timeframe, it has rebuilt its equity to an amount equal to at least one half of its share capital. If these requirements are not met, any interested person may petition a court of law to wind up the Company. However, the Court may not make an order for the Company to be wound up if, on the day on which it decides the case, the situation has been remedied.
SECTION VII
WINDING-UP – LIQUIDATION – DISPUTES
| Article 34. | WINDING-UP — LIQUIDATION |
Upon the expiry of the term of incorporation set by the Company or if the Company is wound up early, the shareholders at a General Meeting must decide the terms of the liquidation proceedings and appoint one or more liquidators, whose powers shall be determined by the shareholders and who shall perform their duties as required by law.
If all shares in the Company are held by a sole shareholder, the expiry of the term of incorporation of the Company or the winding-up of the Company for whatever reason shall entail the transfer of all of its assets and liabilities to the legal entity sole shareholder, without the need to liquidate the Company, subject to the creditors’ right of opposition, in accordance with the provisions of Article 1844-5 of the French Civil Code.
| Article 35. | DISPUTES |
Any dispute that may arise during the Company’s existence or upon its liquidation between the Company and its shareholders or directors or between the shareholders themselves concerning the Company’s affairs shall be heard and decided in accordance with the law and referred to the competent courts.
Page 19
Exhibit 4.4
ABIVAX SA, as
Issuer
AND
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as
Trustee
INDENTURE
Dated as of ______, 20__
Debt Securities
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | ||||||
| ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS |
1 | |||||
| Section 1.01 |
Definitions of Terms. | 1 | ||||
| ARTICLE 2 ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES |
5 | |||||
| Section 2.01 |
Designation and Terms of Securities. | 5 | ||||
| Section 2.02 |
Form of Securities and Trustee’s Certificate. | 8 | ||||
| Section 2.03 |
Denominations: Provisions for Payment. | 8 | ||||
| Section 2.04 |
Execution and Authentications. | 10 | ||||
| Section 2.05 |
Registration of Transfer and Exchange. | 11 | ||||
| Section 2.06 |
Temporary Securities. | 12 | ||||
| Section 2.07 |
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities. | 12 | ||||
| Section 2.08 |
Cancellation. | 13 | ||||
| Section 2.09 |
Benefits of Indenture. | 13 | ||||
| Section 2.10 |
Authenticating Agent. | 14 | ||||
| Section 2.11 |
Global Securities. | 14 | ||||
| Section 2.12 |
CUSIP Numbers. | 15 | ||||
| ARTICLE 3 REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS |
16 | |||||
| Section 3.01 |
Redemption. | 16 | ||||
| Section 3.02 |
Notice of Redemption. | 16 | ||||
| Section 3.03 |
Payment Upon Redemption. | 17 | ||||
| Section 3.04 |
Sinking Fund. | 18 | ||||
| Section 3.05 |
Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities. | 18 | ||||
| Section 3.06 |
Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund. | 18 | ||||
| ARTICLE 4 COVENANTS |
19 | |||||
| Section 4.01 |
Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest. | 19 | ||||
| Section 4.02 |
Maintenance of Office or Agency. | 19 | ||||
| Section 4.03 |
Paying Agents. | 19 | ||||
| Section 4.04 |
Appointment to Fill Vacancy in Office of Trustee. | 21 | ||||
| ARTICLE 5 SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE |
21 | |||||
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
| Page | ||||||
| Section 5.01 |
Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Securityholders. | 21 | ||||
| Section 5.02 |
Preservation Of Information; Communications With Securityholders. | 21 | ||||
| Section 5.03 |
Reports by the Company. | 21 | ||||
| Section 5.04 |
Reports by the Trustee. | 22 | ||||
| ARTICLE 6 REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT |
23 | |||||
| Section 6.01 |
Events of Default. | 23 | ||||
| Section 6.02 |
Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee. | 24 | ||||
| Section 6.03 |
Application of Moneys Collected. | 26 | ||||
| Section 6.04 |
Limitation on Suits. | 26 | ||||
| Section 6.05 |
Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver. | 27 | ||||
| Section 6.06 |
Control by Securityholders. | 27 | ||||
| Section 6.07 |
Undertaking to Pay Costs. | 28 | ||||
| ARTICLE 7 CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE |
28 | |||||
| Section 7.01 |
Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee. | 28 | ||||
| Section 7.02 |
Certain Rights of Trustee. | 30 | ||||
| Section 7.03 |
Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance or Securities. | 32 | ||||
| Section 7.04 |
May Hold Securities. | 32 | ||||
| Section 7.05 |
Moneys Held in Trust. | 32 | ||||
| Section 7.06 |
Compensation and Reimbursement. | 33 | ||||
| Section 7.07 |
Reliance on Officer’s Certificate. | 33 | ||||
| Section 7.08 |
Disqualification; Conflicting Interests. | 34 | ||||
| Section 7.09 |
Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility. | 34 | ||||
| Section 7.10 |
Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor. | 34 | ||||
| Section 7.11 |
Acceptance of Appointment By Successor. | 35 | ||||
| Section 7.12 |
Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business. | 37 | ||||
| Section 7.13 |
Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company. | 37 | ||||
| Section 7.14 |
Notice of Default. | 37 | ||||
| ARTICLE 8 CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS |
37 | |||||
| Section 8.01 |
Evidence of Action by Securityholders. | 37 | ||||
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
| Page | ||||||
| Section 8.02 |
Proof of Execution by Securityholders. | 38 | ||||
| Section 8.03 |
Who May be Deemed Owners. | 38 | ||||
| Section 8.04 |
Certain Securities Owned by Company Disregarded. | 39 | ||||
| Section 8.05 |
Actions Binding on Future Securityholders. | 39 | ||||
| ARTICLE 9 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES |
39 | |||||
| Section 9.01 |
Supplemental Indentures Without the Consent of Securityholders. | 39 | ||||
| Section 9.02 |
Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Securityholders. | 40 | ||||
| Section 9.03 |
Effect of Supplemental Indentures. | 41 | ||||
| Section 9.04 |
Securities Affected by Supplemental Indentures. | 41 | ||||
| Section 9.05 |
Execution of Supplemental Indentures. | 41 | ||||
| ARTICLE 10 SUCCESSOR ENTITY |
42 | |||||
| Section 10.01 |
Company May Consolidate, Etc. | 42 | ||||
| Section 10.02 |
Successor Entity Substituted. | 43 | ||||
| ARTICLE 11 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE |
43 | |||||
| Section 11.01 |
Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. | 43 | ||||
| Section 11.02 |
Discharge of Obligations. | 44 | ||||
| Section 11.03 |
Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust. | 44 | ||||
| Section 11.04 |
Payment of Moneys Held by Paying Agents. | 44 | ||||
| Section 11.05 |
Repayment to Company. | 44 | ||||
| ARTICLE 12 IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS |
45 | |||||
| Section 12.01 |
No Recourse. | 45 | ||||
| ARTICLE 13 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS |
45 | |||||
| Section 13.01 |
Effect on Successors and Assigns. | 45 | ||||
| Section 13.02 |
Actions by Successor. | 45 | ||||
| Section 13.03 |
Surrender of Company Powers. | 46 | ||||
| Section 13.04 |
Notices. | 46 | ||||
| Section 13.05 |
Governing Law; Jury Trial Waiver. | 46 | ||||
| Section 13.06 |
Treatment of Securities as Debt. | 46 | ||||
| Section 13.07 |
Certificates and Opinions as to Conditions Precedent. | 46 | ||||
-iii-
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
| Page | ||||||
| Section 13.08 |
Payments on Business Days. | 47 | ||||
| Section 13.09 |
Conflict with Trust Indenture Act. | 47 | ||||
| Section 13.10 |
Counterparts. | 47 | ||||
| Section 13.11 |
Separability. | 47 | ||||
| Section 13.12 |
Compliance Certificates. | 48 | ||||
| Section 13.13 |
U.S.A Patriot Act. | 48 | ||||
| Section 13.14 |
Force Majeure. | 48 | ||||
| Section 13.15 |
Table of Contents; Headings. | 48 | ||||
-iv-
INDENTURE
INDENTURE, dated as of _____, 20__, among Abivax SA, a société anonyme incorporated under the laws of France (the “Company”), and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”):
WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of debt securities (hereinafter referred to as the “Securities”), in an unlimited aggregate principal amount to be issued from time to time in one or more series as in this Indenture provided, as registered Securities without coupons, to be authenticated by the certificate of the Trustee;
WHEREAS, to provide the terms and conditions upon which the Securities are to be authenticated, issued and delivered, the Company has duly authorized the execution of this Indenture; and
WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed as follows for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of Securities:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01 Definitions of Terms.
The terms defined in this Section (except as in this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section and shall include the plural as well as the singular. All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or that are by reference in such Act defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (except as herein or any indenture supplemental hereto otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires), shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in said Trust Indenture Act and in said Securities Act as in force at the date of the execution of this instrument.
“Authenticating Agent” means the Trustee or an authenticating agent with respect to all or any of the series of Securities appointed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.10.
“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors (or the functional equivalent thereof) of the Company or any duly authorized committee of such Board.
1
“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors (or duly authorized committee thereof) and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification.
“Business Day” means, with respect to any series of Securities, any day other than a day on which federal or state banking institutions in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, or in the city of the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or regulation to close.
“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.
“Company” means Abivax SA, a société anonyme incorporated under the laws of France, and, subject to the provisions of Article Ten, shall also include its successors and assigns.
“Corporate Trust Office” means the designated office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business related to this Indenture shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is located at U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, 333 Commerce Street, Suite 900, Nashville, TN 37201; Attn: W. Jones (Abivax SA Notes Administrator).
“Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03.
“Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any series for which the Company shall determine that such Securities will be issued as a Global Security, The Depository Trust Company, another clearing agency, or any successor registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, which, in each case, shall be designated by the Company pursuant to either Section 2.01 or 2.11.
“Event of Default” means, with respect to Securities of a particular series, any event specified in Section 6.01, continued for the period of time, if any, therein designated.
“Exchange Act” means the United States Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission thereunder.
The term “given”, “mailed”, “notify” or “sent” with respect to any notice to be given to a Securityholder pursuant to this Indenture, shall mean notice (x) given to the Depositary (or its designee) pursuant to the standing instructions from the Depositary or its designee, including by electronic mail in accordance with accepted practices or procedures at the Depositary (in the case of a Global Security) or (y) mailed to such Securityholder by first class mail, postage prepaid, at its address as it appears on the Security Register (in the case of a definitive Security). Notice so “given” shall be deemed to include any notice to be “mailed” or “delivered,” as applicable, under this Indenture.
2
“Global Security” means a Security issued to evidence all or a part of any series of Securities which is executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance with the Indenture, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.
“Governmental Obligations” means securities that are (a) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (b) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America that, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof at any time prior to the stated maturity of the Securities, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such Governmental Obligation or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Governmental Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt; provided, however, that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Governmental Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Governmental Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.
“herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and other words of similar import, refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.
“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into in accordance with the terms hereof and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 2.01.
“Interest Payment Date”, when used with respect to any installment of interest on a Security of a particular series, means the date specified in such Security or in a Board Resolution or in an indenture supplemental hereto with respect to such series as the fixed date on which an installment of interest with respect to Securities of that series is due and payable.
“Officer” means, with respect to the Company, the chairman of the Board of Directors, a chief executive officer, a president, a chief financial officer, a chief operating officer, any executive vice president, any senior vice president, any vice president, the treasurer or any assistant treasurer, the controller or any assistant controller or the secretary or any assistant secretary.
“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by any Officer. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 13.07, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.
3
“Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion in writing subject to customary exceptions of legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company, that is delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof. Each such opinion shall include the statements provided for in Section 13.07, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.
“Outstanding”, when used with reference to Securities of any series, means, subject to the provisions of Section 8.04, as of any particular time, all Securities of that series theretofore authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except (a) Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or any paying agent, or delivered to the Trustee or any paying agent for cancellation or that have previously been canceled; (b) Securities or portions thereof for the payment or redemption of which moneys or Governmental Obligations in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying agent); provided, however, that if such Securities or portions of such Securities are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as provided in Article Three, or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; and (c) Securities in lieu of or in substitution for which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.07.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, joint-stock company, limited liability company, association, trust, unincorporated organization, any other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.
“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 2.07 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Security.
“Responsible Officer” when used with respect to the Trustee means any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee) or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter relating to this Indenture, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and in each case who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
“Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Securityholder”, “holder of Securities”, “registered holder”, or other similar term, means the Person or Persons in whose name or names a particular Security is registered on the Security Register kept for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.
4
“Security Register” and “Security Registrar” shall have the meanings as set forth in Section 2.05.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, association, partnership or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of capital stock or other interests (including partnership interests) entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers, general partners or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (i) such Person; (ii) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person; or (iii) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.
“Trustee” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, and, subject to the provisions of Article Seven, shall also include its successors and assigns, and, if at any time there is more than one Person acting in such capacity hereunder, “Trustee” shall mean each such Person. The term “Trustee” as used with respect to a particular series of the Securities shall mean the trustee with respect to that series.
“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
“U.S.A. Patriot Act” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Pub. L. 107-56, as amended and signed into law October 26, 2001.
ARTICLE 2
ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES
Section 2.01 Designation and Terms of Securities.
(a) The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more series up to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of that series from time to time authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or pursuant to one or more indentures supplemental hereto. Prior to the initial issuance of Securities of any series, there shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto:
(1) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of that series from all other Securities);
(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of that series);
5
(3) the maturity date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable;
(4) the form of the Securities of the series including the form of the certificate of authentication for such series;
(5) the applicability of any guarantees;
(6) whether or not the Securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt;
(7) whether the Securities rank as senior debt, senior subordinated debt, subordinated debt or any combination thereof, and the terms of any subordination;
(8) if the price (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount thereof) at which such Securities will be issued is a price other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount thereof payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof, or if applicable, the portion of the principal amount of such Securities that is convertible into another security or the method by which any such portion shall be determined;
(9) the interest rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, or the method for determining the rate and the date interest will begin to accrue, the dates interest will be payable and the regular record dates for interest payment dates or the method for determining such dates;
(10) the Company’s right, if any, to defer the payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period;
(11) if applicable, the date or dates after which, or the period or periods during which, and the price or prices at which, the Company may at its option, redeem the series of Securities pursuant to any optional or provisional redemption provisions and the terms of those redemption provisions;
(12) the date or dates, if any, on which, and the price or prices at which the Company is obligated, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund or analogous fund provisions or otherwise, to redeem, or at the Securityholder’s option to purchase, the series of Securities and the currency or currency unit in which the Securities are payable;
(13) the denominations in which the Securities of the series shall be issuable, if other than denominations of one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof;
(14) any and all terms, if applicable, relating to any auction or remarketing of the Securities of that series and any security for the obligations of the Company with respect to such Securities and any other terms which may be advisable in connection with the marketing of Securities of that series;
6
(15) whether the Securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security or Securities; the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such Global Security or Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual Securities; and the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities;
(16) if applicable, the provisions relating to conversion or exchange of any Securities of the series and the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, including the conversion or exchange price, as applicable, or how it will be calculated and may be adjusted, any mandatory or optional (at the Company’s option or the holders’ option) conversion or exchange features, the applicable conversion or exchange period and the manner of settlement for any conversion or exchange, which may, without limitation, include the payment of cash as well as the delivery of securities;
(17) if other than the full principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01;
(18) additions to or changes in the covenants applicable to the series of Securities being issued, including, among others, the consolidation, merger or sale covenant;
(19) additions to or changes in the Events of Default with respect to the Securities and any change in the right of the Trustee or the Securityholders to declare the principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, with respect to such Securities to be due and payable;
(20) additions to or changes in or deletions of the provisions relating to covenant defeasance and legal defeasance;
(21) additions to or changes in the provisions relating to satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture;
(22) additions to or changes in the provisions relating to the modification of this Indenture both with and without the consent of Securityholders of Securities issued under this Indenture;
(23) the currency of payment of Securities if other than U.S. dollars and the manner of determining the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars;
(24) whether interest will be payable in cash or additional Securities at the Company’s or the Securityholders’ option and the terms and conditions upon which the election may be made;
(25) the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the Company shall pay amounts in addition to the stated interest, premium, if any and principal amounts of the Securities of the series to any Securityholder that is not a “United States person” for federal tax purposes;
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(26) any restrictions on transfer, sale or assignment of the Securities of the series; and
(27) any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the Securities, any other additions or changes in the provisions of this Indenture, and any terms that may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations.
All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to any such Board Resolution or in any indentures supplemental hereto.
If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution of the Company, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officer’s Certificate of the Company setting forth the terms of the series.
Securities of any particular series may be issued at various times, with different dates on which the principal or any installment of principal is payable, with different rates of interest, if any, or different methods by which rates of interest may be determined, with different dates on which such interest may be payable and with different redemption dates.
Section 2.02 Form of Securities and Trustee’s Certificate.
The Securities of any series and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication to be borne by such Securities shall be substantially of the tenor and purport as set forth in one or more indentures supplemental hereto or as provided in a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, and they may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements printed, lithographed or engraved thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any securities exchange on which Securities of that series may be listed, or to conform to usage.
Section 2.03 Denominations: Provisions for Payment.
The Securities shall be issuable as registered Securities and in the denominations of one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof, subject to Section 2.01(a)(13). The Securities of a particular series shall bear interest payable on the dates and at the rate specified with respect to that series. Subject to Section 2.01(a)(23), the principal of and the interest on the Securities of any series, as well as any premium thereon in case of redemption or repurchase thereof prior to maturity, and any cash amount due upon conversion or exchange thereof, shall be payable in the coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time is legal tender for public and private debt, at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. Interest on the Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months.
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The interest installment on any Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of that series shall be paid to the Person in whose name said Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment. In the event that any Security of a particular series or portion thereof is called for redemption and the redemption date is subsequent to a regular record date with respect to any Interest Payment Date and prior to such Interest Payment Date, interest on such Security will be paid upon presentation and surrender of such Security as provided in Section 3.03.
Any interest on any Security that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of the same series (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered holder on the relevant regular record date by virtue of having been such holder; and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company, at its election, as provided in clause (1) or clause (2) below:
(1) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered in the Security Register at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner: the Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Company shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall not be more than 15 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of such special record date and in such notice instruct the Trustee to send the notice to the Securityholders, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be sent, to each Securityholder not less than 10 days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having been sent as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered in the Security Register on such special record date.
(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Securities in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.
Unless otherwise set forth in a Board Resolution or one or more indentures supplemental hereto establishing the terms of any series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof, the term
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“regular record date” as used in this Section with respect to a series of Securities and any Interest Payment Date for such series shall mean either the fifteenth day of the month immediately preceding the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the first day of a month, or the first day of the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the fifteenth day of a month, whether or not such date is a Business Day.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Security of a series delivered under this Indenture upon transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security of such series shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, that were carried by such other Security.
Section 2.04 Execution and Authentications.
The Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Company by one of its Officers. Signatures may be in the form of a manual, electronic or facsimile signature.
The Company may use the electronic or facsimile signature of any Person who shall have been an Officer (at the time of execution), notwithstanding the fact that at the time the Securities shall be authenticated and delivered or disposed of such Person shall have ceased to be such an officer of the Company. The Securities may contain such notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication by the Trustee.
A Security shall not be valid until authenticated manually by an authorized signatory of the Trustee, or by an Authenticating Agent. Such signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a written order of the Company for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, signed by an Officer, and the Trustee in accordance with such written order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities.
Upon the Company’s delivery of any such authentication order to the Trustee at any time after the initial issuance of Securities under this Indenture, the Trustee shall be provided with, and (subject to Sections 315(a) through 315(d) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall be fully protected in relying upon, (1) an Opinion of Counsel or reliance letter and (2) an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent to the execution, authentication and delivery of such Securities are in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture.
The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner that is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
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Section 2.05 Registration of Transfer and Exchange.
(a) Securities of any series may be exchanged upon presentation thereof at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose, for other Securities of such series of authorized denominations, and for a like aggregate principal amount, upon payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, all as provided in this Section. In respect of any Securities so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange therefor the Security or Securities of the same series that the Securityholder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive, bearing numbers not contemporaneously outstanding.
(b) The Company shall keep, or cause to be kept, at its office or agency designated for such purpose a register or registers (herein referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall register the Securities and the transfers of Securities as in this Article provided and which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Trustee. The registrar for the purpose of registering Securities and transfer of Securities as herein provided shall be appointed as authorized by Board Resolution or Supplemental Indenture (the “Security Registrar”).
Upon surrender for transfer of any Security at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose, the Company shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Security or Securities of the same series as the Security presented for a like aggregate principal amount.
The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Security Registrar for each series of Securities.
All Securities presented or surrendered for exchange or registration of transfer, as provided in this Section, shall be accompanied (if so required by the Company or the Security Registrar) by a written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company or the Security Registrar, duly executed by the registered holder or by such holder’s duly authorized attorney in writing.
(c) Except as provided pursuant to Section 2.01 pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental to this Indenture, no service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Securities, or issue of new Securities in case of partial redemption of any series or repurchase, conversion or exchange of less than the entire principal amount of a Security, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 2.06, Section 3.03(b) and Section 9.04 not involving any transfer.
(d) The Company and the Security Registrar shall not be required (i) to issue, exchange or register the transfer of any Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the sending of a notice of redemption of less than all the Outstanding Securities of the same series and ending at the close of business on the day of such sending, nor (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of any series or portions
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thereof called for redemption or surrendered for repurchase, but not validly withdrawn, other than the unredeemed portion of any such Securities being redeemed in part or not surrendered for repurchase, as the case may be. The provisions of this Section 2.05 are, with respect to any Global Security, subject to Section 2.11 hereof.
The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or among Depositary participants or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof. Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall have any responsibility or liability for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.
Section 2.06 Temporary Securities.
Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order, shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities (printed, lithographed or typewritten) of any authorized denomination. Such temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be determined by the Company. Every temporary Security of any series shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with like effect, as the definitive Securities of such series. Without unnecessary delay the Company will execute and will furnish definitive Securities of such series and thereupon any or all temporary Securities of such series may be surrendered in exchange therefor (without charge to the Securityholders), at the office or agency of the Company designated for the purpose, and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a Company Order, authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange for such temporary Securities an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of such series, unless the Company advises the Trustee to the effect that definitive Securities need not be executed and furnished until further notice from the Company. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of such series shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series authenticated and delivered hereunder.
Section 2.07 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities.
In case any temporary or definitive Security shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company (subject to the next succeeding sentence) shall execute, and upon the Company’s request in a Company Order, the Trustee (subject as aforesaid) shall authenticate and deliver, a new Security of the same series, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Security, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Security so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Security shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss
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or theft of the applicant’s Security and of the ownership thereof. The Trustee may authenticate any such substituted Security and deliver the same upon the written request or authorization of any officer of the Company in a Company Order. Upon the issuance of any substituted Security, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
In case any Security that has matured or is about to mature shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Security) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as they may require to save them harmless, and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to the satisfaction of the Company and the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Security and of the ownership thereof.
Every replacement Security issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be found at any time, or be enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of the same series duly issued hereunder. All Securities shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities, and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) any and all other rights or remedies, notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.
Section 2.08 Cancellation.
All Securities surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption, repurchase, exchange, registration of transfer or conversion shall, if surrendered to the Company or any paying agent (or any other applicable agent), be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, or, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be cancelled by it, and no Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly required or permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. On request of the Company at the time of such surrender, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company canceled Securities held by the Trustee. In the absence of such request the Trustee may dispose of canceled Securities in accordance with its standard procedures and deliver a certificate of disposition to the Company. If the Company shall otherwise acquire any of the Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the same are delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.09 Benefits of Indenture.
Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and the holders of the Securities any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Indenture, or under any covenant, condition or provision herein contained; all such covenants, conditions and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and of the holders of the Securities.
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Section 2.10 Authenticating Agent.
So long as any of the Securities of any series remain Outstanding there may be an Authenticating Agent for any or all such series of Securities which the Trustee shall have the right to appoint. Said Authenticating Agent shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon exchange, transfer or partial redemption, repurchase or conversion thereof, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. All references in this Indenture to the authentication of Securities by the Trustee shall be deemed to include authentication by an Authenticating Agent for such series. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall be a corporation that has a combined capital and surplus, as most recently reported or determined by it, sufficient under the laws of any jurisdiction under which it is organized or in which it is doing business to conduct a trust business, and that is otherwise authorized under such laws to conduct such business and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities. If at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with these provisions, it shall resign immediately.
Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time (and upon request by the Company shall) terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon resignation, termination or cessation of eligibility of any Authenticating Agent, the Trustee may appoint an eligible successor Authenticating Agent acceptable to the Company. Any successor Authenticating Agent, upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder, shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent pursuant hereto.
Section 2.11 Global Securities.
(a) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 2.01 that the Securities of a particular series are to be issued as a Global Security, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with Section 2.04, authenticate and deliver, a Global Security that (i) shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, all of the Outstanding Securities of such series, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction (or if the Depositary names the Trustee as its custodian, retained by the Trustee), and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: “Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.11 of the Indenture, this Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor Depositary or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.”
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.05, the Global Security of a series may be transferred, in whole but not in part and in the manner provided in Section 2.05, only to another nominee of the Depositary for such series, or to a successor Depositary for such series selected or approved by the Company or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.
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(c) If at any time the Depositary for a series of the Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such series or if at any time the Depositary for such series shall no longer be registered or in good standing under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, and a successor Depositary for such series is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such condition, as the case may be, or if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Company has received a request from the Depositary or from the Trustee, this Section 2.11 shall no longer be applicable to the Securities of such series and the Company will execute, and subject to Section 2.04, the Trustee will authenticate and deliver the Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security. In addition, the Company may at any time determine that the Securities of any series shall no longer be represented by a Global Security and that the provisions of this Section 2.11 shall no longer apply to the Securities of such series. In such event the Company will execute and, subject to Section 2.04, the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officer’s Certificate evidencing such determination by the Company, will authenticate and deliver the Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security. Upon the exchange of the Global Security for such Securities in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, the Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee. Such Securities in definitive registered form issued in exchange for the Global Security pursuant to this Section 2.11(c) shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such Securities to the Depositary for delivery to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.
Section 2.12 CUSIP Numbers.
The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Securityholders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other elements of identification printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the “CUSIP” numbers.
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ARTICLE 3
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS
Section 3.01 Redemption.
The Company may redeem the Securities of any series issued hereunder on and after the dates and in accordance with the terms established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof.
Section 3.02 Notice of Redemption.
(a) In case the Company shall desire to exercise such right to redeem all or, as the case may be, a portion of the Securities of any series in accordance with any right the Company reserved for itself to do so pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof, the Company shall, or shall cause the Trustee (upon 5 Business Days’ written notice, unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) to, give notice of such redemption to holders of the Securities of such series to be redeemed by mailing (or with regard to any Global Security held in book entry form, by electronic mail in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary), a notice of such redemption not less than 30 days and not more than 90 days before the date fixed for redemption of that series to such Securityholders, unless a shorter period is specified in the Securities to be redeemed. Any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the registered holder receives the notice. In any case, failure duly to give such notice to the holder of any Security of any series designated for redemption in whole or in part, or any defect in the notice, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities of such series or any other series. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officer’s Certificate evidencing compliance with any such restriction.
Each such notice of redemption shall identify the Securities to be redeemed (including CUSIP numbers, if any), specify the date fixed for redemption and the redemption price at which Securities of that series are to be redeemed, and shall state that payment of the redemption price of such Securities to be redeemed will be made at the office or agency of the Company, upon presentation and surrender of such Securities, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, that from and after said date interest will cease to accrue and that the redemption is from a sinking fund, if such is the case. If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the notice to the holders of Securities of that series to be redeemed in part shall specify the particular Securities to be so redeemed.
In case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice that relates to such Security shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed, and shall state that on and after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of such series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.
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(b) If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the Company shall give the Trustee at least 45 days’ notice (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) in advance of the date fixed for redemption as to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of the series to be redeemed, and thereupon the Securities to be redeemed shall be selected, by lot, on a pro rata basis, or in such other manner as the Company shall deem appropriate and fair in its discretion (and subject to the applicable procedures of the Depositary) and that may provide for the selection of a portion or portions (equal to one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of such Securities of a denomination larger than $1,000, the Securities to be redeemed and shall thereafter promptly notify the Company in writing of the numbers of the Securities to be redeemed, in whole or in part. The Company may, if and whenever it shall so elect, by delivery of instructions signed on its behalf by an Officer, instruct the Trustee or any paying agent to call all or any part of the Securities of a particular series for redemption and to give notice of redemption in the manner set forth in this Section, such notice to be in the name of the Company or its own name as the Trustee or such paying agent may deem advisable. In any case in which notice of redemption is to be given by the Trustee or any such paying agent, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to, or permit to remain with, the Trustee or such paying agent, as the case may be, such Security Register, transfer books or other records, or suitable copies or extracts therefrom, sufficient to enable the Trustee or such paying agent to give any notice by mail that may be required under the provisions of this Section.
Section 3.03 Payment Upon Redemption.
(a) If the giving of notice of redemption shall have been completed as above provided, the Securities or portions of Securities of the series to be redeemed specified in such notice shall become due and payable on the date and at the place stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption and interest on such Securities or portions of Securities shall cease to accrue on and after the date fixed for redemption, unless the Company shall default in the payment of such redemption price and accrued interest with respect to any such Security or portion thereof. On presentation and surrender of such Securities on or after the date fixed for redemption at the place of payment specified in the notice, said Securities shall be paid and redeemed at the applicable redemption price for such series, together with interest accrued thereon to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption (but if the date fixed for redemption is an Interest Payment Date, the interest installment payable on such date shall be payable to the registered holder at the close of business on the applicable record date pursuant to Section 2.03).
(b) Upon presentation of any Security of such series that is to be redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and the office or agency where the Security is presented shall deliver to the Securityholder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Security of the same series of authorized denominations in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security so presented.
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Section 3.04 Sinking Fund.
The provisions of Sections 3.04, 3.05 and 3.06 shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.01 for Securities of such series.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment”. If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 3.05. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.
Section 3.05 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.
The Company (i) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series and (ii) may apply as a credit Securities of a series that have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such series, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the redemption price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.
Section 3.06 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.
Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of the series, the portion thereof, if any, that is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 3.05 and the basis for such credit and will, together with such Officer’s Certificate, deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date shall be selected in the manner specified in Section 3.02 and the Company shall cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.02. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 3.03.
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ARTICLE 4
COVENANTS
Section 4.01 Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.
The Company will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of that series at the time and place and in the manner provided herein and established with respect to such Securities. Payments of principal on the Securities may be made at the time provided herein and established with respect to such Securities by U.S. dollar check drawn on and mailed to the address of the Securityholder entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register, or U.S. dollar wire transfer to, a U.S. dollar account if such Securityholder shall have furnished wire instructions to the Trustee no later than 15 days prior to the relevant payment date. Payments of interest on the Securities may be made at the time provided herein and established with respect to such Securities by U.S. dollar check mailed to the address of the Securityholder entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register, or U.S. dollar wire transfer to, a U.S. dollar account if such Securityholder shall have furnished wire instructions in writing to the Security Registrar and the Trustee no later than 15 days prior to the relevant payment date.
Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency.
So long as any series of the Securities remain Outstanding, the Company agrees to maintain an office or agency with respect to each such series and at such other location or locations as may be designated as provided in this Section 4.02, where (i) Securities of that series may be presented for payment, (ii) Securities of that series may be presented as herein above authorized for registration of transfer and exchange, and (iii) notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be given or made, such designation to continue with respect to such office or agency until the Company shall, by written notice signed by any officer authorized to sign an Officer’s Certificate and delivered to the Trustee, designate some other office or agency for such purposes or any of them. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, notices and demands; provided, however, the Trustee shall not be considered an agent of the Company for service of process. The Company initially appoints the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as its paying agent with respect to the Securities.
Section 4.03 Paying Agents.
(a) If the Company shall appoint one or more paying agents for all or any series of the Securities, other than the Trustee, the Company will cause each such paying agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section:
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(1) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of that series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor of such Securities) in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto;
(2) that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor of such Securities) to make any payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of that series when the same shall be due and payable;
(3) that it will, at any time during the continuance of any failure referred to in the preceding paragraph (a)(2) above, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such paying agent;
(4) that upon any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, readjustment, arrangement, composition or judicial proceedings affecting the Company, the Trustee will automatically be the Paying Agent; and
(5) that it will perform all other duties of paying agent as set forth in this Indenture.
(b) If the Company shall act as its own paying agent with respect to any series of the Securities, it will on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on Securities of that series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay such principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due on Securities of that series until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of such action, or any failure (by it or any other obligor on such Securities) to take such action. Whenever the Company shall have one or more paying agents for any series of Securities, it will, prior to each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with the paying agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of this action or failure so to act.
(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Section to the contrary, (i) the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section is subject to the provisions of Section 11.05, and (ii) the Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or direct any paying agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such paying agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same terms and conditions as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such paying agent; and, upon such payment by the Company or any paying agent to the Trustee, the Company or such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.
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Section 4.04 Appointment to Fill Vacancy in Office of Trustee.
The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 7.10, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.
ARTICLE 5
SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE
Section 5.01 Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Securityholders.
The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee (a) within 15 days after each regular record date (as defined in Section 2.03) a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the holders of each series of Securities as of such regular record date, provided that the Company shall not be obligated to furnish or cause to furnish such list at any time that the list shall not differ in any respect from the most recent list furnished to the Trustee by the Company and (b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished; provided, however, that, in either case, no such list need be furnished for any series for which the Trustee shall be the Security Registrar.
Section 5.02 Preservation Of Information; Communications With Securityholders.
(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the holders of Securities contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 and as to the names and addresses of holders of Securities received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar (if acting in such capacity).
(b) The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
(c) Securityholders may communicate as provided in Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and, in connection with any such communications, the Trustee shall satisfy its obligations under Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the provisions of Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 5.03 Reports by the Company.
(a) The Company will at all times comply with Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. The Company covenants and agrees to provide (which delivery may be via electronic mail) to the Trustee within 30 days, after the Company files the same with the
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Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company is required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, the Company shall not be required to deliver to the Trustee any correspondence filed with the Commission or any materials for which the Company has sought and received confidential treatment by the Commission; and provided further, that so long as such filings by the Company are available on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (EDGAR), or any successor system, such filings shall be deemed to have been filed with the Trustee for purposes hereof without any further action required by the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, a failure by the Company to file annual reports, information and other reports with the Commission within the time period prescribed thereof by the Commission shall not be deemed a breach of this Section 5.03.
(b) Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under Section 5.03 is for informational purposes only and the information and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute actual or constructive notice of any information contained therein, or determinable from information contained therein including the Company’s compliance with any of their covenants thereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on an Officer’s Certificate). The Trustee is under no duty to examine any such reports, information or documents delivered to the Trustee or filed with the Commission via EDGAR to ensure compliance with the provision of this Indenture or to ascertain the correctness or otherwise of the information or the statements contained therein. The Trustee shall have no responsibility or duty whatsoever to ascertain or determine whether the above referenced filings with the Commission on EDGAR (or any successor system) has occurred.
Section 5.04 Reports by the Trustee.
(a) If required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee, within sixty (60) days after each May 1, shall send to the Securityholders a brief report dated as of such May 1, which complies with Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(b) The Trustee shall comply with Section 313(b) and 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Securityholders, be filed by the Trustee with the Company, with each securities exchange upon which any Securities are listed (if so listed) and also with the Commission. The Company agrees to notify the Trustee when any Securities become listed on any securities exchange.
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ARTICLE 6
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT
Section 6.01 Events of Default.
(a) Whenever used herein with respect to Securities of a particular series, “Event of Default” means any one or more of the following events that has occurred and is continuing:
(1) the Company defaults in the payment of any installment of interest upon any of the Securities of that series, as and when the same shall become due and payable, and such default continues for a period of 90 days; provided, however, that a valid extension of an interest payment period by the Company in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental hereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose;
(2) the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any of the Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise, or in any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to that series; provided, however, that a valid extension of the maturity of such Securities in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental hereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any;
(3) the Company fails to observe or perform any other of its covenants or agreements with respect to that series contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to that series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof (other than a covenant or agreement that has been expressly included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Securities other than such series) for a period of 90 days after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder, shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee, by registered or certified mail, or to the Company and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities of that series at the time Outstanding;
(4) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law (i) commences a voluntary case, (ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case, (iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property or (iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or
(5) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order under any Bankruptcy Law that (i) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case, (ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company for all or substantially all of its property or (iii) orders the liquidation of the Company, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days.
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(b) In each and every such case (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (4) or clause (5) above), unless the principal of all the Securities of that series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by such Securityholders), may declare the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in clause (4) or clause (5) above occurs, the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Securities of that series shall automatically be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or the holders of the Securities.
(c) At any time after the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities of that series shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if: (i) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the Securities of that series and the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any and all Securities of that series that shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon such principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent that such payment is enforceable under applicable law, upon overdue installments of interest, at the rate per annum expressed in the Securities of that series to the date of such payment or deposit) and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.06, and (ii) any and all Events of Default under the Indenture with respect to such series, other than the nonpayment of principal on (and premium, if any, on) and accrued and unpaid interest on Securities of that series that shall not have become due by their terms, shall have been remedied or waived as provided in Section 6.06.
No such rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.
(d) In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right with respect to Securities of that series under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceedings, the Company and the Trustee shall be restored respectively to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company and the Trustee shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken.
Section 6.02 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.
(a) The Company covenants that (i) in case it shall default in the payment of any installment of interest on any of the Securities of a series, or in any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to that series as and when the same shall have become due and payable, and such default shall have continued for a period of 90 days, or (ii) in case it shall default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any of the
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Securities of a series when the same shall have become due and payable, whether upon maturity of the Securities of a series or upon redemption or upon declaration or otherwise then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the holders of the Securities of that series, the whole amount that then shall have been become due and payable on all such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) or interest, or both, as the case may be, with interest upon the overdue principal (and premium, if any) and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) upon overdue installments of interest at the rate per annum expressed in the Securities of that series; and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.06.
(b) If the Company shall fail to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or other obligor upon the Securities of that series and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law or equity out of the property of the Company or other obligor upon the Securities of that series, wherever situated.
(c) In case of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, readjustment, arrangement, composition or judicial proceedings affecting the Company, or its creditors or property, the Trustee shall have power to intervene in such proceedings and take any action therein that may be permitted by the court and shall (except as may be otherwise provided by law) be entitled to file such proofs of claim and other papers and documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and of the holders of Securities of such series allowed for the entire amount due and payable by the Company under the Indenture at the date of institution of such proceedings and for any additional amount that may become due and payable by the Company after such date, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claim, and to distribute the same after the deduction of the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.06; and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the holders of Securities of such series to make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to such Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it under Section 7.06.
(d) All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the terms established with respect to Securities of that series, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of such Securities, or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for payment to the Trustee of any amounts due under Section 7.06, be for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Securities of such series.
In case of an Event of Default hereunder, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial
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proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in the Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.
Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities of that series or the rights of any Securityholder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder in any such proceeding.
Section 6.03 Application of Moneys Collected.
Any moneys or property collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article with respect to a particular series of Securities shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such moneys or property on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, upon presentation of the Securities of that series, and notation thereon of the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
FIRST: To the payment of costs and expenses of collection and of all amounts payable to the Trustee under Section 7.06;
SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon Securities of such series for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, respectively; and
THIRD: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company or any other Person lawfully entitled thereto.
Section 6.04 Limitation on Suits.
No holder of any Security of any series shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless (i) such Securityholder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default and of the continuance thereof with respect to the Securities of such series specifying such Event of Default, as hereinbefore provided; (ii) the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action, suit or proceeding in its own name as Trustee hereunder; (iii) such Securityholder or Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request; (iv) the Trustee for 90 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity, shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or proceeding and (v) during such 90 day period, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of that series do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.
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Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary or any other provisions of this Indenture, the right of any holder of any Security to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Security, as therein provided, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates or redemption date, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such holder and by accepting a Security hereunder it is expressly understood, intended and covenanted by the taker and holder of every Security of such series with every other such taker and holder and the Trustee, that no one or more holders of Securities of such series shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of the holders of any other of such Securities, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearance are unduly prejudicial to such holders), except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all holders of Securities of such series. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section, each and every Securityholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.
Section 6.05 Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.07, all powers and remedies given by this Article to the Trustee or to the Securityholders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the holders of the Securities, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to such Securities.
(b) No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any holder of any of the Securities to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.04, every power and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or the Securityholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Securityholders.
Section 6.06 Control by Securityholders.
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding, determined in accordance with Section 8.04, shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to such series; provided, however, that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture or subject the Trustee in its sole discretion to personal liability. Subject to the
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provisions of Section 7.01, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer or officers of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed, subject to the Trustee’s duties under the Trust Indenture Act, would involve the Trustee in personal liability or might be unduly prejudicial to the Securityholders not involved in the proceeding. Prior to taking any action under this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnity or security satisfactory to it against loss, liability or expense that may be caused by taking such action. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding affected thereby, determined in accordance with Section 8.04, may on behalf of the holders of all of the Securities of such series waive any past default in the performance of any of the covenants contained herein or established pursuant to Section 2.01 with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any of the Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due by the terms of such Securities otherwise than by acceleration (unless such default has been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and principal and any premium has been deposited with the Trustee (in accordance with Section 6.01(c)). Upon any such waiver, the default covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of this Indenture and the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Securities of such series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.07 Undertaking to Pay Costs.
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each holder of any Securities by such holder’s acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security or established pursuant to this Indenture.
ARTICLE 7
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
Section 7.01 Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee.
(a) The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series and after the curing of all Events of Default with respect to the Securities of that series that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform with respect to the
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Securities of such series such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. In case an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series has occurred (that has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise with respect to Securities of that series such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
(b) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default with respect to that series that may have occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall with respect to the Securities of such series be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to the Securities of such series except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may with respect to the Securities of such series conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture;
(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable to any Securityholder or to any other Person for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Responsible Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of that series;
(iv) none of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if there is reasonable ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Indenture or adequate indemnity against such risk is not reasonably assured to it;
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(v) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers or duties hereunder;
(vi) The permissive right of the Trustee to do things enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty of the Trustee; and
(vii) No Trustee shall have any duty or responsibility for any act or omission of any other Trustee appointed with respect to a series of Securities hereunder.
Section 7.02 Certain Rights of Trustee.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01:
(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, security or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
(b) Any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution or an instrument signed in the name of the Company by any authorized Officer of the Company (unless other evidence in respect thereof is specifically prescribed herein);
(c) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel and the opinion or written advice of such counsel or, if requested, any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or suffered or omitted hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;
(d) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Securityholders pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall have offered (and if requested, provided) to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities that may be incurred therein or thereby; nothing contained herein shall, however, relieve the Trustee of the obligation, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to a series of the Securities (that has not been cured or waived), to exercise with respect to Securities of that series such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and to use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs;
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(e) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;
(f) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, security, or other papers or documents or inquire as to the performance by the Company of one of its covenants under this Indenture, unless requested in writing so to do by the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of the particular series affected thereby (determined as provided in Section 8.04); provided, however, that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require security or indemnity acceptable to the Trustee against such costs, expenses or liabilities as a condition to so proceeding. The reasonable expense of every such examination shall be paid by the Company or, if paid by the Trustee, shall be repaid by the Company upon demand;
(g) The Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;
(h) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances;
(i) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, incidental, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action. The provisions of this Section 7.02(i) shall survive the termination or discharge of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee; and
(j) The Trustee may accept and act upon instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by unsecured e-mail, facsimile transmission or other similar unsecured electronic methods; provided, however, that such instructions or directions shall be signed by an authorized representative of the party providing such instructions or directions. If the party elects to give the Trustee e-mail or facsimile instructions (or instructions by a similar electronic method) and the Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such instructions, the Trustee’s understanding of such instructions shall be deemed controlling. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reliance upon
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and compliance with such instructions notwithstanding such instructions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The party providing electronic instructions agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk or interception and misuse by third parties. The Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to furnish the Trustee with Officer’s Certificates, Company Orders and any other matters or directions pursuant to this Indenture;
(k) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder and under the Securities, and each agent, custodian or other person employed to act under this Indenture; and
(l) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default (other than an Event of Default constituting the failure to pay the interest on, or the principal of, the Securities if the Trustee also serves as the paying agent for such Securities) until the Trustee shall have received written notification in the manner set forth in this Indenture or a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have obtained actual knowledge.
Section 7.03 Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance or Securities.
(a) The recitals contained herein and in the Securities shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee shall not be responsible for any statement in any registration statement, prospectus, or any other document in connection with the sale of Securities. The Trustee shall not be responsible for any rating on the Securities or any action or omission of any rating agency.
(b) The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities.
(c) The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any of the Securities or of the proceeds of such Securities, or for the use or application of any moneys paid over by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture or established pursuant to Section 2.01, or for the use or application of any moneys received by any paying agent other than the Trustee.
Section 7.04 May Hold Securities.
The Trustee or any paying agent or Security Registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, paying agent or Security Registrar.
Section 7.05 Moneys Held in Trust.
Subject to the provisions of Section 11.05, all moneys received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were
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received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any moneys received by it hereunder except such as it may agree with the Company to pay thereon.
Section 7.06 Compensation and Reimbursement.
(a) The Company shall pay to the Trustee for each of its capacities hereunder from time to time compensation for its services as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree upon in writing. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by it. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.
(b) The Company shall indemnify each of the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder against any loss, liability or expense (including the cost of defending itself and including the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel) incurred by it except as set forth in Section 7.06(c) in the exercise or performance of its powers, rights or duties under this Indenture as Trustee or Agent. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have one separate counsel and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. This indemnification shall apply to officers, directors, employees, shareholders and agents of the Trustee.
(c) The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee or by any officer, director, employee, shareholder or agent of the Trustee through negligence or bad faith.
(d) To ensure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities on all funds or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of or interest on particular Securities. When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(4) or (5), the expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for services in connection therewith are to constitute expenses of administration under any bankruptcy law. The provisions of this Section 7.06 shall survive the termination of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.
Section 7.07 Reliance on Officer’s Certificate.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it reasonably necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering or omitting to take any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) will, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee and such certificate, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.
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Section 7.08 Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.
If the Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting interest” within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee and the Company shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 7.09 Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.
There shall at all times be a Trustee with respect to the Securities issued hereunder which shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or a corporation or other Person permitted to act as trustee by the Commission, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least fifty million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial, or District of Columbia authority.
If such corporation or other Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation or other Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. The Company may not, nor may any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company, serve as Trustee. In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 7.10.
Section 7.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.
(a) The Trustee or any successor hereafter appointed may at any time resign with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company and the Securityholders of such series. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee with respect to Securities of such series by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor trustee. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the sending of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to Securities of such series, or any Securityholder of that series who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months may on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.
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(b) In case at any time any one of the following shall occur:
(i) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 7.08 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months; or
(ii) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.09 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Securityholder; or
(iii) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or commence a voluntary bankruptcy proceeding, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or consented to, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation;
then, in any such case, the Company may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities and appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor trustee, or any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of that holder and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee.
(c) The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee with respect to such series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company and may appoint a successor Trustee for such series with the consent of the Company.
(d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of a series pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section 7.11.
(e) Any successor trustee appointed pursuant to this Section may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more series or all of such series, and at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series.
Section 7.11 Acceptance of Appointment By Successor.
(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the successor trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of any amounts due to it pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.06, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor trustee all the rights, powers, and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.
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(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor trustee shall accept such appointment and which (i) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates, (ii) shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (iii) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust, that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee and that no Trustee shall be responsible for any act or failure to act on the part of any other Trustee hereunder; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein, such retiring Trustee shall with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates have no further responsibility for the exercise of rights and powers or for the performance of the duties and obligations vested in the Trustee under this Indenture, and each such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor trustee, to the extent contemplated by such supplemental indenture, the property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates.
(c) Upon request of any such successor trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, as the case may be.
(d) No successor trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.
(e) Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided in this Section, the Company shall send notice of the succession of such trustee hereunder to the Securityholders. If the Company fails to send such notice within ten days after acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be sent at the expense of the Company.
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Section 7.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.
Any entity into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any entity resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any entity succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, including the administration of the trust created by this Indenture, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided that such entity shall be qualified under the provisions of Section 7.08 and eligible under the provisions of Section 7.09, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.
Section 7.13 Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company.
The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, excluding any creditor relationship described in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent included therein.
Section 7.14 Notice of Default.
If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if such Event of Default is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall send to each Securityholder in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act notice of the Event of Default within the earlier of 90 days after it occurs and 30 days after it is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee or written notice of it is received by the Trustee, unless such Event of Default has been cured; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Securityholders.
ARTICLE 8
CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS
Section 8.01 Evidence of Action by Securityholders.
Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the holders of a majority or specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such action the holders of such majority or specified percentage of that series have joined therein may be evidenced by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by such holders of Securities of that series in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing.
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If the Company shall solicit from the Securityholders of any series any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, the Company may, at its option, as evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate, fix in advance a record date for such series for the determination of Securityholders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action may be given before or after the record date, but only the Securityholders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Securityholders for the purposes of determining whether Securityholders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities of that series have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities of that series shall be computed as of the record date; provided, however, that no such authorization, agreement or consent by such Securityholders on the record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the record date.
Section 8.02 Proof of Execution by Securityholders.
Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder (such proof will not require notarization) or his or her agent or proxy and proof of the holding by any Person of any of the Securities shall be sufficient if made in the following manner:
(a) The fact and date of the execution by any such Person of any instrument may be proved in any reasonable manner acceptable to the Trustee.
(b) The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register of such Securities or by a certificate of the Security Registrar thereof.
The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section as it shall deem necessary.
Section 8.03 Who May be Deemed Owners.
Prior to the due presentment for registration of transfer of any Security, the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent and any Security Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name such Security shall be registered upon the books of the Security Registrar as the absolute owner of such Security (whether or not such Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing thereon made by anyone other than the Security Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.03) interest on such Security and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Security Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
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Section 8.04 Certain Securities Owned by Company Disregarded.
In determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Securities of a particular series have concurred in any direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture, the Securities of that series that are owned by the Company or any other obligor on the Securities of that series or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under common control with the Company or any other obligor on the Securities of that series shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination, except that for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent or waiver, only Securities of such series that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. The Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding for the purposes of this Section, if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not a Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any such other obligor. In case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee.
Section 8.05 Actions Binding on Future Securityholders.
At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 8.01, of the taking of any action by the holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any holder of a Security of that series that is shown by the evidence to be included in the Securities the holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee, and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 8.02, revoke such action so far as concerns such Security. Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of such Security, and of any Security issued in exchange therefor, on registration of transfer thereof or in place thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Security. Any action taken by the holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding upon the Company, the Trustee and the holders of all the Securities of that series.
ARTICLE 9
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section 9.01 Supplemental Indentures Without the Consent of Securityholders.
In addition to any supplemental indenture otherwise authorized by this Indenture, the Company and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect), without the consent of the Securityholders, for one or more of the following purposes:
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(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect, or inconsistency herein or in the Securities of any series;
(b) to comply with Article Ten;
(c) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;
(d) to add to the covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions relating to the Company for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series), to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and the continuance, of a default in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an Event of Default, or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company;
(e) to add to, delete from, or revise the conditions, limitations, and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms, or purposes of issue, authentication, and delivery of Securities, as herein set forth;
(f) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder in any material respect;
(g) to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the Securities of any series as provided in Section 2.01, to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or any series of Securities, or to add to the rights of the holders of any series of Securities;
(h) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor trustee; or
(i) to comply with any requirements of the Commission or any successor in connection with the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.
The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the holders of any of the Securities at the time Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.02.
Section 9.02 Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Securityholders.
With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 8.01) of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series affected by such
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supplemental indenture or indentures at the time Outstanding, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect) for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner not covered by Section 9.01 the rights of the holders of the Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the holders of each Security then Outstanding and affected thereby, (a) extend the fixed maturity of any Securities of any series, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof or (b) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders of any series affected thereby under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof. The Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Section 9.03 Effect of Supplemental Indentures.
Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Section 10.01, this Indenture shall, with respect to such series, be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of Securities of the series affected thereby shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
Section 9.04 Securities Affected by Supplemental Indentures.
Securities of any series affected by a supplemental indenture, authenticated and delivered after the execution of such supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Section 10.01, may bear a notation in form approved by the Company, provided such form meets the requirements of any securities exchange upon which such series may be listed, as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of that series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Securities of that series then Outstanding.
Section 9.05 Execution of Supplemental Indentures.
Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by its Board Resolutions authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence
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of the consent of Securityholders required to consent thereto as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion but shall not be obligated to enter into such supplemental indenture. The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, shall receive an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article is authorized or permitted by the terms of this Article and that all conditions precedent to the execution of the supplemental indenture have been complied with; provided, however, that such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel need not be provided in connection with the execution of a supplemental indenture that establishes the terms of a series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof.
Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Company shall (or shall direct the Trustee to) send a notice, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the Securityholders of all series affected thereby .as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. Any failure of the Company to send, or cause the sending of, such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.
ARTICLE 10
SUCCESSOR ENTITY
Section 10.01 Company May Consolidate, Etc.
Nothing contained in this Indenture shall prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company) or successive consolidations or mergers in which the Company or its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of the property of the Company or its successor or successors as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company or its successor or successors); provided, however, the Company hereby covenants and agrees that, upon any such consolidation or merger (in each case, if the Company is not the survivor of such transaction) or any such sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition (other than a sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition to a Subsidiary of the Company), the due and punctual payment of the principal of (premium, if any) and interest on all of the Securities of all series in accordance with the terms of each series, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of this Indenture with respect to each series or established with respect to such series pursuant to Section 2.01 to be kept or performed by the Company shall be expressly assumed, by supplemental indenture (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, as then in effect) reasonably satisfactory in form to the Trustee executed and delivered to the Trustee by the entity formed by such consolidation, or into which the Company shall have been merged, or by the entity which shall have acquired such property.
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Section 10.02 Successor Entity Substituted.
(a) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition and upon the assumption by the successor entity by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the obligations set forth under Section 10.01 on all of the Securities of all series Outstanding, such successor entity shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company with the same effect as if it had been named as the Company herein, and thereupon the predecessor corporation shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.
(b) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.
(c) Nothing contained in this Article shall require any action by the Company in the case of a consolidation or merger of any Person into the Company where the Company is the survivor of such transaction, or the acquisition by the Company, by purchase or otherwise, of all or any part of the property of any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company).
ARTICLE 11
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section 11.01 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.
If at any time: (a) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities of a series theretofore authenticated and not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (other than any Securities that shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.07 and Securities for whose payment money or Governmental Obligations have theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereupon repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 11.05); or (b) all such Securities of a particular series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Company shall deposit or cause to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds the entire amount in moneys or Governmental Obligations or a combination thereof, sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay at maturity or upon redemption all Securities of that series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal (and premium, if any) and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and if the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder with respect to such series by the Company then this Indenture shall thereupon cease to be of further effect with respect to such series except for the provisions of Sections 2.03, 2.05, 2.07, 4.01, 4.02, 4.03, 7.10, 11.05 and 13.04, that shall survive until the date of maturity or redemption date, as the case may be, and Sections 7.06 and 11.05, that shall survive to such date and thereafter, and the Trustee, on demand of the Company and at the cost and expense of the Company shall execute such instruments reasonably requested by the Company acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture with respect to such series.
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Section 11.02 Discharge of Obligations.
If at any time all such Securities of a particular series not heretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or that have not become due and payable as described in Section 11.01 shall have been paid by the Company by depositing irrevocably with the Trustee as trust funds moneys or an amount of Governmental Obligations sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all such Securities of that series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal (and premium, if any) and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and if the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to such series, then after the date such moneys or Governmental Obligations, as the case may be, are deposited with the Trustee the obligations of the Company under this Indenture with respect to such series shall cease to be of further effect except for the provisions of Sections 2.03, 2.05, 2.07, 4,01, 4.02, 4,03, 7.06, 7.10, 11.05 and 13.04 hereof that shall survive until such Securities shall mature and be paid.
Thereafter, Sections 7.06 and 11.05 shall survive.
Section 11.03 Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust.
All moneys or Governmental Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Sections 11.01 or 11.02 shall be held in trust and shall be available for payment as due, either directly or through any paying agent (including the Company acting as its own paying agent), to the holders of the particular series of Securities for the payment or redemption of which such moneys or Governmental Obligations have been deposited with the Trustee.
Section 11.04 Payment of Moneys Held by Paying Agents.
In connection with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture all moneys or Governmental Obligations then held by any paying agent under the provisions of this Indenture shall, upon demand of the Company, be paid to the Trustee and thereupon such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations.
Section 11.05 Repayment to Company.
Any moneys or Governmental Obligations deposited with any paying agent or the Trustee, or then held by the Company, in trust for payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of a particular series that are not applied but remain unclaimed by the holders of such Securities for at least two years after the date upon which the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on such Securities shall have respectively become due and payable, or such other shorter period set forth in applicable escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property law, shall be repaid to the Company on May 31 of each year or upon the Company’s request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and thereupon the paying
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agent and the Trustee shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations, and the holder of any of the Securities entitled to receive such payment shall thereafter, as a general creditor, look only to the Company for the payment thereof.
ARTICLE 12
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Section 12.01 No Recourse.
No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this Indenture, or of any Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, past, present or future as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any such predecessor or successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that this Indenture and the obligations issued hereunder are solely corporate obligations, and that no such personal liability whatever shall attach to, or is or shall be incurred by, the incorporators, stockholders, officers or directors as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, or any of them, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom; and that any and all such personal liability of every name and nature, either at common law or in equity or by constitution or statute, of, and any and all such rights and claims against, every such incorporator, stockholder, officer or director as such, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom, are hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issuance of such Securities.
ARTICLE 13
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 13.01 Effect on Successors and Assigns.
All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture made by or on behalf of the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
Section 13.02 Actions by Successor.
Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the corresponding board, committee or officer of any corporation that shall at the time be the lawful successor of the Company.
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Section 13.03 Surrender of Company Powers.
The Company by instrument in writing executed by authority of its Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee may surrender any of the powers reserved to the Company, and thereupon such power so surrendered shall terminate both as to the Company and as to any successor corporation.
Section 13.04 Notices.
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any notice, request or demand that by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given, made or served by the Trustee, the Security Registrar, any paying or other agent under this Indenture or by the holders of Securities or by any other Person pursuant to this Indenture to or on the Company may be given or served by being deposited in first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Trustee), as follows: Abivax SA, Attn: Chief Financial Officer, 7-11 boulevard Haussmann, 76009 Paris, France. Any notice, election, request or demand by the Company or any Securityholder or by any other Person pursuant to this Indenture to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.
Section 13.05 Governing Law; Jury Trial Waiver.
This Indenture and each Security shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act is applicable.
EACH PARTY HERETO, AND EACH HOLDER OF A SECURITY BY ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS INDENTURE.
Section 13.06 Treatment of Securities as Debt.
It is intended that the Securities will be treated as indebtedness and not as equity for federal income tax purposes. The provisions of this Indenture shall be interpreted to further this intention.
Section 13.07 Certificates and Opinions as to Conditions Precedent.
(a) Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture (other than the certificate to be delivered pursuant to Section 13.12) relating to the proposed action have been complied with and, if requested, an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or demand as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.
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(b) Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant in this Indenture (other than the certificate to be delivered pursuant to Section 13.12 of this Indenture or Section 314(a)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall include (i) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (ii) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based; (iii) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he has made such examination or investigation as is reasonably necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (iv) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
Section 13.08 Payments on Business Days.
Except as provided pursuant to Section 2.01 pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental to this Indenture, in any case where the date of maturity of interest or principal of any Security or the date of redemption of any Security shall not be a Business Day, then payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the nominal date of maturity or redemption, and no interest shall accrue for the period after such nominal date.
Section 13.09 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.
If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Section 318(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control.
Section 13.10 Counterparts.
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
Section 13.11 Separability.
In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in the Securities of any series shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of such Securities, but this Indenture and such Securities shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.
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Section 13.12 Compliance Certificates.
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year during which any Securities of any series were outstanding, an Officer’s Certificate stating whether or not the signers know of any Event of Default that occurred during such fiscal year. Such certificate shall contain a certification from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer of the Company that a review has been conducted of the activities of the Company and the Company’s performance under this Indenture and that the Company has complied with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture. For purposes of this Section 13.12, such compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under this Indenture. If the officer of the Company signing such certificate has knowledge of such an Event of Default, the certificate shall describe any such Event of Default and its status.
Section 13.13 U.S.A Patriot Act.
The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.
Section 13.14 Force Majeure.
In no event shall the Trustee, the Security Registrar, any paying agent or any other agent under this Indenture be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, epidemics, pandemics and interruptions, loss or malfunctions or utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee, the Security Registrar, any paying agent or any other agent under this Indenture shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
Section 13.15 Table of Contents; Headings.
The table of contents and headings of the articles and sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof, and will not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
[remainder of page intentionally left blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed all as of the day and year first above written.
| ABIVAX SA | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
[Signature Page to Indenture]
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE (1)
| Section of Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as Amended |
Section of Indenture | |
| 310(a) | 7.09 | |
| 310(b) | 7.08 | |
| 7.10 | ||
| 310(c) | Inapplicable | |
| 311(a) | 7.13 | |
| 311(b) | 7.13 | |
| 311(c) | Inapplicable | |
| 312(a) | 5.01 | |
| 5.02(a) | ||
| 312(b) | 5.02(c) | |
| 312(c) | 5.02(c) | |
| 313(a) | 5.04(a) | |
| 313(b) | 5.04(b) | |
| 313(c) | 5.04(a) | |
| 5.04(b) | ||
| 313(d) | 5.04(c) | |
| 314(a) | 5.03 | |
| 13.12 | ||
| 314(b) | Inapplicable | |
| 314(c) | 13.07(a) | |
| 314(d) | Inapplicable | |
| 314(e) | 13.07(b) | |
| 314(f) | Inapplicable | |
| 315(a) | 7.01(a) | |
| 7.01(b) | ||
| 315(b) | 7.14 | |
| 315(c) | 7.01 | |
| 315(d) | 7.01(b) | |
| 315(e) | 6.07 | |
| 316(a) | 6.06 | |
| 8.04 | ||
| 316(b) | 6.04 | |
| 316(c) | 8.01 | |
| 317(a) | 6.02 | |
| 317(b) | 4.03 | |
| 318(a) | 13.09 |
| (1) | This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Indenture and shall not have any bearing on the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions. |
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Exhibit 5.1
June 30, 2026
Abivax S.A.
7-11 boulevard Haussmann
75009 Paris
France
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are acting as special French counsel to Abivax S.A., a société anonyme organized under the laws of France (the “Company”), in connection with the authorization of the possible issuance and sale from time to time, on a delayed basis, pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), by the Company of (i) ordinary shares of the Company (the “Ordinary Shares”); (ii) American Depositary Shares representing Ordinary Shares (the “American Depositary Shares”); and/or (iii) senior notes convertible into American Depositary Shares (the “Notes”); and/or (iv) warrants to purchase Ordinary Shares (the “Warrants”, and together with the Ordinary Shares, the American Depositary Shares and the Notes, the “Securities”), in each case as contemplated by the Registration Statement on Form F-3ASR as filed by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) to which this opinion (the “Opinion”) is filed as an exhibit (as the same may be amended from time to time, the “Registration Statement”).
In connection with the opinions expressed herein, we have examined and relied on originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of such documents, records and such agreements, certificates and receipts of public officials, certificates of officers or other representatives of the Company and others, and such other documents as we have deemed relevant or necessary for purposes of such opinions. Based on the foregoing, and subject to the further limitations, qualifications and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
1. The Ordinary Shares, when (a) the extraordinary shareholders’ meeting of the Company, the Board of Directors (Conseil d’Administration) of the Company (the “Board”) and, if applicable, the Chief Executive Officer (Directeur Général), will have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance of, and establish the terms of, the offering of the Ordinary Shares and related matters, and (b) issued, sold and delivered in the manner and for the consideration stated in the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting, placement or similar agreement approved by the Board, as the case may be, upon payment of the consideration provided therein to the Company and issuance of the depositary certificate (certificat du dépositaire) in respect thereof, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
2. The American Depositary Shares, when (a) the extraordinary shareholders’ meeting of the Company, the Board and, if applicable, the Chief Executive Officer (Directeur Général), will have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance of, and establish the terms of, the offering of the American Depositary Shares and related matters, and (b) issued, sold and delivered in the manner and for the consideration stated in the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting, placement or similar agreement approved by the Board, as the case may be, upon payment of the consideration provided therein to the Company and issuance of the depositary certificate (certificat du dépositaire) in respect thereof, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
3. The Notes, when (a) the extraordinary shareholders’ meeting of the Company, the Board and, if applicable, the Chief Executive Officer (Directeur Général), will have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance of, and establish the terms of, the offering of the Notes and related matters, and (b) issued, sold and delivered in the manner and for the consideration stated in the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting, placement or similar agreement approved by the Board, as the case may be, upon payment of the consideration provided therein to the Company, will be validly issued.
4. The Warrants, when (a) the extraordinary shareholders’ meeting of the Company, the Board and, if applicable, the Chief Executive Officer (Directeur Général), have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance of, and establish the terms of, the offering of the Warrants and related matters, and (b) issued, sold and delivered in the manner and for the consideration stated in the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting, placement or similar agreement approved by the Board, as the case may be, upon payment of the consideration provided therein to the Company, will be validly issued.
The term “non-assessable”, which has no recognized meaning in French law, for the purposes of this Opinion means that no present or future holder of ordinary shares will be subject to personal liability, by reason of being such a holder, for additional payments or calls for further funds by the Company or any other person after the issuance of the Ordinary Shares.
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In rendering the foregoing Opinion, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as original documents, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies, the completeness and accuracy of all such documents as at the date of this Opinion, the legal capacity of natural persons who are signatories to the documents examined by us and the legal power and authority of all persons signing on behalf of the parties to all documents (other than the Company). We have further assumed that:
| (i) | the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto, will have become effective under the Securities Act (and will remain effective at the time of issuance of any Securities thereunder); |
| (ii) | a prospectus supplement describing each class and/or series of Securities offered pursuant to the Registration Statement, to the extent required by applicable law and the relevant rules and regulations of the Commission will be timely filed with the Commission; |
| (iii) | the resolutions authorizing the Company to issue, offer and sell the Securities as adopted by the extraordinary shareholders’ meeting of the Company, the Board and, if applicable, the Chief Executive Officer (Directeur Général), will be in full force and effect at all times at which the Securities are issued, offered or sold by the Company; |
| (iv) | the definitive terms of the Securities will have been established in accordance with the authorizing resolutions adopted by the ordinary and extraordinary shareholders’ meeting of the Company, the Board and, if applicable, the Chief Executive Officer (Directeur Général), the Company’s By-laws and applicable law; |
| (v) | the Company will issue and deliver the Securities in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement and the amount of Securities issued will remain within the limits of the then authorized but unissued amounts of such Securities; |
| (vi) | all Securities will be issued in compliance with applicable securities and corporate law; |
| (vii) | any deposit agreement, indenture, purchase contract agreement or similar agreement will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of each of the parties thereto, enforceable against each such party in accordance with its terms under any applicable laws and, in any jurisdiction where any such obligation falls to be performed, and such performance will not be illegal or ineffective by virtue of the laws or doctrines of public policy of that jurisdiction. |
| (viii) | all required authorizations of any kind (including corporate, legal, regulatory, governmental, contractual, etc.), will have been validly and unconditionally obtained by any appropriate means by each signatory to any deposit agreement, indenture, purchase contract agreement or similar agreement, and remain in full force and effect; |
| (ix) | all formalities, deeds, acts, and procedures required under any applicable laws (excluding, in respect of the Company only, the laws of France, but subject to the other assumptions set out herein) in order to ensure the validity between the parties and enforceability (opposabilité) of any deposit agreement, indenture, purchase contract agreement or similar agreement, will have been duly carried out and performed, except where no such formalities, deeds, acts, or procedures are required to this effect under said laws; |
| (x) | there has been no oral modification of, or amendment or supplement (including any express or implied waiver, however arising) to, any of the agreements, documents or instruments used by us to form the basis of the Opinion expressed above, and that such documents are in full force and effect at all times at which the Securities are issued, offered, or sold by the Company; |
| (xi) | the electronic process used to establish, sign, keep and make available to the parties to any deposit agreement, indenture, purchase contract agreement or similar agreement, and any transfer document from time to time, will comply with the conditions required for such documents to produce the same effects and have the same value as a matter of proof as if they had been established, signed, kept and made available in hard copy, as provided for by articles 1366 and 1367 of the French Civil Code (and the related decree) and the last paragraph of article 1375 of the French Civil Code; |
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| (xii) | the Company’s board meetings and shareholders’ meeting authorizing the Company to issue, offer and sell the Securities were duly convened and held, the required quorums were, in each event, duly satisfied, and the directors were duly appointed and were validly exercising their term of office in accordance with the constitutive documents of the Company and all laws applicable to it; |
| (xiii) | no decision, proceedings, filing or request relating to any proceedings set out in Book VI of the French Commercial Code (Livre VI du Code de commerce) has been taken, initiated or filed against the Company, and the Company is not insolvent or unable to meet its liabilities either immediately or in the near future (en état de cessation des paiements) within the meaning of articles L. 620-1 to L. 670-8 of the French Commercial Code or any applicable insolvency law, and the Company will not become unable to do so as a result of entering into and performing its obligations under any deposit agreement, indenture, purchase contract agreement or similar agreement; |
| (xiv) | each member of the corporate bodies of the Company and each of the persons holding a mandat social (corporate management mandate) within the Company holds its position or mandate in each case in compliance with all applicable laws; all consents, formalities, or licenses for the performance of their roles have been obtained and are being complied with; the corporate resolutions pursuant to which each of the persons holding a mandat social (corporate management mandate) was appointed have not been amended or revoked, and such corporate resolutions are in full force and effect as at the date hereof and, where applicable, were validly adopted by the competent corporate bodies of the Company (or legal entity holding a mandat social (corporate management mandate) within the Company) convened, composed, held, or taken (as the case may be) in accordance with then-applicable laws. |
This Opinion is furnished to you in connection with the legal matters enumerated above, speaks only as of the date hereof, and is limited to the laws of France as in effect on the date hereof as currently construed by the French Conseil Constitutionnel, Cour de Cassation, and Conseil d’État in their decisions as published in major legal journals. We do not express any opinion as to any laws other than French laws as in effect on the date hereof. The Opinion is given as to matters of French law only and has been prepared without considering the implications of any laws of any jurisdiction (including those jurisdictions in which our firm has an office or correspondent) other than the French Republic. We express no opinion as to matters of fact. We did not establish or verify the accuracy of facts or the reasonableness of any statement or intention contained in the Registration Statement, or verify that no substantial fact or contractual stipulation has been omitted from the Registration Statement. This Opinion is strictly confined to the specific matters of French law expressly stated herein (as qualified by the qualifications and subject to the assumptions set forth in this matter), is not to be read as extending by implication to any other matter in connection with the Registration Statement, and should not be treated as detailed and comprehensive legal advice pertaining to any legal or tax matter in connection with the Registration Statement. In particular, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, we express no opinion as to tax matters. We have not undertaken to inform you of any subsequent changes in French law, in the legal status of the Company, or any other fact that hereafter may come to our attention and would be likely to affect the matters evoked herein, and shall have no duty in this respect.
The Opinion expressed above is subject to the following qualifications:
| (i) | This Opinion is subject to the effect of any laws or regulations relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, ad hoc mandate (mandat ad hoc), conciliation, accelerated judicial safeguard (procédure de sauvegarde accélérée), judicial recovery proceedings (redressement judiciaire) or judicial liquidation proceedings (liquidation judiciaire), winding-up, or any other analogous proceedings or circumstances and, as a general rule, subject to the effect of any laws or regulations amending and/or protecting the creditors’ rights. In particular, we do not express any opinion herein as to the enforceability and effectiveness of rights, obligations or recourses of any party to the documents examined by us in the event where one of the proceedings set out in Book VI of the French Commercial code (Livre VI du Code de commerce) would be initiated, or any other similar proceedings would be initiated in a foreign jurisdiction. |
| (ii) | This Opinion is subject to French courts’ sovereign powers of interpretation of agreements (to find out the original intention of the parties when it has not been clearly stated) and appreciation of facts. |
| (iii) | Pursuant to the provisions of article 61-1 of the French Constitution, any person may, in connection with a proceeding pending before a court, argue that a law violates the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. A provision declared unconstitutional on that basis would be repealed from the publication of the decision of the Conseil Constitutionnel or a later date fixed by the relevant decision. |
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| The Conseil Constitutionnel determines the conditions and limits within which the effects that the provision has produced are likely to be challenged. We express no opinion as to the conformity of any provisions of any law with the French Constitution or as to the impact of the unconstitutionality of any provision of any law on the documents examined by us. |
| (iv) | As French courts are not bound by their previous judicial decisions or those of other courts, the case law may vary over time and, in some cases, result from ad hoc decisions. |
As to facts material to the opinions and assumptions expressed herein, we have relied upon written statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company. This Opinion is subject to the sovereign power of the French courts to interpret the facts and circumstances of any adjudication. This Opinion is given on the basis that it is to be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the Republic of France.
This Opinion is addressed to you solely for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement.
It is not to be transmitted to anyone else nor is it to be relied upon by anyone else or for any other purpose or quoted or referred to in any public document (other than the Registration Statement) or filed with anyone without our prior written express consent.
We hereby consent to the filing of this Opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe (Europe) LLP under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus constituting a part of such Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder and we assume no duty or liability whatsoever to, and do not accept any client-attorney relationship with, any person or entity, other than the Company.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe (Europe) LLP
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| Divakar Gupta +1 212 479-6474 dgupta@cooley.com |
Exhibit 5.2 |
June 30, 2026
Abivax SA
7-11 boulevard Haussmann
75009 Paris, France
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special U.S. counsel to Abivax SA, a société anonyme incorporated under the laws of the French Republic (the “Company”), in connection with the filing by the Company of a Registration Statement on Form F-3 (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Registration Statement includes a prospectus (the “Base Prospectus”) that provides it will be supplemented in the future by one or more prospectus supplements (each, a “Prospectus Supplement”). The Registration Statement including the Base Prospectus (as supplemented from time to time by one or more Prospectus Supplements), will provide for the registration by the Company of the sale of the following securities:
| | ordinary shares, nominal value 0.01 per share (the “Ordinary Shares”), including Ordinary Shares represented by American Depositary Shares (the “ADSs”); |
| | debt securities, in one or more series (the “Debt Securities”), which may be issued pursuant to an indenture to be dated on or about the date of the first issuance of Debt Securities thereunder, by and between a trustee to be selected by the Company (the “Trustee”) and the Company in the form filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the Registration Statement and one or more indentures supplemental thereto with respect to any particular series of Debt Securities (the “Indenture”); and |
| | warrants to purchase Ordinary Shares, ADSs, or Debt Securities (the “Warrants”), which may be issued under any separate warrant agreement to be entered into between the Company and one or more purchasers of such warrants (the “Warrant Agreement”). |
The Ordinary Shares, the Debt Securities and the Warrants are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.” The Securities are being registered for offer and sale from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act.
In rendering this opinion, we have examined and relied upon the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and such other records, documents, certificates, opinions, memoranda and instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinion expressed below. We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures; the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals; the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as copies; the accuracy, completeness and authenticity of certificates of public officials; and the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents. As to certain factual matters, we have relied upon a certificate of an officer of the Company and have not independently verified such matters. We are not hereby rendering any opinion with respect to any Ordinary Shares issuable upon the conversion or exercise, as applicable, of any Debt Securities or any Warrants.
Abivax SA
June 30, 2026
Page 2
We have assumed that (i) the Company is validly existing under the laws of the French Republic, has the corporate power to enter into and perform its obligations under the Debt Securities, the Indenture and the Warrants in accordance with their terms, (ii) upon issuance, the Company will have duly authorized, executed and delivered the Debt Securities, the Indenture and the Warrants in accordance with its organizational documents and the laws of the French Republic, (iii) any Ordinary Shares issued upon conversion of the Debt Securities, or upon exercise of Warrants will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and (iv) the execution and delivery, and performance by the Company of its obligations under the Debt Securities, the Indenture and the Warrants will not violate the laws of the French Republic or any other applicable laws (excepting from such assumption the laws of the State of New York). We have also assumed that any Debt Securities offered under the Registration Statement and the related Indenture will be executed in the forms filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement.
Our opinion herein is expressed solely with respect to the laws of the State of New York. Our opinion is based on these laws as in effect on the date hereof. We express no opinion to the extent that any other laws are applicable to the subject matter hereof and express no opinion and provide no assurance as to compliance with any federal or state securities law, rule or regulation.
On the basis of the foregoing, in reliance thereon, and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, limitations and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
1. With respect to any series of Debt Securities issued under the Indenture and offered under the Registration Statement, provided that: (i) the Registration Statement and any required post-effective amendment thereto have become effective under the Securities Act and the Base Prospectus and any and all Prospectus Supplement(s) required by applicable laws have been delivered and filed as required by such laws; (ii) the Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and the Trustee by all necessary corporate action; (iii) the Indenture has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the Trustee and has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended; (iv) the terms of the Debt Securities and their issuance and sale, including as to any Ordinary Shares to be issued on the conversion thereof, have been duly authorized by the Company by all necessary corporate action and the Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended; (v) the terms of the Debt Securities and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Indenture so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company, so as to be in conformity with the Company’s then operative articles of association (the “Articles of Association”), and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; and (vi) the notes representing the Debt Securities have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee pursuant to the Indenture and delivered against payment therefor, then the Debt Securities, when issued and sold in accordance with the Indenture and a duly authorized, executed and delivered purchase, underwriting or similar agreement will be binding obligations of the Company, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, and by general equitable principles (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).
2. With respect to the Warrants issued under a Warrant Agreement and offered under the Registration Statement, provided that (i) the Registration Statement and any required post-effective amendment thereto have become effective under the Securities Act and the Base Prospectus and any and all Prospectus Supplement(s) required by applicable laws have been delivered and filed as required by such laws; (ii) the Warrants and any Warrant Agreement have been duly authorized by the Company by all necessary corporate action; (iii) the applicable Warrant Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company; (iv) the issuance and terms of the Warrants have been duly authorized by the Company
Abivax SA
June 30, 2026
Page 3
by all necessary corporate action; (v) the terms of the Warrants and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the applicable Warrant Agreement and as described in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the related Prospectus Supplement(s), so as to be in compliance with and not violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company, so as to be in conformity with the Articles of Association, and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; and (vi) the Warrants have been duly executed and delivered by the Company pursuant to the applicable Warrant Agreement and delivered against payment therefor, then the Warrants, when issued and sold in accordance with the applicable Warrant Agreement and a duly authorized, executed and delivered purchase, underwriting or similar agreement will be binding obligations of the Company, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, and by general equitable principles (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).
Our opinion set forth above is limited to the matters expressly set forth in this letter, and no opinion has been or should be implied, or may be inferred, beyond the matters expressly stated. This opinion speaks only as to law and facts in effect or existing as of the date hereof, and we have no obligation or responsibility to update or supplement this opinion to reflect any facts or circumstances that may hereafter come to our attention or any changes in law that may hereafter occur.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Base Prospectus. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
| Sincerely, | ||
| Cooley LLP | ||
| By: | /s/ Divakar Gupta | |
| Divakar Gupta | ||
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form F-3 of Abivax SA of our report dated March 23, 2026 relating to the financial statements, which appears in Abivax SA’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2025. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit
Neuilly-Sur-Seine, France
June 30, 2026
1
Exhibit 25.1
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER
THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
| ☐ | Check if an Application to Determine Eligibility of a Trustee Pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) |
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
(Exact name of Trustee as specified in its charter)
91-1821036
I.R.S. Employer Identification No.
| 200 South 6th Street Minneapolis, Minnesota |
55402 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Wally Jones
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
60 Livingston Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55107
(615) 251-0733
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
Abivax SA
(Issuer with respect to the Securities)
| France | N/A | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
| 7-11 boulevard Haussmann Paris. France |
76009 | |
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
Debt Securities
(Title of the Indenture Securities)
FORM T-1
| Item 1. | GENERAL INFORMATION. Furnish the following information as to the Trustee. |
| a) | Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. |
Comptroller of the Currency
Washington, D.C.
| b) | Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. |
Yes
| Item 2. | AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR. If the obligor is an affiliate of the Trustee, describe each such affiliation. |
None
| Items 3-15 | Items 3-15 are not applicable because to the best of the Trustee’s knowledge, the obligor is not in default under any Indenture for which the Trustee acts as Trustee. |
| Item 16. | LIST OF EXHIBITS: List below all exhibits filed as a part of this statement of eligibility and qualification. |
| 1. | A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee, attached as Exhibit 1. |
| 2. | A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to commence business, attached as Exhibit 2. |
| 3. | A copy of the authorization of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers, included as Exhibit 2. |
| 4. | A copy of the existing bylaws of the Trustee, attached as Exhibit 4. |
| 5. | A copy of each Indenture referred to in Item 4. Not applicable. |
| 6. | The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, attached as Exhibit 6. |
| 7. | Report of Condition of the Trustee as of December 31, 2025, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, attached as Exhibit 7. |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the Trustee, U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility and qualification to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Nashville, State of Tennessee on the 30th of June, 2026.
| By: | /s/ Wally Jones | |
| Wally Jones Vice President | ||
Exhibit 1
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
U. S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
For the purpose of organizing an association (the “Association”) to perform any lawful activities of national banks, the undersigned enter into the following Articles of Association:
FIRST. The title of this Association shall be U. S. Bank Trust Company, National Association.
SECOND. The main office of the Association shall be in the city of Portland, county of Multnomah, state of Oregon. The business of the Association will be limited to fiduciary powers and the support of activities incidental to the exercise of those powers. The Association may not expand or alter its business beyond that stated in this article without the prior approval of the Comptroller of the Currency.
THIRD. The board of directors of the Association shall consist of not less than five nor more than twenty-five persons, the exact number to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of a majority of the full board of directors or by resolution of a majority of the shareholders at any annual or special meeting thereof. Each director shall own common or preferred stock of the Association or of a holding company owning the Association, with an aggregate par, fair market, or equity value of not less than $1,000, as of either (i) the date of purchase, (ii) the date the person became a director, or (iii) the date of that person’s most recent election to the board of directors, whichever is more recent. Any combination of common or preferred stock of the Association or holding company may be used.
Any vacancy in the board of directors may be filled by action of a majority of the remaining directors between meetings of shareholders. The board of directors may increase the number of directors up to the maximum permitted by law. Terms of directors, including directors selected to fill vacancies, shall expire at the next regular meeting of shareholders at which directors are elected, unless the directors resign or are removed from office. Despite the expiration of a director’s term, the director shall continue to serve until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until there is a decrease in the number of directors and his or her position is eliminated.
Honorary or advisory members of the board of directors, without voting power or power of final decision in matters concerning the business of the Association, may be appointed by resolution of a majority of the full board of directors, or by resolution of shareholders at any annual or special meeting. Honorary or advisory directors shall not be counted to determined the number of directors of the Association or the presence of a quorum in connection with any board action, and shall not be required to own qualifying shares.
FOURTH. There shall be an annual meeting of the shareholders to elect directors and transact whatever other business may be brought before the meeting. It shall be held at the main office or any other convenient place the board of directors may designate, on the day of each year specified therefor in the Bylaws, or if that day falls on a legal holiday in the state in which the
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Association is located, on the next following banking day. If no election is held on the day fixed or in the event of a legal holiday on the following banking day, an election may be held on any subsequent day within 60 days of the day fixed, to be designated by the board of directors, or, if the directors fail to fix the day, by shareholders representing two-thirds of the shares issued and outstanding. In all cases, at least 10 days’ advance notice of the meeting shall be given to the shareholders by first-class mail.
In all elections of directors, the number of votes each common shareholder may cast will be determined by multiplying the number of shares he or she owns by the number of directors to be elected. Those votes may be cumulated and cast for a single candidate or may be distributed among two or more candidates in the manner selected by the shareholder. On all other questions, each common shareholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by him or her.
A director may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the board of directors, its chairperson, or to the Association, which resignation shall be effective when the notice is delivered unless the notice specifies a later effective date.
A director may be removed by the shareholders at a meeting called to remove him or her, when notice of the meeting stating that the purpose or one of the purposes is to remove him or her is provided, if there is a failure to fulfill one of the affirmative requirements for qualification, or for cause; provided, however, that a director may not be removed if the number of votes sufficient to elect him or her under cumulative voting is voted against his or her removal.
FIFTH. The authorized amount of capital stock of the Association shall be 1,000,000 shares of common stock of the par value of ten dollars ($10) each; but said capital stock may be increased or decreased from time to time, according to the provisions of the laws of the United States. The Association shall have only one class of capital stock.
No holder of shares of the capital stock of any class of the Association shall have any preemptive or preferential right of subscription to any shares of any class of stock of the Association, whether now or hereafter authorized, or to any obligations convertible into stock of the Association, issued, or sold, nor any right of subscription to any thereof other than such, if any, as the board of directors, in its discretion, may from time to time determine and at such price as the board of directors may from time to time fix.
Transfers of the Association’s stock are subject to the prior written approval of a federal depository institution regulatory agency. If no other agency approval is required, the approval of the Comptroller of the Currency must be obtained prior to any such transfers.
Unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Association or required by law, (1) all matters requiring shareholder action, including amendments to the Articles of Association must be approved by shareholders owning a majority voting interest in the outstanding voting stock, and (2) each shareholder shall be entitled to one vote per share.
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Unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Association or required by law, all shares of voting stock shall be voted together as a class, on any matters requiring shareholder approval.
Unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting is the close of business on the day before the first notice is mailed or otherwise sent to the shareholders, provided that in no event may a record date be more than 70 days before the meeting.
The Association, at any time and from time to time, may authorize and issue debt obligations, whether subordinated, without the approval of the shareholders. Obligations classified as debt, whether subordinated, which may be issued by the Association without the approval of shareholders, do not carry voting rights on any issue, including an increase or decrease in the aggregate number of the securities, or the exchange or reclassification of all or part of securities into securities of another class or series.
SIXTH. The board of directors shall appoint one of its members president of this Association and one of its members chairperson of the board and shall have the power to appoint one or more vice presidents, a secretary who shall keep minutes of the directors’ and shareholders’ meetings and be responsible for authenticating the records of the Association, and such other officers and employees as may be required to transact the business of this Association. A duly appointed officer may appoint one or more officers or assistant officers if authorized by the board of directors in accordance with the Bylaws.
The board of directors shall have the power to:
| (1) | Define the duties of the officers, employees, and agents of the Association. |
| (2) | Delegate the performance of its duties, but not the responsibility for its duties, to the officers, employees, and agents of the Association. |
| (3) | Fix the compensation and enter employment contracts with its officers and employees upon reasonable terms and conditions consistent with applicable law. |
| (4) | Dismiss officers and employees. |
| (5) | Require bonds from officers and employees and to fix the penalty thereof. |
| (6) | Ratify written policies authorized by the Association’s management or committees of the board. |
| (7) | Regulate the manner any increase or decrease of the capital of the Association shall be made; provided that nothing herein shall restrict the power of shareholders to increase or decrease the capital of the Association in accordance with law, and nothing shall raise or lower from two-thirds the percentage required for shareholder approval to increase or reduce the capital. |
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| (8) | Manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association. |
| (9) | Adopt initial Bylaws, not inconsistent with law or the Articles of Association, for managing the business and regulating the affairs of the Association. |
| (10) | Amend or repeal Bylaws, except to the extent that the Articles of Association reserve this power in whole or in part to the shareholders. |
| (11) | Make contracts. |
| (12) | Generally perform all acts that are legal for a board of directors to perform. |
SEVENTH. The board of directors shall have the power to change the location of the main office to any authorized branch within the limits of the city of Portland, Oregon, without the approval of the shareholders, or with a vote of shareholders owning two-thirds of the stock of the Association for a location outside such limits and upon receipt of a certificate of approval from the Comptroller of the Currency, to any other location within or outside the limits of the city of Portland, Oregon, but not more than thirty miles beyond such limits. The board of directors shall have the power to establish or change the location of any office or offices of the Association to any other location permitted under applicable law, without approval of shareholders, subject to approval by the Comptroller of the Currency.
EIGHTH. The corporate existence of this Association shall continue until termination according to the laws of the United States.
NINTH. The board of directors of the Association, or any shareholder owning, in the aggregate, not less than 25 percent of the stock of the Association, may call a special meeting of shareholders at any time. Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws or the laws of the United States, or waived by shareholders, a notice of the time, place, and purpose of every annual and special meeting of the shareholders shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed at least 10, and no more than 60, days prior to the date of the meeting to each shareholder of record at his/her address as shown upon the books of the Association. Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws, any action requiring approval of shareholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting.
TENTH. These Articles of Association may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the shareholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the Association, unless the vote of the holders of a greater amount of stock is required by law, and in that case by the vote of the holders of such greater amount; provided, that the scope of the Association’s activities and services may not be expanded without the prior written approval of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Association’s board of directors may propose one or more amendments to the Articles of Association for submission to the shareholders.
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In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 11th of June, 1997.
|
|
| Jeffrey T. Grubb |
|
|
| Robert D. Sznewajs |
|
|
| Dwight V. Board |
|
|
| P. K. Chatterjee |
|
|
| Robert Lane |
Exhibit 2
|
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency | |
| Washington, DC 20219 |
CERTIFICATE OF CORPORATE EXISTENCE AND FIDUCIARY POWERS
I, Jonathan Gould, Comptroller of the Currency, do hereby certify that:
1. The Comptroller of the Currency, pursuant to Revised Statutes 324, et seq. as amended, and 12 USC 1, et seq, as amended, has possession, custody, and control of all records pertaining to the chartering, regulation, and supervision of all national banking associations.
2. “U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association,” Portland, Oregon (Charter No. 23412), is a national banking association formed under the laws of the United States and is authorized thereunder to transact the business of banking and exercise fiduciary powers on the date of this certificate.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, today, March 27, 2026, I have hereunto subscribed my name and caused my seal of office to be affixed to these presents at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, in the City of Washington, District of Columbia.
Comptroller of the Currency
2026-00886-C
Exhibit 4
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
Meetings of Shareholders
Section 1.1. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the shareholders, for the election of directors and the transaction of any other proper business, shall be held at a time and place as the Chairman or President may designate. Notice of such meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) days or more than sixty (60) days prior to the date thereof, to each shareholder of the Association, unless the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”) determines that an emergency circumstance exists. In accordance with applicable law, the sole shareholder of the Association is permitted to waive notice of the meeting. If, for any reason, an election of directors is not made on the designated day, the election shall be held on some subsequent day, as soon thereafter as practicable, with prior notice thereof. Failure to hold an annual meeting as required by these Bylaws shall not affect the validity of any corporate action or work a forfeiture or dissolution of the Association.
Section 1.2. Special Meetings. Except as otherwise specially provided by law, special meetings of the shareholders may be called for any purpose, at any time by a majority of the board of directors (the “Board”), or by any shareholder or group of shareholders owning at least ten percent of the outstanding stock.
Every such special meeting, unless otherwise provided by law, shall be called upon not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior notice stating the purpose of the meeting.
Section 1.3. Nominations for Directors. Nominations for election to the Board may be made by the Board or by any shareholder.
Section 1.4. Proxies. Shareholders may vote at any meeting of the shareholders by proxies duly authorized in writing. Proxies shall be valid only for one meeting and any adjournments of such meeting and shall be filed with the records of the meeting.
Section 1.5. Record Date. The record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice and to vote at any meeting will be thirty days before the date of such meeting, unless otherwise determined by the Board.
Section 1.6. Quorum and Voting. A majority of the outstanding capital stock, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any
meeting of shareholders, unless otherwise provided by law, but less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. A majority of the votes cast shall decide every question or matter submitted to the shareholders at any meeting, unless otherwise provided by law or by the Articles of Association.
Section 1.7. Inspectors. The Board may, and in the event of its failure so to do, the Chairman of the Board may appoint Inspectors of Election who shall determine the presence of quorum, the validity of proxies, and the results of all elections and all other matters voted upon by shareholders at all annual and special meetings of shareholders.
Section 1.8. Waiver and Consent. The shareholders may act without notice or a meeting by a unanimous written consent by all shareholders.
Section 1.9. Remote Meetings. The Board shall have the right to determine that a shareholder meeting not be held at a place, but instead be held solely by means of remote communication in the manner and to the extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE II
Directors
Section 2.1. Board of Directors. The Board shall have the power to manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association. Except as expressly limited by law, all corporate powers of the Association shall be vested in and may be exercised by the Board.
Section 2.2. Term of Office. The directors of this Association shall hold office for one year and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier resignation or removal.
Section 2.3. Powers. In addition to the foregoing, the Board shall have and may exercise all of the powers granted to or conferred upon it by the Articles of Association, the Bylaws and by law.
Section 2.4. Number. As provided in the Articles of Association, the Board of this Association shall consist of no less than five nor more than twenty-five members, unless the OCC has exempted the Association from the twenty-five-member limit. The Board shall consist of a number of members to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of the Board or the shareholders at any meeting thereof, in accordance with the Articles of Association. Between meetings of the shareholders held for the purpose of electing directors, the Board
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by a majority vote of the full Board may increase the size of the Board but not to more than a total of twenty-five directors, and fill any vacancy so created in the Board; provided that the Board may increase the number of directors only by up to two directors, when the number of directors last elected by shareholders was fifteen or fewer, and by up to four directors, when the number of directors last elected by shareholders was sixteen or more. Each director shall own a qualifying equity interest in the Association or a company that has control of the Association in each case as required by applicable law. Each director shall own such qualifying equity interest in his or her own right and meet any minimum threshold ownership required by applicable law.
Section 2.5. Organization Meeting. The newly elected Board shall meet for the purpose of organizing the new Board and electing and appointing such officers of the Association as may be appropriate. Such meeting shall be held on the day of the election or as soon thereafter as practicable, and, in any event, within thirty days thereafter, at such time and place as the Chairman or President may designate. If, at the time fixed for such meeting, there shall not be a quorum present, the directors present may adjourn the meeting until a quorum is obtained.
Section 2.6. Regular Meetings. The regular meetings of the Board shall be held, without notice, as the Chairman or President may designate and deem suitable.
Section 2.7. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called at any time, at any place and for any purpose by the Chairman of the Board or the President of the Association, or upon the request of a majority of the entire Board. Notice of every special meeting of the Board shall be given to the directors at their usual places of business, or at such other addresses as shall have been furnished by them for the purpose. Such notice shall be given at least twelve hours (three hours if meeting is to be conducted by conference telephone) before the meeting by telephone or by being personally delivered, mailed, or electronically delivered. Such notice need not include a statement of the business to be transacted at, or the purpose of, any such meeting.
Section 2.8. Quorum and Necessary Vote. A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board, except when otherwise provided by law; but less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. Unless otherwise provided by law or the Articles or Bylaws of this Association, once a quorum is established, any act by a majority of those directors present and voting shall be the act of the Board.
3
Section 2.9. Written Consent. Except as otherwise required by applicable laws and regulations, the Board may act without a meeting by a unanimous written consent by all directors, to be filed with the Secretary of the Association as part of the corporate records.
Section 2.10. Remote Meetings. Members of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of such Board or committee by means of conference telephone, video or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 2.11. Vacancies. When any vacancy occurs among the directors, the remaining members of the Board may appoint a director to fill such vacancy at any regular meeting of the Board, or at a special meeting called for that purpose.
ARTICLE III
Committees
Section 3.1. Advisory Board of Directors. The Board may appoint persons, who need not be directors, to serve as advisory directors on an advisory board of directors established with respect to the business affairs of either this Association alone or the business affairs of a group of affiliated organizations of which this Association is one. Advisory directors shall have such powers and duties as may be determined by the Board, provided, that the Board’s responsibility for the business and affairs of this Association shall in no respect be delegated or diminished.
Section 3.2. Trust Audit Committee. At least once during each calendar year, the Association shall arrange for a suitable audit (by internal or external auditors) of all significant fiduciary activities under the direction of its trust audit committee, a function that will be fulfilled by the Audit Committee of the financial holding company that is the ultimate parent of this Association. The Association shall note the results of the audit (including significant actions taken as a result of the audit) in the minutes of the Board. In lieu of annual audits, the Association may adopt a continuous audit system in accordance with 12 C.F.R. § 9.9(b).
The Audit Committee of the financial holding company that is the ultimate parent of this Association, fulfilling the function of the trust audit committee:
4
(1) Must not include any officers of the Association or an affiliate who participate significantly in the administration of the Association’s fiduciary activities; and
(2) Must consist of a majority of members who are not also members of any committee to which the Board has delegated power to manage and control the fiduciary activities of the Association.
Section 3.3. Executive Committee. The Board may appoint an Executive Committee which shall consist of at least three directors and which shall have, and may exercise, to the extent permitted by applicable law, all the powers of the Board between meetings of the Board or otherwise when the Board is not meeting.
Section 3.4. Trust Management Committee. The Board of this Association shall appoint a Trust Management Committee to provide oversight of the fiduciary activities of the Association. The Trust Management Committee shall determine policies governing fiduciary activities. The Trust Management Committee or such sub-committees, officers or others as may be duly designated by the Trust Management Committee shall oversee the processes related to fiduciary activities to assure conformity with fiduciary policies it establishes, including ratifying the acceptance and the closing out or relinquishment of all trusts. The Trust Management Committee will provide regular reports of its activities to the Board.
Section 3.5. Other Committees. The Board may appoint, from time to time, committees of one or more persons who need not be directors, for such purposes and with such powers as the Board may determine; however, the Board will not delegate to any committee any powers or responsibilities that it is prohibited from delegating under any law or regulation. In addition, either the Chairman or the President may appoint, from time to time, committees of one or more officers, employees, agents or other persons, for such purposes and with such powers as either the Chairman or the President deems appropriate and proper. Whether appointed by the Board, the Chairman, or the President, any such committee shall at all times be subject to the direction and control of the Board.
Section 3.6. Meetings, Minutes and Rules. An advisory board of directors and/or committee shall meet as necessary in consideration of the purpose of the advisory board of directors or committee, and shall maintain minutes in sufficient detail to indicate actions taken or recommendations made; unless required by the members, discussions, votes or other specific details need not be reported. An advisory board of directors or a committee may, in consideration of its purpose, adopt its own rules for the exercise of any of its functions or authority.
5
ARTICLE IV
Officers
Section 4.1 Who Shall Constitute. The Officers of the Association shall be a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Secretary, and other officers such as Vice Chair, Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents, Assistant Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, Trust Officers, Assistant Trust Officers, Controller, and Assistant Controller, as the Board may appoint from time to time. The Board may appoint or elect a person as a Vice Chair without regard to whether such person is a member of the Board. The Board may choose to delegate authority to elect officers other than the Chief Executive Officer, President, Secretary, Vice Chairs and Senior Executive Vice Presidents, to the President. Any person may hold two offices. The President shall at all times be a member of the Board of Directors.
Section 4.2 Term of Office. All officers shall be elected for and shall hold office until their respective successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office, subject to the right of the Board of Directors in its sole discretion to discharge any officer at any time. The Board may choose to delegate authority to remove officers other than the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President, Secretary, Vice Chair and Senior Executive Vice Presidents, to the President.
Section 4.3. Chairman of the Board. The Board may appoint one of its members to be Chairman of the Board to serve at the pleasure of the Board. The Chairman shall supervise the carrying out of the policies adopted or approved by the Board; shall have general executive powers, as well as the specific powers conferred by these Bylaws; and shall also have and may exercise such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred upon or assigned by the Board.
Section 4.4. President. The Board may appoint one of its members to be President of the Association. In the absence of the Chairman, the President shall preside at any meeting of the Board. The President shall have general executive powers, and shall have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation or practice, to the office of President, or imposed by these Bylaws. The President shall also have and may exercise such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred or assigned by the Board.
Section 4.5. Vice President. The Board may appoint one or more Vice Presidents who shall have such powers and duties as may be assigned by the
6
Board and to perform the duties of the President on those occasions when the President is absent, including presiding at any meeting of the Board in the absence of both the Chairman and President.
Section 4.6. Secretary. The Board shall appoint a Secretary, or other designated officer who shall be Secretary of the Board and of the Association, and shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings. The Secretary shall attend to the giving of all notices required by these Bylaws to be given; shall be custodian of the corporate seal, records, documents and papers of the Association; shall provide for the keeping of proper records of all transactions of the Association; shall, upon request, authenticate any records of the Association; shall have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation or practice, to the Secretary, or imposed by these Bylaws; and shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Board. The Board may appoint one or more Assistant Secretaries with such powers and duties as the Board, the President or the Secretary shall from time to time determine.
Section 4.7. Other Officers. The Board may appoint, and may authorize the Chairman, the President or any other officer to appoint, any officer as from time to time may appear to the Board, the Chairman, the President or such other officer to be required or desirable to transact the business of the Association.
Such officers shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as pertain to their several offices, or as may be conferred upon or assigned to them by these Bylaws, the Board, the Chairman, the President or such other authorized officer. Any person may hold two offices.
ARTICLE V
Stock
Section 5.1. The Board may authorize the issuance of stock either in certificated or in uncertificated form. Certificates for shares of stock shall be in such form as the Board may from time to time prescribe. If the Board issues certificated stock, the certificate shall be signed by the President, Secretary or any other such officer as the Board so determines. Shares of stock shall be transferable on the books of the Association, and a transfer book shall be kept in which all transfers of stock shall be recorded. Every person becoming a shareholder by such transfer shall, in proportion to such person’s shares, succeed to all rights of the prior holder of such shares. Each certificate of stock shall recite on its face that the stock represented thereby is transferable only upon the books of the Association properly endorsed. The Board may impose conditions upon the transfer of the stock reasonably calculated to simplify the work of the Association for stock transfers, voting at shareholder meetings, and related matters, and to protect it against fraudulent transfers.
7
ARTICLE VI
Corporate Seal
Section 6.1. The Association shall have no corporate seal; provided, however, that if the use of a seal is required by, or is otherwise convenient or advisable pursuant to, the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction, the following seal may be used, and the Chairman, the President, the Secretary and any Assistant Secretary shall have the authority to affix such seal:
ARTICLE VII
Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 7.1. Execution of Instruments. All agreements, checks, drafts, orders, indentures, notes, mortgages, deeds, conveyances, transfers, endorsements, assignments, certificates, declarations, receipts, discharges, releases, satisfactions, settlements, petitions, schedules, accounts, affidavits, bonds, undertakings, guarantees, proxies and other instruments or documents may be signed, countersigned, executed, acknowledged, endorsed, verified, delivered or accepted on behalf of the Association, whether in a fiduciary capacity or otherwise, by any officer of the Association, or such employee or agent as may be designated from time to time by the Board by resolution, or by the Chairman or the President by written instrument, which resolution or instrument shall be certified as in effect by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Association. The provisions of this section are supplementary to any other provision of the Articles of Association or Bylaws.
Section 7.2. Records. The Articles of Association, the Bylaws as revised or amended from time to time and the proceedings of all meetings of the shareholders, the Board, and standing committees of the Board, shall be recorded in appropriate minute books provided for the purpose. The minutes of each meeting shall be signed by the Secretary, or other officer appointed to act as Secretary of the meeting.
Section 7.3. Trust Files. There shall be maintained in the Association files all fiduciary records necessary to assure that its fiduciary responsibilities have been properly undertaken and discharged.
Section 7.4. Trust Investments. Funds held in a fiduciary capacity shall be invested according to the instrument establishing the fiduciary relationship and according to law. Where such instrument does not specify the character and class
8
of investments to be made and does not vest in the Association a discretion in the matter, funds held pursuant to such instrument shall be invested in investments in which corporate fiduciaries may invest under law.
Section 7.5. Notice. Whenever notice is required by the Articles of Association, the Bylaws or law, such notice shall be by mail, postage prepaid, e-mail, in person, or by any other means by which such notice can reasonably be expected to be received, using the address of the person to receive such notice, or such other personal data, as may appear on the records of the Association.
Except where specified otherwise in these Bylaws, prior notice shall be proper if given not more than 30 days nor less than 10 days prior to the event for which notice is given.
ARTICLE VIII
Indemnification
Section 8.1. The Association shall indemnify such persons for such liabilities in such manner under such circumstances and to such extent as permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as now enacted or hereafter amended. The Board may authorize the purchase and maintenance of insurance and/or the execution of individual agreements for the purpose of such indemnification, and the Association shall advance all reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending any action, suit or proceeding to all persons entitled to indemnification under this Section 8.1. Such insurance shall be consistent with the requirements of 12 C.F.R. § 7.2014 and shall exclude coverage of liability for a formal order assessing civil money penalties against an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u).
Section 8.2. Notwithstanding Section 8.1, however, (a) any indemnification payments to an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u), for an administrative proceeding or civil action initiated by a federal banking agency, shall be reasonable and consistent with the requirements of 12 U.S.C. § 1828(k) and the implementing regulations thereunder; and (b) any indemnification payments and advancement of costs and expenses to an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u), in cases involving an administrative proceeding or civil action not initiated by a federal banking agency, shall be in accordance with Delaware General Corporation Law and consistent with safe and sound banking practices.
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ARTICLE IX
Bylaws: Interpretation and Amendment
Section 9.1. These Bylaws shall be interpreted in accordance with and subject to appropriate provisions of law, and may be added to, altered, amended, or repealed, at any regular or special meeting of the Board.
Section 9.2. A copy of the Bylaws and all amendments shall at all times be kept in a convenient place at the principal office of the Association, and shall be open for inspection to all shareholders during Association hours.
ARTICLE X
Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 10.1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Association shall begin on the first day of January in each year and shall end on the thirty-first day of December following.
Section 10.2. Governing Law. This Association designates the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time, as the governing law for its corporate governance procedures, to the extent not inconsistent with Federal banking statutes and regulations or bank safety and soundness.
***
(November 6, 2025)
Exhibit 25.1
Exhibit 6
CONSENT
In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the undersigned, U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION hereby consents that reports of examination of the undersigned by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.
Dated: June 30, 2026
| By: | /s/ Wally Jones | |
| Wally Jones | ||
| Vice President |
Exhibit 7
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
Statement of Financial Condition
as of 12/31/2025
($000’s)
| 12/31/2025 | ||||
| Assets |
||||
| Cash and Balances Due From Depository Institutions |
$ | 2,035,855 | ||
| Securities |
4,696 | |||
| Federal Funds |
0 | |||
| Loans & Lease Financing Receivables |
0 | |||
| Fixed Assets |
623 | |||
| Intangible Assets |
574,084 | |||
| Other Assets |
173,370 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total Assets |
$ | 2,788,628 | ||
| Liabilities |
||||
| Deposits |
$ | 0 | ||
| Fed Funds |
0 | |||
| Treasury Demand Notes |
0 | |||
| Trading Liabilities |
0 | |||
| Other Borrowed Money |
0 | |||
| Acceptances |
0 | |||
| Subordinated Notes and Debentures |
0 | |||
| Other Liabilities |
237,596 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total Liabilities |
$ | 237,596 | ||
| Equity |
||||
| Common and Preferred Stock |
200 | |||
| Surplus |
1,171,635 | |||
| Undivided Profits |
1,379,197 | |||
| Minority Interest in Subsidiaries |
0 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| Total Equity Capital |
$ | 2,551,032 | ||
| Total Liabilities and Equity Capital |
$ | 2,788,628 | ||
| Calculation of Filing Fee Tables | |||
| | |||
| | |||
| Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities |
|---|
| Security Type |
Security Class Title |
Fee Calculation or Carry Forward Rule |
Amount Registered |
Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit |
Maximum Aggregate Offering Price |
Fee Rate |
Amount of Registration Fee |
Carry Forward Form Type |
Carry Forward File Number |
Carry Forward Initial Effective Date |
Filing Fee Previously Paid in Connection with Unsold Securities to be Carried Forward | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newly Registered Securities | |||||||||||||
| |
1 | |
|
|
|
||||||||
| |
2 | |
|
|
|
||||||||
| |
3 | |
|
|
|
||||||||
| Fees Previously Paid | |||||||||||||
| Carry Forward Securities | |||||||||||||
| Carry Forward Securities | |||||||||||||
| Total Offering Amounts: |
$ |
$ |
|||||||||||
| Total Fees Previously Paid: |
$ |
||||||||||||
| Total Fee Offsets: |
$ |
||||||||||||
| Net Fee Due: |
$ |
||||||||||||
| Offering Note |
| 1 |
| ||||||
| | |||||||
| 2 |
| ||||||
| | |||||||
| 3 |
| ||||||
| | |||||||
| Table 2: Fee Offset Claims and Sources |
|---|
| Registrant or Filer Name | Form or Filing Type | File Number | Initial Filing Date | Filing Date | Fee Offset Claimed | Security Type Associated with Fee Offset Claimed | Security Title Associated with Fee Offset Claimed | Unsold Securities Associated with Fee Offset Claimed | Unsold Aggregate Offering Amount Associated with Fee Offset Claimed | Fee Paid with Fee Offset Source | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rules 457(b) and 0-11(a)(2) | |||||||||||||
| Fee Offset Claims | |||||||||||||
| Fee Offset Sources | |||||||||||||
| Rule 457(p) | |||||||||||||
| Fee Offset Claims | |||||||||||||
| Fee Offset Sources | |||||||||||||
| Table 3: Combined Prospectuses |
|---|
| Security Type |
Security Class Title |
Amount of Securities Previously Registered |
Maximum Aggregate Offering Price of Securities Previously Registered |
Form Type |
File Number |
Initial Effective Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|