As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on August 1, 2024

 

Registration No. 333-              


UNITED STATES 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 

Washington, D.C. 20549 


FORM F-3 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT 

UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 


DYNAGAS LNG PARTNERS LP
and other registrants 

(See table of additional registrants) 

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) 


Republic of the Marshall Islands N/A

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization) 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number) 

 

Dynagas LNG Partners LP 

97 Poseidonos Avenue and 2 Foivis Street 

166 74 Glyfada, Athens, Greece 

+30 210 891 7960 

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

 

Puglisi & Associates 

850 Library Avenue, Suite 204 

Newark, Delaware 19711 

(302) 738-6680 (Phone) 

(302) 738-7210 (Fax)

 

(Name, address, and telephone number of agent for service)

 

Copies to: 


Filana R. Silberberg, Esq.

Watson Farley & Williams LLP 

120 West 45th Street 

New York, New York 10036 

(212) 922-2225 (telephone number)


Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective as determined by market conditions and other factors.

 

If 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.C. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.C. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐

 

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.

 


 

The Registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.



TABLE OF ADDITIONAL REGISTRANTS

 

Name   Organization   Ownership percentage
Dynagas Operating LP   Marshall Islands   100%
Dynagas Operating GP LLC   Marshall Islands   100%
Dynagas Equity Holding Limited   Marshall Islands   100%
Pegasus Shipholding S.A.   Marshall Islands   100%
Seacrown Maritime Ltd.   Marshall Islands   100%
Lance Shipping S.A.   Marshall Islands   100%
Fareastern Shipping Limited   Malta   100%
Dynagas Finance Inc.   Marshall Islands   100%
Navajo Marine Limited   Marshall Islands   100%
Solana Holding Ltd.   Marshall Islands   100%
Arctic LNG Carriers Ltd.   Marshall Islands   100%
Dynagas Finance LLC   Delaware   100%



The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy or sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective.

 

Subject to completion, dated AUGUST 1, 2024

 

PROSPECTUS

 

$350,000,000

 

Common Units Representing Limited Partner Interests
Other Classes of Units Representing Limited Partner Interests
Debt Securities and Guarantees, Warrants, Rights, Purchase Contracts
and

 

15,595,000

 

Common Units Representing Limited Partner Interests Offered by the Selling Unitholder

 


 

Dynagas LNG Partners LP

 

We may from time to time, in one or more offerings, offer and sell common units representing limited partnership interests and other classes of units representing limited partner interests in Dynagas LNG Partners LP, as well as debt securities, including guarantees, warrants, rights, and purchase contracts, described in this prospectus. The aggregate initial offering price of all securities sold by us under this prospectus will not exceed $350,000,000.

 

We may offer and sell these securities in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions and other factors at the time of the offering. This prospectus describes only the general terms of these securities and the general manner in which we will offer the securities. The specific terms of any securities we offer will be included in a supplement to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will describe the specific manner in which we will offer the securities and also may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus directly or through underwriters, agents or dealers, the names of which and the specific terms of a plan of distribution will be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

In addition, Dynagas Holding Ltd., or the Selling Unitholder, named in this prospectus, may sell in one or more offerings pursuant to this registration statement up to 15,595,000 of our common units. The Selling Unitholder may sell any or all of these common units on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the common units are traded or in privately negotiated transactions at fixed prices that may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. Information on Dynagas Holding Ltd., as Selling Unitholder, and the times and manners in which it may offer and sell our common units is described under the sections entitled “Selling Unitholder” and “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus.

 

The Selling Unitholder, a company affiliated with us, may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and, as a result, may be deemed to be offering securities, indirectly, on our behalf. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of our common units by the Selling Unitholder

 

Our common units, our 9.00% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units, or our Series A Preferred Units, and our 8.75% Series B Fixed to Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units, or our Series B Preferred Units, trade on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, under the symbols “DLNG,” “DLNG PR A,” and “DLNG PR B,” respectively. We will provide information in the related prospectus supplement for the trading market, if any, for any securities that may be offered.

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors described under “Risk Factors” on page 9 of this prospectus before you make an investment in our securities.

 

Neither the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The date of this prospectus is                   .

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS 1
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION 2
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 4
ABOUT DYNAGAS LNG PARTNERS LP 7
RISK FACTORS 9
USE OF PROCEEDS 10
CAPITALIZATION 11
DESCRIPTION OF OUR COMMON UNITS 12
DESCRIPTION OF OTHER CLASSES OF UNITS 13
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES AND GUARANTEES OF DEBT SECURITIES 14
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS 20
DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS 21
DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS 22
SUMMARY OF OUR PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT 23
OUR CASH DISTRIBUTION POLICY AND RESTRICTIONS ON DISTRIBUTIONS 24
TAX CONSIDERATIONS 27
SELLING UNITHOLDER 28
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION 29
SERVICE OF PROCESS AND ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES 31
LEGAL MATTERS 32
EXPERTS 33
EXPENSES 34

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may over time, in one or more offerings, offer and sell up to $350,000,000 in total aggregate offering price of any combination of the securities described in this prospectus.

 

This prospectus provides you with a general description of Dynagas LNG Partners LP and the securities that are registered hereunder that may be offered by us or the Selling Unitholder. Each time we sell any securities offered by this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering and the securities being offered. Any prospectus supplement may also add to, update or change information contained in this prospectus. To the extent information in this prospectus is inconsistent with the information contained in a prospectus supplement you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. Before purchasing any securities, you should read carefully both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together with the additional information described below.

 

The information in this prospectus is accurate as of its date. Additional information, including our financial statements and the notes thereto, is incorporated in this prospectus by reference to our reports filed with the SEC. Before you invest in our securities, you should carefully read this prospectus, including the “Risk Factors,” any prospectus supplement, the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement (including the documents described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” in both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement), and any additional information you may need to make your investment decision.

 

1

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-3 regarding the securities covered by this prospectus. This prospectus is a part of the registration statement, which includes additional information. For further information regarding us and the securities offered in this prospectus, you may wish to review the full registration statement, including its exhibits. Copies of the registration statement, including the exhibits, can be obtained from the SEC’s website on the Internet at www.sec.gov free of charge. You can also obtain information about us on our website at http://www.dynagaspartners.com. Information on our website or any other website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and does not constitute a part of this prospectus unless specifically so designated and filed with the SEC.

 

We are subject to the information requirements of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and, in accordance therewith, we are required to file with the SEC annual reports on Form 20-F within four months of our fiscal year-end, and provide to the SEC other material information on Form 6-K. These reports and other information may be obtained from the SEC’s website as provided above. Our website on the Internet is located at www.dynagaspartners.com, and we will make our annual reports on Form 20-F and our periodic reports submitted to the SEC available, free of charge, through our website, as soon as reasonably practicable after those reports are electronically submitted to the SEC.

 

As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt under the Exchange Act from, among other things, certain rules prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements, and our executive officers, directors and principal unitholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, we are not required under the Exchange Act 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, including the filing of quarterly reports or current reports on Form 8-K. However, we intend to make available quarterly reports containing our unaudited interim financial information for the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year.

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus information that we file with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information to you without actually including the specific information in this prospectus by referring you to other documents filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. Information that we later provide to the SEC, and which is deemed to be “filed” with the SEC, automatically will update information previously filed with the SEC, and may replace information in this prospectus.

 

We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the documents listed below:

 

our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on April 26, 2024, or our 2023 Annual Report;

 

our Report on Form 6-K, filed with the SEC on April 30, 2024;

 

the description of our common units contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on December 23, 2014, including any subsequent amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description;

 

the description of our Series A Preferred Units contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on July 23, 2015, including any subsequent amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description; and

 

the description of our Series B Preferred Units contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on October 23, 2018, including any subsequent amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

 

These reports contain important information about us, our financial condition and our results of operations.

 

2

 

We are also incorporating by reference any documents that we file with the SEC after the date of the filing of this registration statement of which the prospectus forms a part and prior to the subsequent effectiveness of that registration statement, and all subsequent annual reports on Form 20-F that we file with the SEC and certain reports on Form 6-K that we file with or furnish to the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this prospectus until we file a post-effective amendment indicating that the offering of the securities made by this prospectus has been terminated.

 

You may obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus from the SEC through its website at the address provided above. You also may request a copy of any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus (excluding any exhibits to those documents, unless the exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference in this document), at no cost, by visiting our Internet website at http://www.dynagaspartners.com, or by writing or calling us at the following address:

 

Dynagas LNG Partners LP

97 Poseidonos Avenue and 2 Foivis Street 

16674 Glyfada, Athens, Greece 

+30 210 891 7960 (telephone number)

 

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. Neither we nor the Selling Unitholder have authorized anyone else to provide you with any information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than its respective date.

 

3

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus contains certain forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in Section 21E of the Exchange Act) concerning future events and our operations, performance, and financial condition, including, in particular, the likelihood of our success in developing and expanding our business. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, or the PSLRA, provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business.

 

We desire to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the PSLRA and are including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. This prospectus and any other written or oral statements made by us or on our behalf may include forward-looking statements, which reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “likely,” “would,” “could,” “seek,” “continue,” “possible,” “might,” “forecasts,” “will,” “may,” “potential,” “should,” and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect management’s current views only as of the date of this prospectus and are not intended to give any assurance as to future results. As a result, unitholders are cautioned not to rely on any forward-looking statements.

 

Forward-looking statements appear in a number of places in this prospectus and include statements with respect to, among other things:

 

LNG market trends, including charter rates, factors affecting supply and demand, and opportunities for the profitable operations of LNG carriers;

 

our anticipated growth strategies, including potential expansion into and acquisition of assets and businesses in other sectors of the shipping industry;

 

the effect of a worldwide economic slowdown;

 

potential turmoil in the global financial markets;

 

fluctuations and volatility in currencies, interest rates, and foreign exchange rates;

 

general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter hire rates and vessel values;

 

changes in our operating expenses, including dry-docking, surveys, upgrades, crewing and insurance costs, bunker prices, and fuel prices;

 

the adequacy of our insurance to cover our losses;

 

our ability to make cash distributions on the units or any increase or decrease in or elimination of our cash distributions;

 

our future financial condition or results of operations and our future revenues and expenses;

 

our ability to repay or refinance our current and future indebtedness, and our settling of interest rate swaps (if any);

 

our ability to incur additional indebtedness on acceptable terms or at all, to access the public and private debt and equity markets, and to meet our restrictive covenants and other obligations under our credit facilities and other debt and financing agreements;

 

planned capital expenditures and availability of capital resources to fund capital expenditures;

 

4

 

the impact of increasing scrutiny and changing expectations from investors, lenders, charterers, and other market participants with respect to our Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”) practices;

 

our ability to comply with additional costs and risks related to our ESG policies;

 

the effect of applicable sanctions or embargo laws;

 

our ability to maintain long-term relationships with major LNG traders;

 

our ability to leverage our Sponsor’s relationships and reputation in the shipping industry;

 

our ability to realize the expected benefits from our vessel acquisitions;

 

our ability to acquire newbuildings and second-hand vessels on terms acceptable to us from our Sponsor or third parties and the timely deliveries of such vessels if and when acquired;

 

our ability to compete successfully for future chartering opportunities upon the expiration or termination of existing vessel employment arrangements;

 

acceptance of a vessel by its charterer;

 

termination dates and extensions of charters;

 

the expected cost of, and our ability to comply with, governmental regulations, including regulations relating to ballast water and fuel sulfur, maritime self-regulatory organization standards, as well as standard regulations imposed by our charterers applicable to our business;

 

availability of skilled labor, vessel crews, and management;

 

our anticipated incremental general and administrative expenses as a publicly traded limited partnership and our fees and expenses payable under the fleet management agreements and the administrative services agreement with our Manager;

 

our anticipated taxation and distributions to our unitholders;

 

estimated future maintenance and replacement capital expenditures;

 

our ability to retain key employees;

 

potential liability from any pending or future litigation and potential costs due to environmental damage and vessel collisions;

 

potential liability from future litigation related to claims raised by public-interest organizations or activism with regard to our failure to adapt or mitigate climate impact;

 

new environmental regulations and restrictions, whether at a global level stipulated by the International Maritime Organization, a regional level imposed by regional authorities such as the European Union, and/or a national level imposed by individual countries, and our ability to comply with such regulations and restrictions;

 

business disruptions, including supply chain congestion, due to climate conditions, political events, public health threats, international hostilities and instability;

 

the impact of public health threats and outbreaks of highly communicable diseases;

 

5

 

the length and severity of epidemics and pandemics, including the worldwide coronavirus, or COVID-19, outbreak, and any consequent impacts across our business on demand;

 

the impact of adverse weather and natural disasters;

 

future sales of our common units in the public market;

 

any malfunction or disruption of information technology systems and networks that our operations rely on or any impact of a possible cybersecurity event;

 

our business strategy and other plans and objectives for future operations;

 

technology risks associated with energy transition and fleet and/or systems renewal, including in respect of alternative propulsion systems; and

 

other factors detailed in this prospectus and from time to time included in our periodic reports.

 

Forward-looking statements in this prospectus are estimates reflecting the judgment of senior management and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control. Actual results may not occur or differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, these forward-looking statements should be considered in light of various important factors, including those referenced in this prospectus under the heading “Risk Factors.” These factors and other risk factors described in this prospectus are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results or developments to differ materially from those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. Given these uncertainties, prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.

 

We undertake no obligation, and specifically decline any obligation, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable laws. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of these factors which may adversely affect our results. Further, we cannot assess the effect of each such factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to be materially different from those contained in any forward-looking statement. If one or more forward-looking statement is updated, no inference should be drawn that additional updates will be made with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

 

We make no prediction or statement about the performance of our units or our debt securities. The various disclosures included in this prospectus and in our other filings made with the SEC that attempt to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business, prospects, and results of operations should be carefully reviewed and considered.

 

6

ABOUT DYNAGAS LNG PARTNERS LP

 

Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to “Dynagas LNG Partners,” the “Partnership,” “we,” “our,” and “us” or similar terms refer to Dynagas LNG Partners LP and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, including Dynagas Operating LP, which owns, directly or indirectly, a 100% interest in the entities that own the LNG carriers in our fleet, which we refer to as our “Fleet.” References in this prospectus to our “General Partner” refer to Dynagas GP LLC, the general partner of Dynagas LNG Partners LP. References in this prospectus to our “Sponsor” are to Dynagas Holding Ltd. and its subsidiaries other than us or our subsidiaries and references to our “Manager” refer to Dynagas Ltd., which is wholly owned by the chairman of our Board of Directors, Mr. Georgios Prokopiou. References in this prospectus to the “Prokopiou Family” are to our Chairman, Mr. Georgios Prokopiou, and certain members of his family.

 

All references in this prospectus to “SEFE,” “Equinor,” “Yamal” and “NextDecade” refer to SEFE Marketing and Trading Singapore Pte Ltd (formerly known as Gazprom Marketing & Trading Singapore Pte Ltd), Equinor ASA (formerly named Statoil ASA), Yamal Trade Pte. Ltd., and NextDecade Corporation (NASDAQ:NEXT), respectively, and certain of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates, which are our current or prospective charterers. The “Yamal LNG Project” refers to the LNG production terminal on the Yamal Peninsula in Northern Russia. The terminal consists of three LNG trains with a total capacity of 16.5 million metric tons of LNG per year that require ice-class designated vessels to transport LNG from this facility, for which two of the vessels in our Fleet have been contracted. The Yamal LNG Project is a joint venture between NOVATEK (50.1%), TOTAL E&P Yamal (20%), China National Oil & Gas Exploration and Development Corporation (CNODC) (20%), and Yaym Limited (9.9%).

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all references to “U.S. dollars,” “dollars,” and “$” in this prospectus are to the lawful currency of the United States. We use the term “LNG” to refer to liquefied natural gas, and we use the term “cbm” to refer to cubic meters in describing the carrying capacity of our vessels.

 

Overview

 

Dynagas LNG Partners LP was organized as a limited partnership in the Republic of the Marshall Islands on May 30, 2013, for the purpose of owning, operating, and acquiring LNG carriers and other business activities incidental thereto. We own (i) a 100% limited partner interest in Dynagas Operating LP, which owns a 100% interest in our Fleet through intermediate holding companies and (ii) the non-economic general partner interest in Dynagas Operating LP through our 100% ownership of its general partner, Dynagas Operating GP LLC. We own our vessels through separate wholly-owned subsidiaries that are incorporated in the Republic of the Marshall Islands and Republic of Malta.

 

Our principal executive offices are located at 97 Poseidonos Avenue and 2 Foivis Street 166 74 Glyfada, Athens, Greece and our telephone number at that address is +30 210 891 7960. Our website is www.dynagaspartners.com. Information contained on our website does not constitute part of this prospectus.

 

Our Fleet

 

As of the date of this prospectus, we owned and operated a fleet of six LNG carriers, consisting of the three modern steam turbine LNG carriers, the Clean Energy, the Ob River and the Amur River (formerly named the Clean Force), and three modern tri-fuel diesel electric (TFDE) propulsion technology Ice Class LNG carriers that we additionally acquired from our Sponsor, the Arctic Aurora, the Yenisei River, and the Lena River, which we collectively refer to as our “Fleet.” As of the date of this prospectus, the vessels in our Fleet had an average age of 14 years and are contracted under multi-year charters with an average remaining charter term of approximately 6.5 years. All of the vessels in our Fleet are currently employed or are contracted to be employed on multi-year time charters with international energy companies, such as SEFE, Equinor, Yamal and NextDecade.

 

7

As of August 1, 2024, the estimated contracted revenue backlog of our Fleet was approximately $1.1 billion, $0.11 billion of which is a variable hire element contained in certain time charter contracts with Yamal. The variable hire rate on these time charter contracts with Yamal is calculated based on two components: a capital cost component and an operating cost component. The capital cost component is a fixed daily amount. The daily amount of the operating cost component, which is intended to pass the operating costs of the vessel to the charterer in their entirety including dry-docking costs, is set annually and adjusted at the end of each quarter to compensate us for the actual costs we incur in operating the vessel. Dry-docking expenses are budgeted in advance within the year of the dry-dock and are reimbursed by Yamal immediately following the dry-dock. The actual amount of revenues earned in respect of such operating cost component of such variable hire rate may therefore differ from the amounts included in the revenue backlog estimate due to the annual variations in the respective vessels’ operating costs. As of the date of this prospectus, the average remaining contract duration was approximately 6.5 years. The estimated contracted revenue backlog of our Fleet excludes options to extend and assumes full utilization for the full term of the charter up to the charters’ earliest expiration date. The actual amount of revenues earned and the actual periods during which revenues are earned may differ from the amounts and periods described above due to, for example, off-hire for maintenance projects, downtime, scheduled or unscheduled dry-docking, cancellation or early termination of vessel employment agreements, and other factors that may result in lower revenues than our average contract backlog per day. Our Fleet is managed by our Manager, Dynagas Ltd., a company controlled by Mr. Georgios Prokopiou. See “Item 7. Major Unitholders and Related Party Transactions—B. Related Party Transactions” of our 2023 Annual Report.

 

The following table sets forth summary information about our Fleet and the existing time charters relating to the vessels in our Fleet as of the date of this prospectus:

 

Vessel Name Year
Built
Cargo Capacity
(cbm)
Ice
Class
Propulsion Charterer Earliest Charter
Expiration
Latest Charter
Expiration
Latest Charter
Expiration including options to extend
Clean Energy 2007 149,700 No Steam

SEFE

NextDecade

March 2026

March 2028

April 2026

April 2028

n/a

n/a

Ob River 2007 149,700 Yes Steam SEFE March 2028 May 2028 n/a
Amur River 2008 149,700 Yes Steam SEFE June 2028 July 2028 n/a
Arctic Aurora 2013 155,000 Yes TFDE *

Equinor

NextDecade

August 2026

August 2033

September 2026

September 2033

n/a

n/a

Yenisei River 2013 155,000 Yes TFDE * Yamal Q4 2033 Q2 2034 Q2 2049(1)
Lena River 2013 155,000 Yes TFDE * Yamal Q2 2034 Q3 2034 Q4 2049(2)
* As used in this prospectus, “TFDE” refers to tri-fuel diesel electric propulsion system.
(1) The charter contract for the Yenisei River with Yamal in the Yamal LNG Project has an initial term of 15.5 years, which may be extended at the charterer’s option by three consecutive periods of five years.
(2) The charter contract for the Lena River with Yamal in the Yamal LNG Project has an initial term of 15 years, which may be extended at the charterer’s option by three consecutive periods of five years.
8

RISK FACTORS

 

An investment in our securities involves a significant degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risk factors discussed under “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors” in our 2023 Annual Report, as updated by annual, quarterly and other reports and documents we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and that are incorporated by reference herein, in evaluating an investment in our securities. In addition, you should also consider carefully the risks set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” in any prospectus supplement before investing in the securities offered by this prospectus. If any of these risks were actually to occur, our business, financial condition, or results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

 

9

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Unless we specify otherwise in any prospectus supplement, we may use the net proceeds from the sale of securities offered by this prospectus for capital expenditures, repayment of indebtedness, working capital, to make vessel or other asset acquisitions or for general corporate purposes or combination thereof.

 

We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of common units by the Selling Unitholder.

 

10

CAPITALIZATION

 

Each prospectus supplement will include information relating to our capitalization.

 

11

DESCRIPTION OF OUR COMMON UNITS

 

For a description of our common units, please refer to our registration statement on Form 8-A filed on December 23, 2014, including any subsequent amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

 

12

DESCRIPTION OF OTHER CLASSES OF UNITS

 

Our Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (as may be amended from time to time, our “Partnership Agreement”) authorizes us to issue an unlimited number of additional limited partner interests and other equity securities for the consideration and with the rights, preferences and privileges established by our general partner without the approval of any of our limited partners. As of the date of this prospectus, the only classes of limited partner interests outstanding are the common units, the Series A Preferred Units and the Series B Preferred Units.

 

For a description of our Series A Preferred Units, please refer to our registration statement on Form 8-A filed on July 23, 2015, and for a description of our Series B Preferred Units, please refer to our registration statement on Form 8-A filed on October 23, 2018, in each case, including any subsequent amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such descriptions.

 

Should we offer other classes of units under this prospectus, a prospectus supplement relating to the particular class or series of units offered will include the specific terms of those units, including, among other things, the following:

 

the designation, stated value, and liquidation preference of the units and the maximum number of units to constitute the class or series;

the number of units to be offered;

the public offering price at which the units will be issued;

any sinking fund provisions of the units;

the voting rights, if any, of the units;

the distribution rights of the units, if any;

whether the units will be redeemable and, if so, the price and the terms and conditions on which the units may be redeemed, including the time during which the units may be redeemed and any accumulated distributions thereof, if any, that the holders of the units will be entitled to receive upon the redemption thereof;

the terms and conditions, if any, on which the units will be convertible into, or exchangeable for, the units of any other class or series of units representing limited partner interests, including the price or prices or the rate or rates of conversion or exchange and the method, if any, of adjusting the same;

a discussion of any additional material federal income tax considerations (other than as discussed in this prospectus), if any, regarding the units;

any additional rights, preferences, privileges, limitations, and restrictions of the units; and

any other information we think is important about the units.

 

The particular terms of any class or series of units will also be described in the amendment to our Partnership Agreement relating to that class or series of units, which will be filed as an exhibit to or incorporated by reference in this prospectus at or before the time of issuance of any such class or series of units.

 

Such units will be fully paid and non-assessable when issued upon full payment of the purchase price therefor, subject to applicable provisions under the Marshall Islands Limited Partnership Act. The transfer agent, registrar, and distributions disbursement agent for the units will be designated in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES AND GUARANTEES OF DEBT SECURITIES

 

We may offer and issue debt securities and guarantees of debt securities from time to time in one or more series, under one or more indentures, each dated as of a date on or prior to the issuance of the debt securities to which it relates, and pursuant to an applicable prospectus supplement. We may issue senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities pursuant to separate indentures, a senior indenture and a subordinated indenture, respectively, in each case between us and the trustee named in the indenture. We have filed forms of these documents as exhibits to the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part. The senior indenture and the subordinated indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time, are sometimes referred to individually as an “indenture” and collectively as the “indentures.” Each indenture will be subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act, and will be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any principles thereof relating to conflicts of law that would result in the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction, unless otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus supplement and indenture (or post-effective amendment hereto). The debt securities and guarantees of debt securities will be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any principles thereof relating to conflicts of law that would result in the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction, unless otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment hereto).

 

The aggregate principal amount of debt securities which may be issued under each indenture will contain the specific terms of any series of debt securities or provide that those terms must be set forth in or determined pursuant to, an authorizing resolution, as defined in the applicable prospectus supplement, and/or a supplemental indenture, if any, relating to such series. Our debt securities may be convertible or exchangeable into any of our equity or other debt securities.

 

Certain of our subsidiaries may guarantee the debt securities we offer. Those guarantees may or may not be secured by liens, mortgages, and security interests in the assets of those subsidiaries. The terms and conditions of any such subsidiary guarantees, and a description of any such liens, mortgages or security interests, will be set forth in the prospectus supplement that will accompany this prospectus.

 

The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities. The particular terms and provisions of the debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement, and the extent to which the general terms and provisions described below may apply to the offered debt securities, will be described in the applicable subsequent filings. We refer to any applicable prospectus supplement, amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and reports we file with the SEC under the Exchange Act as “subsequent filings.” The statements below are not complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the applicable indenture. The specific terms of any debt securities that we may offer, including any modifications of, or additions to, the general terms described below as well as any applicable material U.S. federal income tax considerations concerning the ownership of such debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement and indenture and, as applicable, supplemental indenture. Accordingly, for a complete description of the terms of a particular issue of debt securities, the general description of the debt securities set forth below should be read in conjunction with the applicable prospectus supplement and indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

General

 

We expect that neither indenture will limit the amount of debt securities which may be issued. The debt securities may be issued in one or more series. The senior debt securities may be secured or unsecured and may rank on a parity with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. Each series of subordinated debt securities may be secured or unsecured and subordinated to all present and future senior indebtedness. Any such debt securities will be described in an accompanying prospectus supplement.

 

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You should read the applicable indenture and subsequent filings relating to the particular series of debt securities for the following terms of the offered debt securities:

 

the designation, aggregate principal amount, and authorized denominations, and the obligors with respect thereto;

 

the issue price, expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount;

 

the maturity date;

 

the interest rate per annum, if any;

 

if the offered debt securities provide for interest payments, the date from which interest will accrue, the dates on which interest will be payable, the date on which payment of interest will commence and the regular record dates for interest payment dates;

 

any optional or mandatory sinking fund provisions or exchangeability provisions;

 

the terms and conditions upon which conversion of any convertible debt securities may be effected, including the conversion price, the conversion period, and other conversion provisions;

 

the date, if any, after which and the price or prices at which the offered debt securities may be optionally redeemed or must be mandatorily redeemed and any other terms and provisions of optional or mandatory redemptions;

 

if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which offered debt securities of the series will be issuable;

 

if other than the full principal amount, the portion of the principal amount of offered debt securities of the series which will be payable upon acceleration or provable in bankruptcy;

 

any events of default not set forth in this prospectus;

 

the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which principal, premium and interest will be payable, if other than the currency of the United States of America;

 

if principal, premium or interest is payable, at our election or at the election of any holder, in a currency other than that in which the offered debt securities of the series are stated to be payable, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, the election may be made;

 

whether interest will be payable in cash or additional securities at our or the holder’s option and the terms and conditions upon which the election may be made;

 

if denominated in a currency or currencies other than the currency of the United States of America, the equivalent price in the currency of the United States of America for purposes of determining the voting rights of holders of those debt securities under the applicable indenture;

 

if the amount of payments of principal, premium or interest may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method based on a coin or currency other than that in which the offered debt securities of the series are stated to be payable, the manner in which the amounts will be determined;

 

any restrictive covenants or other material terms relating to the offered debt securities;

 

whether the offered debt securities will be issued in the form of global securities or certificates in registered form

 

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any listing on any securities exchange or quotation system;

 

additional provisions, if any, related to defeasance and discharge of the offered debt securities;

 

whether the debt securities will be our senior or subordinated securities;

 

whether the debt securities will be our secured or unsecured obligations;

 

the applicability and terms of any guarantees; and

 

any other special features of the debt securities.

 

Subsequent filings may include additional terms not listed above. Unless otherwise indicated in subsequent filings with the SEC relating to the indenture, principal, premium and interest will be payable and the debt securities will be transferable at the corporate trust office of the applicable trustee. Unless other arrangements are made or set forth in subsequent filings or a supplemental indenture, principal, premium and interest will be paid by checks mailed to the registered holders at their registered addresses.

 

Unless otherwise indicated in subsequent filings with the SEC, the debt securities will be issued only in fully registered form without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiple thereof. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of the debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with these debt securities.

 

Some or all of the debt securities may be issued as discounted debt securities, bearing no interest or interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is below market rates, to be sold at a substantial discount below the stated principal amount. United States federal income tax consequences and other special considerations applicable to any discounted securities will be described in subsequent filings with the SEC relating to those securities.

 

We refer you to applicable subsequent filings with respect to any deletions or additions or modifications from the description contained in this prospectus.

 

Senior Debt (Secured and Unsecured)

 

We may issue senior debt securities, which may be secured or unsecured, under the senior debt indenture. The senior debt securities will rank on an equal basis with all our other senior debt except subordinated debt. The senior debt securities will be effectively subordinated, however, to all of our secured debt to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such debt. We will disclose the amount of our debt in the prospectus supplement.

 

Subordinated Debt

 

We may issue subordinated debt securities under a subordinated debt indenture. Subordinated debt would rank subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent set forth in the subordinated debt indenture, to all our senior debt (both secured and unsecured).

 

Covenants

 

Any series of offered debt securities may have covenants in addition to or differing from those included in the applicable indenture which will be described in subsequent filings prepared in connection with the offering of such securities, limiting or restricting, among other things:

 

the ability of us or our subsidiaries to incur either secured or unsecured debt, or both;

 

the ability to make certain payments, distributions, redemptions or repurchases;

 

our ability to create distributions and other payment restrictions affecting our subsidiaries;

 

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our ability to make investments;

 

mergers and consolidations by us or our subsidiaries;

 

sales of assets by us;

 

our ability to enter into transactions with affiliates;

 

our ability to incur liens; and

 

sale and leaseback transactions.

 

Modification of the Indentures

 

We expect that each indenture and the rights of the respective holders may be modified by us only with the consent of holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series under the respective indenture affected by the modification, taken together as a class. But we expect that no modification that:

 

changes the amount of securities whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

 

reduces the rate of or changes the interest payment time on any security or alters its redemption provisions (other than any alteration to any such section which would not materially adversely affect the legal rights of any holder under the indenture) or the price at which we are required to offer to purchase the securities;

 

reduces the principal or changes the maturity of any security or reduces the amount of, or postpones the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation;

 

waives a default or event of default in the payment of the principal of or interest, if any, on any security (except a rescission of acceleration of the securities of any series by the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding securities of that series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

 

makes the principal of or interest, if any, on any security payable in any currency other than that stated in the security;

 

makes any change with respect to holders’ rights to receive principal and interest, the terms pursuant to which defaults can be waived, certain modifications affecting holders or certain currency-related issues; or

 

waives a redemption payment with respect to any security or changes any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of any securities will be effective against any holder without their consent.

 

In addition, other terms as specified in subsequent filings may be modified without the consent of the holders.

 

Events of Default

 

We expect that each indenture will define an event of default for the debt securities of any series as being any one of the following events:

 

default in any payment of interest when due which continues for 30 days;

 

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default in any payment of principal or premium at maturity;

 

default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when due;

 

default in the performance of any covenant in the debt securities or the applicable indenture which continues for 60 days after we receive notice of the default;

 

default under a bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness for borrowed money by us or our subsidiaries (to the extent we are directly responsible or liable therefor) having a principal amount in excess of a minimum amount set forth in the applicable subsequent filing, whether such indebtedness now exists or is hereafter created, which default shall have resulted in such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, without such acceleration having been rescinded or annulled or cured within 30 days after we receive notice of the default; and

 

events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization.

 

An event of default of one series of debt securities will not necessarily constitute an event of default with respect to any other series of debt securities.

 

There may be such other or different events of default as described in an applicable subsequent filing with respect to any class or series of offered debt securities.

 

We expect that under each indenture, in case an event of default occurs and continues for the debt securities of any series, the applicable trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities then outstanding of that series may declare the principal and accrued but unpaid interest of the debt securities of that series to be due and payable. Any event of default for the debt securities of any series which has been cured is expected to be permitted to be waived by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series then outstanding.

 

We expect that each indenture will require us to file annually after debt securities are issued under that indenture with the applicable trustee a written statement signed by two of our officers as to the absence of material defaults under the terms of that indenture. We also expect that each indenture will provide that the applicable trustee may withhold notice to the holders of any default if it considers it in the interest of the holders to do so, except notice of a default in payment of principal, premium or interest.

 

Subject to the duties of the trustee in case an event of default occurs and continues, we expect that each indenture will provide that the trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under that indenture at the request, order or direction of holders unless the holders have offered to the trustee reasonable indemnity. Subject to these provisions for indemnification and the rights of the trustee, each indenture is expected to provide that the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of any series then outstanding 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 as long as the exercise of that right does not conflict with any law or the indenture.

 

Defeasance and Discharge

 

The terms of each indenture are expected to provide us with the option to be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the debt securities issued thereunder upon the deposit with the trustee, in trust, of money or United States government obligations, or both, which through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay any installment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on, and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of, the debt securities on the stated maturity of the payments in accordance with the terms of the debt securities and the indenture governing the debt securities. We expect that this right may only be exercised if, among other things, we have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling to the effect that such a discharge will not be deemed, or result in, a taxable event with respect to holders. This discharge would not apply to our obligations to register the transfer or exchange of debt securities, to replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities, to maintain paying agencies and hold moneys for payment in trust.

 

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Defeasance of Certain Covenants

 

We expect that the terms of the debt securities provide us with the right not to comply with specified covenants and that specified events of default described in a subsequent filing will not apply provided we deposit with the trustee money or U.S. government obligations, or both, which through the payment of interest and principal will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay any installment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on, and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of, the debt securities on the stated maturity of such payments in accordance with the terms of the debt securities and the indenture governing such debt securities. We expect that to exercise this right, we will also be required to deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the deposit and related covenant defeasance should not cause the holders of such series to recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes.

 

A subsequent filing may further describe the provisions, if any, of any particular series of offered debt securities permitting a discharge defeasance.

 

Guarantees of Debt Securities

 

Certain of our subsidiaries may guarantee the debt securities we offer. In that case, the terms and conditions of the subsidiary guarantees will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Guarantees may be secured or unsecured and senior or subordinated. The particular terms of guarantees of a particular issue of debt securities will be described in the related prospectus supplement. Unless we indicate differently in the applicable prospectus supplement, if any of our subsidiaries guarantee any of our debt securities that are subordinated to any of our senior indebtedness, then the subsidiary guarantees will be subordinated to the senior indebtedness of such subsidiary to the same extent as our debt securities are subordinated to our senior indebtedness.

 

Global Securities

 

We may issue the debt securities in the form of one or more fully registered global securities that will be deposited with a depositary or its nominee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of that depositary or nominee. In those cases, one or more registered global securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal or face amount of the securities to be represented by registered global securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole for securities in definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be transferred except as a whole by and among the depositary for the registered global security, the nominees of the depositary or any successors of the depositary or those nominees. If not described below, any specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any debt securities to be represented by a registered global security will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those debt securities. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements:

 

Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be limited to persons, called participants, that have accounts with the depositary or persons that may hold interests through participants. Upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants’ accounts with the respective principal or face amounts of the securities beneficially owned by the participants. Any dealers, underwriters or selling agents participating in the distribution of the securities will designate the accounts to be credited. Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary, with respect to interests of participants, and on the records of participants, with respect to interests of persons holding through participants. The laws of some jurisdictions may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of these securities in definitive form. These laws may impair your ability to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in registered global securities. So long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a registered global security, that depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the securities represented by the registered global security for all purposes under the indenture.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

 

We may issue warrants to purchase debt securities, common units, other classes of units or other securities or any combination of the foregoing. We may issue warrants independently or together with other securities. Warrants sold with other securities may be attached to or separate from the other securities. We will issue warrants under one or more warrant agreements between us and a warrant agent that we will name in the prospectus supplement or directly between us and the warrant holder.

 

The terms of any warrants to be issued and a description of the material provisions of the applicable warrant agreement will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

The prospectus supplement relating to any warrants that we may offer will include specific terms relating to the offering, including the terms of any warrants to be issued and a description of the material provisions of the applicable warrant agreement. We will file the form of any warrant agreement with the SEC, and you should read the warrant agreement for provisions that may be important to you. The prospectus supplement will include some or all of the following terms:

 

the title of the warrants;

 

the aggregate number of warrants offered;

 

the designation and terms of the common units or other classes of units that may be purchased upon exercise of the warrants, and procedures by which those numbers may be adjusted;

 

the exercise price of the warrants;

 

the dates or periods during which the warrants are exercisable;

 

the designation and terms of any securities with which the warrants are issued;

 

if the warrants are issued as a unit with another security, the date, if any, on and after which the warrants and the other security will be separately transferable;

 

if the exercise price is not payable in U.S. dollars, the foreign currency, currency unit, or composite currency in which the exercise price is denominated;

 

any minimum or maximum number of warrants that may be exercised at any one time;

 

any terms, procedures and limitations relating to the transferability, exchange, exercise, amendment, or termination of the warrants;

 

any adjustments to the terms of the warrants resulting from the occurrence of certain events or from the entry into or consummation by us of certain transactions; and

 

any other information we think is important about the warrants.

 

The warrants will be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any principles thereof relating to conflicts of law that would result in the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction, unless otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment hereto).

 

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DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS

 

We may issue rights to purchase our equity securities. These rights may be issued independently or together with any other security offered by this prospectus and may or may not be transferable by the holder receiving the rights in the rights offering. In connection with any rights offering, we may enter into a standby underwriting agreement with one or more underwriters pursuant to which the underwriter will purchase any securities that remain unsubscribed for upon completion of the rights offering.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement relating to any rights will describe the terms of the offered rights.

 

The description in the applicable prospectus supplement of any rights we offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable rights certificate or rights agreement, which will be filed with the Commission if we offer rights. For more information on how you can obtain copies of any rights certificate or rights agreement if we offer rights, see “Where You Can Find More Information” of this prospectus. We urge you to read the applicable rights certificate, the applicable rights agreement and any applicable prospectus supplement in their entirety.

 

The rights will be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any principles thereof relating to conflicts of law that would result in the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction, unless otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment hereto).

 

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DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS

 

We may issue purchase contracts for the purchase or sale of debt or equity securities issued by us, a basket of such securities, an index or indices of such securities, or any combination of the above as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Each purchase contract will entitle the holder thereof to purchase or sell, and obligate us to sell or purchase, on specified dates, such securities at a specified purchase price, which may be based on a formula, all as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may, however, satisfy our obligations, if any, with respect to any purchase contract by delivering the cash value of such purchase contract or the cash value of the security otherwise deliverable, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will also specify the methods by which the holders may purchase or sell such securities, and any acceleration, cancellation or termination provisions, provisions relating to U.S. federal income tax considerations, if any, or other provisions relating to the settlement of a purchase contract.

 

The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders thereof or vice versa, which payments may be deferred to the extent set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, and those payments may be unsecured or pre-funded on some basis. The purchase contracts may require the holders thereof to secure their obligations in a specified manner to be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Alternatively, purchase contracts may require holders to satisfy their obligations thereunder when the purchase contracts are issued. Our obligation to settle such pre-paid purchase contracts on the relevant settlement date may constitute indebtedness. Accordingly, pre-paid purchase contracts will be issued under an indenture.

 

The purchase contracts will be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any principles thereof relating to conflicts of law that would result in the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction, unless otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment hereto).

 

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SUMMARY OF OUR PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

 

A copy of our Partnership Agreement is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. A summary of the important provisions of our Partnership Agreement and the rights and privileges of our unitholders is included in our 2023 Annual Report, including any subsequent amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description. Please read “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

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OUR CASH DISTRIBUTION POLICY AND RESTRICTIONS ON DISTRIBUTIONS

 

You should read the following discussion of our cash distribution policy and restrictions on distributions in conjunction with specific assumptions included in this section. In addition, you should read “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” for information regarding statements that do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and certain risks inherent in our business.

 

General

 

Rationale for Our Cash Distribution Policy

 

Our cash distribution policy reflects a judgment that our unitholders will be better served by our distributing our available cash rather than retaining it because, in general, we plan to finance any expansion capital expenditures from external financing sources. Our cash distribution policy is consistent with the terms of our Partnership Agreement, which requires that we distribute all of our available cash quarterly. Available cash is generally defined to mean, for each quarter cash generated from our business less the amount of cash reserves established by our Board of Directors at the date of determination of available cash for the quarter to provide for the proper conduct of our business (including reserves for our future capital expenditures and anticipated future credit needs subsequent to that quarter), comply with applicable law, any of our debt instruments or other agreements; and provide funds for distributions to our unitholders and to our General Partner for any one or more of the next four quarters, plus, if our Board of Directors so determines, all or any portion of the cash on hand on the date of determination of available cash for the quarter resulting from working capital borrowings made subsequent to the end of such quarter.

 

Limitations on Cash Distributions and Our Ability to Change Our Cash Distribution Policy

 

There is no guarantee that unitholders will receive quarterly distributions from us. Our cash distribution policy is subject to certain restrictions and may be changed or eliminated at any time. Set forth below are certain factors that influence our cash distribution policy:

 

Our unitholders have no contractual or other legal right to receive distributions other than the obligation under our Partnership Agreement to distribute available cash on a quarterly basis, which is subject to the broad discretion of our Board of Directors to establish reserves and other limitations.

 

We are and will be subject to restrictions on distributions under our existing financing arrangements as well as under any new financing arrangements or other transactions that we may enter into in the future. Our new and existing financing arrangements may contain financial and other covenants that must be satisfied prior to paying distributions in order to declare and pay such distributions or that may restrict or prohibit the payment of distributions. If we are unable to satisfy the requirements contained in any of our financing arrangements or are otherwise in default under any of those agreements, there could be a material adverse effect on our financial condition and our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders notwithstanding our cash distribution policy.

 

We are required to make substantial capital expenditures to maintain and replace our Fleet. These expenditures may fluctuate significantly over time, particularly as our vessels near the end of their respective useful lives. In order to minimize these fluctuations, our Partnership Agreement requires us to deduct estimated, as opposed to actual, maintenance and replacement capital expenditures from the amount of cash that we would otherwise have available for distribution to our unitholders. In years when estimated maintenance and replacement capital expenditures are higher than actual maintenance and replacement capital expenditures, the amount of cash available for distribution to unitholders will be lower than if actual maintenance and replacement capital expenditures were deducted.

 

Although our Partnership Agreement requires us to distribute all of our available cash, our Partnership Agreement, including provisions contained therein requiring us to make cash distributions may be amended, with the approval of a majority of the outstanding common units.

 

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Even if our cash distribution policy is not modified or revoked, the amount of distributions we pay under our cash distribution policy and the decision to make any distribution is determined by our Board of Directors, taking into consideration the terms of our Partnership Agreement.

 

Under Section 51 of the Marshall Islands Limited Partnership Act, we may not make a distribution to our unitholders if the distribution would cause our liabilities to exceed the fair value of our assets.

 

We may lack sufficient cash to pay distributions to our unitholders due to decreases in total operating revenues, decreases in hire rates, the loss of a vessel or increases in operating or general and administrative expenses, principal and interest payments on outstanding debt, taxes, working capital requirements, maintenance and replacement capital expenditures or anticipated cash needs. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors” in our 2023 Annual Report for a discussion of these factors.

 

Our ability to make distributions to our unitholders depends on the performance of our subsidiaries and their ability to distribute cash to us. The ability of our subsidiaries to make distributions to us may be restricted by, among other things, the provisions of existing and future indebtedness, applicable limited partnership and limited liability company laws in the Marshall Islands and other laws and regulations.

 

Distributions on our Units

 

Series A Preferred Unit Distributions

 

Series A Preferred Unitholders are entitled under our Partnership Agreement to receive cumulative cash distributions when, as and if declared by our Board of Directors, out of legally available funds for such purpose. Distributions on Series A Preferred Units are cumulative and accrue at the distribution rate of 9.0%.

 

Series B Preferred Unit Distributions

 

Until November 22, 2023, Series B Preferred Unitholders were entitled under our Partnership Agreement to receive cumulative cash distributions payable on the Series B Preferred Units at a fixed rate equal to 8.75% per annum. Effective as of November 22, 2023, in accordance with the terms of the Series B Preferred Units, the distribution rate for the Series B Preferred Units changed from fixed to floating, and is equal to the Term Secured Overnight Financing Rate for the applicable three-month tenor published by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange plus the credit spread adjustment of 0.26161% (“Credit Adjusted Three-Month CME Term SOFR”) plus a spread of 5.593% (the “Margin”) per annum per $25.00 stated liquidation preference per unit. The applicable distribution rate for each distribution period is determined every three months by the calculation agent for the Series B Preferred Units. The calculation agent selected Credit Adjusted Three-Month CME Term SOFR as the comparable substitute base rate for the Three-Month LIBOR Rate, which otherwise would have been the applicable base rate. LIBOR rates were discontinued as of June 30, 2023.

 

Minimum Quarterly Distribution

 

Common unitholders are entitled under our Partnership Agreement to receive a minimum quarterly distribution of $0.365 per unit, after distributions are made on the Series A Preferred Units and the Series B Preferred Units but, to the extent we have sufficient cash on hand to pay the distribution, after establishment of cash reserves and payment of fees and expenses and if permitted under our existing and future debt agreements. Under the terms of the $675 Million Credit Facility, the Partnership is restricted from paying distributions to its common unitholders while borrowings are outstanding. As such, since entry into the $675 Million Credit Facility, we have discontinued minimum quarterly distributions to our common unitholders. There is no guarantee that we will pay the minimum quarterly distribution to common unitholders, the general partner or to holders of the incentive distribution rights in the future. Please read “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—B. Liquidity and Capital Resources” of our 2023 Annual Report for a discussion of the restrictions contained in our debt agreements that may restrict our ability to make distributions.

 

25

 

Subordination Period

 

General

 

Prior to the expiration of the subordination period, the common units had the right to receive distributions of available cash from operating surplus in an amount equal to the minimum quarterly distribution of $0.365 per unit, plus any arrearages in the payment of the minimum quarterly distribution on the common units from prior quarters, before any distributions of available cash from operating surplus may be made on the subordinated units. On January 23, 2017, upon our payment to unitholders of the quarterly distribution in respect of the fourth quarter of 2016, the conditions set forth in the Partnership Agreement for the conversion of the subordinated units were satisfied and the subordination period expired. At the expiration of the subordination period, the 14,985,000 subordinated units owned by the Sponsor converted into common units on a one-for-one basis.

 

Incentive Distribution Rights

 

Incentive distribution rights represent the right to receive an increasing percentage of quarterly distributions of available cash from operating surplus after the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels have been achieved. Our General Partner currently holds the incentive distribution rights. The incentive distribution rights may be transferred separately from our general partner interest, subject to restrictions in the Partnership Agreement. Subsequent to December 31, 2016, the General Partner or any other holder of incentive distribution rights may transfer any or all of its incentive distribution rights without unitholder approval. Any transfer by our general partner of the incentive distribution rights would not change the percentage allocations of quarterly distributions with respect to such rights.

 

The following table illustrates the percentage allocations of the additional available cash from operating surplus among the unitholders, our General Partner and the holders of the incentive distribution rights up to the various target distribution levels. The amounts set forth under “Marginal Percentage Interest in Distributions” are the percentage interests of the unitholders, our General Partner and the holders of the incentive distribution rights in any available cash from operating surplus we distribute up to and including the corresponding amount in the column “Total Quarterly Distribution Target Amount,” until available cash from operating surplus we distribute reaches the next target distribution level, if any. The percentage interests shown for the unitholders, our General Partner and the holders of the incentive distribution rights for the minimum quarterly distribution are also applicable to quarterly distribution amounts that are less than the minimum quarterly distribution. The percentage interests shown for our General Partner include its 0.1% General Partner interest only and assume that our General Partner has contributed any capital necessary to maintain its 0.1% General Partner interest.

 

    Marginal Percentage Interest in Distributions  
   

Total

Quarterly

Distribution

Target

Amount

    Unitholders    

General

Partner

   

Holders

of IDRs

 
Minimum Quarterly Distribution   $0.365       99.9 %     0.1 %     0.0 %
First Target Distribution   up to $0.420       99.9 %     0.1 %     0.0 %
Second Target Distribution   above $0.420 up to $0.456       85.0 %     0.1 %     14.9 %
Third Target Distribution   Above $0.456 up to $0.548       75.0 %     0.1 %     24.9 %
Thereafter   above $0.548       50.0 %     0.1 %     49.9 %
26

TAX CONSIDERATIONS

 

Our 2023 Annual Report, as updated by annual and other reports and documents that we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and that are incorporated by reference herein, provides a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations and Marshall Islands tax considerations that may be relevant to prospective investors in our common units. The applicable prospectus supplement may also contain information about any material U.S. federal income tax considerations and any material non-U.S. tax considerations relating to the securities covered by such prospectus supplement.

 

27

SELLING UNITHOLDER

 

As of the date of this prospectus, Dynagas Holding, or the Selling Unitholder, owns 15,595,000 common units, or approximately 42.4% of our outstanding common units. The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common units held by the Selling Unitholder. The Selling Unitholder is offering up to an aggregate of 15,595,000 of our common units, 14,985,000 of which were previously acquired on January 23, 2017 upon the conversion of our outstanding subordinated units, all of which were owned by the Selling Unitholder, into common units on a one-for-one basis at the expiration of the subordination period. The subordination period expired upon our payment to unitholders of the quarterly distribution in respect of the fourth quarter of 2016 at which time the conditions set forth in the Partnership Agreement for the conversion of the subordinated units were satisfied. The Selling Unitholder may sell some, all or none of their units covered by this prospectus.

 

Selling Unitholder  

Common

Units

Owned

Prior to

the

Offering

   

Percentage

of Class

Prior to

the

Offering(1)

   

Total

Common

Units

Offered

Hereby

   

Percentage

of the

Class

Following

the

Offering(2)

 
Dynagas Holding Ltd.(3)     15,595,000       42.4 %     15,595,000       0 %

_________________________

(1) Based on 36,802,247 common units outstanding as of the date of this prospectus.
(2) Assumes that the Selling Unitholder sells all of the common units offered hereby.
(3) Dynagas Holding is beneficially owned by the Prokopiou Family, including the chairman of our Board of Directors, Georgios Prokopiou and his daughters Elisavet Prokopiou, Johanna Procopiou, Marina Kalliope Prokopiou, and Maria Eleni Prokopiou, which collectively have a business address at 23, Rue Basse, 98000 Monaco.
28

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We or the Selling Unitholder may sell or distribute our securities included in this prospectus through underwriters, through agents, to dealers, in private transactions, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices, or otherwise.

 

In addition, we or the Selling Unitholder may sell some or all of our securities included in this prospectus through:

 

  a block trade in which a broker-dealer may resell a portion of the block, as principal, in order to facilitate the transaction;
  a distribution to our existing unitholders;
  purchases by a broker-dealer, as principal, and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;
  ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which a broker solicits purchasers; or
  trading plans entered into by us pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under Exchange Act that are in place at the time of an offering pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement hereto that provide for periodic sales of our securities on the basis of parameters described in such trading plans.

 

In addition, we or the Selling Unitholder may enter into options or other types of transactions that require us or them to deliver our securities to a broker-dealer, who will then resell or transfer the securities under this prospectus. We or the Selling Unitholder may enter into hedging transactions with respect to our securities. For example, we or the Selling Unitholder may:

 

  enter into transactions involving short sales of our securities by broker-dealers;
  sell securities short and deliver the securities to close out short positions;
  enter into options or other types of transactions that require us or them to deliver securities to a broker-dealer, who will then resell or transfer the securities under this prospectus; or
  loan or pledge the securities to a broker-dealer, who may sell the loaned securities or, in the event of default, sell the pledged securities.

 

The Selling Unitholder may also sell securities under Rule 144 or any other exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus.

 

We or the Selling Unitholder may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities, including securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or the Selling Unitholder or borrowed from us or the Selling Unitholder to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us or the Selling Unitholder in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions may be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment). In addition, we or the Selling Unitholder may otherwise loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities short using this prospectus. Such financial institution or other third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities.

 

The Selling Unitholder and any broker-dealers or other persons acting on our behalf or on the behalf of the Selling Unitholder that participate with us or the Selling Unitholder in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters and any commissions received or profit realized by them on the resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. As a result, Regulation M, promulgated under the Exchange Act, may apply to sales by the Selling Unitholder in the market. We or the Selling Unitholder may agree to indemnify any broker, dealer, or agent that participates in transactions involving the sale of our common units against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.

 

29

 

At the time that any particular offering of securities is made, to the extent required by the Securities Act, a prospectus supplement will be distributed, setting forth the terms of the offering, including the aggregate number of securities being offered, the purchase price of the securities, the public offering price of the securities, the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, any discounts, commissions and other items constituting compensation from us and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers. Furthermore, we, our executive officers, our directors and the Selling Unitholder may agree, subject to certain exemptions, that for a certain period from the date of the prospectus supplement under which the securities are offered, we and they will not, without the prior written consent of an underwriter, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of any of our common units or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common units. However, an underwriter, in its sole discretion, may release any of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements at any time without notice. We expect an underwriter to exclude from these lock-up agreements securities exercised and/or sold pursuant to trading plans entered into by any selling unitholder pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act, that are in place at the time of an offering pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement hereto that provide for periodic sales of the securities on the basis of parameters described in such trading plans.

 

Underwriters or agents could make sales in privately negotiated transactions and/or any other method permitted by law, including sales deemed to be an at-the-market offering as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, which includes sales made directly on or through the NYSE, the existing trading market for our common units, or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange.

 

We will bear the costs relating to the securities offered and sold by us under this registration statement.

 

30

SERVICE OF PROCESS AND ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES

 

We are organized under the laws of the Marshall Islands as a limited partnership. All of our directors and officers and those of our subsidiaries are residents of countries other than the United States. Substantially all of our and our subsidiaries’ assets and a substantial portion of the assets of our directors and officers are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for United States investors to effect service of process within the United States upon us, our directors or officers, our subsidiaries or to realize against us or them judgments obtained in United States courts, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States.

 

In addition, there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Marshall Islands would (1) recognize or enforce against us, or our directors or officers, judgments of courts of the United States based on civil liability provisions of applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws; or (2) impose liabilities against us or our directors and officers in original actions brought in the Marshall Islands, based on these laws.

 

31

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Unless otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities and certain other legal matters with respect to United States Federal law and the laws of New York, Delaware, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands will be passed upon for us and the Selling Unitholder, as applicable, by our counsel, Watson Farley & Williams LLP. Gauci-Maistre Xynou, 147/8 St. Lucia Street, Valletta VLT 1185, Malta, will provide an opinion regarding certain matters under the laws of Malta.

 

32

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of Dynagas LNG Partners LP, appearing in Dynagas LNG Partners LP’s Annual Report (Form 20-F) for the year ended December 31, 2023, have been audited by Ernst Young (Hellas) Certified Auditors Accountants S.A., independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing. Ernst & Young (Hellas) Certified Auditors Accountants S.A. is located at Chimarras 8B, 15125, Maroussi, Greece and is registered as a corporate body with the public register for company auditors-accountants kept with the Body of Certified-Auditors-Accountants, or SOEL, Greece with registration number 107.

 

The sections included in our 2023 Annual Report, incorporated herein by reference, which have been attributed to Drewry Shipping Consultants Ltd., including the section entitled “The International Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Shipping Industry,” have been reviewed by Drewry Shipping Consultants Ltd., which has confirmed to us that such sections accurately describe the international LNG shipping market, subject to the availability and reliability of the data supporting the statistical information presented.

 

33

EXPENSES

 

The following table sets forth the costs and expenses, other than the underwriting discounts and commissions, in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities covered by this prospectus. All amounts are estimated, except the SEC registration fee and the FINRA fee.

 

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee   $ 60,614(1)  
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority filing fee  
*  
NYSE listing fee     *  
Legal fees and expenses     *  
Accounting fees and expenses     *  
Printing and engraving costs     *  
Transfer agent fees and other     *  
Miscellaneous     *  
Total     *  

_______________________

(1)
The amount of the registration fee was previously paid.
* To be provided in a prospectus supplement or in a Report on Form 6-K subsequently incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
34

$350,000,000

 

Common Units Representing Limited Partner Interests
Other Classes of Units Representing Limited Partner Interests
Debt Securities and Guarantees, Warrants, Rights, Purchase Contracts
and

 

15,595,000

Common Units Representing Limited Partner Interests Offered by the Selling Unitholder

 



 

Dynagas LNG Partners LP

 

PROSPECTUS

 

                  , 2024

 


Part II

 

Information Not Required in the Prospectus

 

Item 8. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

Indemnification of Directors and Officers and Limitation of Liability

 

Dynagas LNG Partners LP (the “Partnership”) is a Marshall Islands limited partnership. Under the Marshall Islands Limited Partnership Act, a partnership agreement may set forth that the partnership shall indemnify and hold harmless any partner or other person from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever. Under the Partnership’s Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (the “Partnership Agreement”), in most circumstances, it will indemnify the following persons, to the fullest extent permitted by law, from and against all losses, claims, damages or similar events:

 

  (1) its General Partner;
  (2) any departing General Partner;
  (3) any person who is or was an affiliate of its General Partner or any departing General Partner;
  (4) any person who is or was an officer, director, member, fiduciary or trustee of any entity described in (1), (2) or (3) above;
  (5) any person who is or was serving as a director, officer, member, fiduciary or trustee of another person at the request of its Board of Directors, its General Partner or any departing General Partner;
  (6) any person designated by its Board of Directors;
  (7) the members of its Board of Directors; and
  (8) any of its officers.

 

Any indemnification under these provisions will only be out of the Partnership’s assets. Unless it otherwise agrees, the Partnership’s General Partner will not be personally liable for, or have any obligation to contribute or lend funds or assets to the Partnership to enable it to effectuate, indemnification. The Partnership may purchase insurance against liabilities asserted against and expenses incurred by persons for its activities, regardless of whether it would have the power to indemnify the person against liabilities under the Partnership Agreement. The Partnership currently maintains directors’ and officers’ insurance for its directors and officers.

 

Item 9. Exhibits

 

The exhibit index at the end of this registration statement identifies the exhibits which are included in this registration statement and are incorporated herein by reference (the “Exhibit Index”).

 

Item 10. Undertakings

 

(a) Each undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

  (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
  (i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
  (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement.

 

II-1

 

  (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 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 registrants pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
  (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
  (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
  (4) 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.
  (5) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
  (i) Each prospectus filed by the registrants 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; or
  (6) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrants under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities: Each undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrants 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 registrants 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 registrants 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 registrants or used or referred to by the undersigned registrants;
  (iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrants or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrants; and

 

II-2

 

  (iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrants to the purchaser.

 

(b) Each undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(c) - (f) [Reserved]

 

(g) Not applicable.

 

(h) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrants pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, each registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrants of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrants 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 registrants 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.

 

(i) Not applicable.

 

(j) To file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act (the “Act”) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC under section 305(b)2 of the Act.

 

(k) Not applicable.

 

II-3

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit Number Description
   
1.1 Form of Underwriting Agreement*
   
3.1 Certificate of Limited Partnership of Dynagas LNG Partners LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (Registration No. 333-191653))
   
3.2 Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Dynagas LNG Partners LP (incorporated by reference to the Partnership’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A12B, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 23, 2018).
   
4.1 Form of Senior Indenture
   
4.2 Form of Subordinated Indenture
   
4.3 Form of Debt Securities*
   
4.4 Form of Warrant Agreement*
   
4.5 Form of Warrant Certificate*
   
4.6 Form of Rights Agreement*
   
4.7 Form of Rights Certificate*
   
4.8 Form of Purchase Contract*
   
5.1 Opinion of Watson Farley & Williams LLP
   
5.2 Opinion of Gauci-Maistre Xynou
   
8.1 Opinion of Watson Farley & Williams LLP relating to certain tax matters
   
22.1
List of Subsidiary Guarantors
   
23.1 Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
   
23.2 Consent of Watson Farley & Williams LLP (contained in Exhibits 5.1 and 8.1)
   
23.3 Consent of Drewry Shipping Consultants, Ltd.
   
23.4 Consent of Opinion of Gauci-Maistre Xynou (contained in Exhibit 5.2)
   
24.1 Power of Attorney (contained in the signature page hereto)
   
25.1 Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (Subordinated Indenture)**
   
25.2 Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (Senior Indenture)**
   
107.1 Filing Fee Table

_______________________

* To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K of the Registrant that is incorporated by reference into this registration statement.

** To be filed in accordance with the requirements of Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

 

II-4

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Athens, Country of Greece, on August 1, 2024.

 

    DYNAGAS LNG PARTNERS LP
     
    By: /s/ Michael Gregos
    Name: Michael Gregos
    Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Michael Gregos and Filana R. Silberberg, or any of them, with full power to act alone, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and any registration statement (including any amendment thereto) for this offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons on August 1, 2024 in the capacities indicated.

 

Signature   Title
     
/s/ Georgios Prokopiou   Chairman of the Board of Directors
Georgios Prokopiou
     
/s/ Tony Lauritzen   Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
Tony Lauritzen
     
/s/ Michael Gregos   Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
Michael Gregos
     
/s/ Dimitris Anagnostopoulos   Director
Dimitris Anagnostopoulos
     
/s/ Alexios Rodopoulos   Director
Alexios Rodopoulos
     
/s/ Evangelos Vlahoulis   Director
Evangelos Vlahoulis

 

II-5

 

AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Dynagas LNG Partners LP has signed this registration statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware on August 1, 2024.

 

    Puglisi & Associates
     
    By: /s/ Donald J. Puglisi
    Name: Donald J. Puglisi
    Title: Authorized Representative in the United States

 

II-6

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Athens, Country of Greece, on August 1, 2024.

 

    DYNAGAS FINANCE INC.
     
    By: /s/ Michael Gregos
    Name: Michael Gregos
    Title: President, Secretary and Director

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Michael Gregos and Filana R. Silberberg, and each of them, with full power to act alone, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and any registration statement (including any amendment thereto) for this offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons on August 1, 2024 in the capacities indicated.

 

Signature   Title
     
/s/ Michael Gregos  

President and Secretary and Director

(Principal Executive, Financial and Accounting

Officer)

Michael Gregos

 

II-7

 

AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Dynagas Finance Inc. has signed this registration statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware on August 1, 2024.

 

    Puglisi & Associates
     
    By: /s/ Donald J. Puglisi
    Name: Donald J. Puglisi
    Title: Authorized Representative in the United States

 

II-8

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Athens, Country of Greece, on August 1, 2024.

 

    DYNAGAS OPERATING LP
     
    By:

Dynagas Operating GP LLC,

General Partner

     
    By: /s/ Michael Gregos
    Name: Michael Gregos
    Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Michael Gregos and Filana R. Silberberg, and each of them, with full power to act alone, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and any registration statement (including any amendment thereto) for this offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons on August 1, 2024 in the capacities indicated.

 

Signature   Title
     
/s/ Michael Gregos  

Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) of Dynagas Operating GP LLC, as General Partner of Dynagas Operating LP

Michael Gregos
     
/s/ Tony Lauritzen   Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) of Dynagas Operating GP LLC, as General Partner of Dynagas Operating LP
Tony Lauritzen

 

II-9

 

AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Dynagas Operating LP has signed this registration statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware on August 1, 2024.

 

    Puglisi & Associates
     
    By: /s/ Donald J. Puglisi
    Name: Donald J. Puglisi
    Title: Authorized Representative in the United States

 

II-10

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Athens, Country of Greece, on August 1, 2024.

 

    DYNAGAS OPERATING GP LLC
     
    By: /s/ Michael Gregos
    Name: Michael Gregos
    Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Michael Gregos and Filana R. Silberberg, and each of them, with full power to act alone, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and any registration statement (including any amendment thereto) for this offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons on August 1, 2024 in the capacities indicated.

 

Signature   Title
     
/s/ Michael Gregos   Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
Michael Gregos
     
/s/ Tony Lauritzen   Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
Tony Lauritzen

 

II-11

 

AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Dynagas Operating GP LLC has signed this registration statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware on August 1, 2024.

 

    Puglisi & Associates
     
    By: /s/ Donald J. Puglisi
    Name: Donald J. Puglisi
    Title: Authorized Representative in the United States

 

II-12

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Athens, Country of Greece, on August 1, 2024.

 

    DYNAGAS EQUITY HOLDING LIMITED
     
    By: DIRECT LINE LIMITED, as Secretary and Director
       
    By: /s/ Melissa Ng Fo Yan
    Name: Melissa Ng Fo Yan
    Title: Director of Direct Line Limited, Secretary and Director of Dynagas Equity Holding Limited

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Michael Gregos and Filana R. Silberberg, and each of them, with full power to act alone, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and any registration statement (including any amendment thereto) for this offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons on August 1, 2024 in the capacities indicated.

 

Signature   Title
     
/s/ Melissa Ng Fo Yan   Director of Direct Line Limited, as Secretary and Director (Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) of Dynagas Equity Holding Limited
Melissa Ng Fo Yan

 

II-13

 

AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Dynagas Equity Holding Limited has signed this registration statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware on August 1, 2024.

 

    Puglisi & Associates
     
    By: /s/ Donald J. Puglisi
    Name: Donald J. Puglisi
    Title: Authorized Representative in the United States

 

II-14

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Athens, Country of Greece, on August 1, 2024.

 

    SOLANA HOLDING LTD.
     
    By: DIRECT RESULT LIMITED, as Secretary, Treasurer and Director
       
    By: /s/ Ruma Kissoondharry
    Name: Ruma Kissoondharry
    Title: Director of Direct Result Limited, Secretary and Director of Solana Holding Ltd.

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Michael Gregos and Filana R. Silberberg, and each of them, with full power to act alone, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and any registration statement (including any amendment thereto) for this offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons on August 1, 2024 in the capacities indicated.

 

Signature   Title
     
/s/ Ruma Kissoondharry   Director of Direct Result Limited, as Secretary, Treasurer and Director(Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) of Solana Holding Ltd.
Ruma Kissoondharry

 

II-15

 

AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Solana Holding Ltd. has signed this registration statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware on August 1, 2024.

 

    Puglisi & Associates
     
    By: /s/ Donald J. Puglisi
    Name: Donald J. Puglisi
    Title: Authorized Representative in the United States
       

 

II-16

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Athens, Country of Greece, on August 1, 2024.

 

    PEGASUS SHIPHOLDING S.A.
     
    By: DIRECT TITLE LIMITED, as Secretary, Treasurer and Director
       
    By: /s/ Melissa Ng Fo Yan
    Name: Melissa Ng Fo Yan
    Title: Director of Direct Title Limited, Secretary and Director of Pegasus Shipholding S.A.

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Michael Gregos and Filana R. Silberberg, and each of them, with full power to act alone, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and any registration statement (including any amendment thereto) for this offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons on August 1, 2024 in the capacities indicated.

 

Signature   Title
     
/s/ Melissa Ng Fo Yan   Director of Direct Title Limited, as Secretary, Treasurer and Director (Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) Pegasus Shipholding S.A.
Melissa Ng Fo Yan

 

II-17

 

AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Pegasus Shipholding S.A. has signed this registration statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware on August 1, 2024.

 

    Puglisi & Associates
     
    By: /s/ Donald J. Puglisi
    Name: Donald J. Puglisi
    Title: Authorized Representative in the United States

 

II-18

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Athens, Country of Greece, on August 1, 2024.

 

    SEACROWN MARITIME LTD.
     
    By: DIRECT NORTH LIMITED, as Secretary, Treasurer and Director
       
    By: /s/ Ruma Kissoondharry
    Name: Ruma Kissoondharry
    Title: Director of Direct North Limited, Secretary, Treasurer and Director of Seacrown Maritime Limited

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Michael Gregos and Filana R. Silberberg, and each of them, with full power to act alone, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and any registration statement (including any amendment thereto) for this offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons on August 1, 2024 in the capacities indicated.

 

Signature   Title
     
/s/ Ruma Kissoondharry   Director of Direct North Limited, as Secretary, Treasurer and Director(Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) Seacrown Maritime Ltd.
Ruma Kissoondharry

 

II-19

 

AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Seacrown Maritime Ltd. has signed this registration statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware on August 1, 2024.

 

    Puglisi & Associates
     
    By: /s/ Donald J. Puglisi
    Name: Donald J. Puglisi
    Title: Authorized Representative in the United States
       

 

II-20

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Athens, Country of Greece, on August 1, 2024.

 

    ARCTIC LNG CARRIERS LTD.
     
    By: DIRECT AUSTRALIS LIMITED, as President,
Secretary, Treasurer and Sole Director
       
    By: /s/ Melissa Ng Fo Yan
    Name: Melissa Ng Fo Yan
    Title: Director of Direct Australis Limited, President, Secretary, Treasurer and Sole Director of Arctic LNG Carriers Ltd.

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Michael Gregos and Filana R. Silberberg, and each of them, with full power to act alone, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and any registration statement (including any amendment thereto) for this offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons on August 1, 2024 in the capacities indicated.

 

Signature   Title
     
/s/ Melissa Ng Fo Yan   Director of Direct Australis Limited, as President, Secretary, Treasurer and Sole Director (Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) of Arctic LNG Carriers Ltd.
Melissa Ng Fo Yan

 

II-21

 

AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Arctic LNG Carriers Ltd. has signed this registration statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware on August 1, 2024.

 

    Puglisi & Associates
     
    By: /s/ Donald J. Puglisi
    Name: Donald J. Puglisi
    Title: Authorized Representative in the United States

 

II-22

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Athens, Country of Greece, on August 1, 2024.

 

    LANCE SHIPPING S.A.
     
    By: DIRECT LINE LIMITED, as Secretary and Director
       
    By: /s/ Melissa Ng Fo Yan
    Name: Melissa Ng Fo Yan
    Title: Director of Direct Line Limited, Secretary and Director of Lance Shipping S.A.
       

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Michael Gregos and Filana R. Silberberg, and each of them, with full power to act alone, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and any registration statement (including any amendment thereto) for this offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons on August 1, 2024 in the capacities indicated.

 

Signature   Title
     
/s/ Melissa Ng Fo Yan   Director of Direct Line Limited, as Secretary and Director (Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) of Lance Shipping S.A.
Melissa Ng Fo Yan

 

II-23

 

AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Lance Shipping S.A. has signed this registration statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware on August 1, 2024.

 

    Puglisi & Associates
     
    By: /s/ Donald J. Puglisi
    Name: Donald J. Puglisi
    Title: Authorized Representative in the United States

 

II-24

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Athens, Country of Greece, on August 1, 2024.

 

    FAREASTERN SHIPPING LIMITED
     
    By: DIRECT POINT LIMITED, President, Secretary, Treasurer and Sole Director
     
    By: /s/ Melissa Ng Fo Yan
    Name: Melissa Ng Fo Yan
    Title: President, Secretary, Treasurer and Sole Director of Fareastern Shipping Limited

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Michael Gregos and Filana R. Silberberg, and each of them, with full power to act alone, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and any registration statement (including any amendment thereto) for this offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons on August 1, 2024 in the capacities indicated.

 

Signature   Title
     
/s/ Melissa Ng Fo Yan   Director of Direct Point Limited, President, Secretary, Treasurer and Sole Director of Fareastern Shipping Limited (Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
Melissa Ng Fo Yan

 

II-25

 

AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Fareastern Shipping Limited has signed this registration statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware on August 1, 2024.

 

    Puglisi & Associates
     
    By: /s/ Donald J. Puglisi
    Name: Donald J. Puglisi
    Title: Authorized Representative in the United States

 

II-26

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Athens, Country of Greece, on August 1, 2024.

 

    NAVAJO MARINE LIMITED
     
    By: DIRECT RESULT LIMITED, as Secretary, Treasurer and Director
       
    By: /s/ Ruma Kissoondharry
    Name: Ruma Kissoondharry
    Title: Director of Direct Result Limited, Secretary and Director of Navajo Marine Limited

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Michael Gregos and Filana R. Silberberg, and each of them, with full power to act alone, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and any registration statement (including any amendment thereto) for this offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons on August 1, 2024 in the capacities indicated.

 

Signature   Title
     
/s/ Ruma Kissoondharry   Director of Direct Result Limited, as Secretary, Treasurer, and Director (Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) of Navajo Marine Limited
Ruma Kissoondharry

 

II-27

 

AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Navajo Marine Limited has signed this registration statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware on August 1, 2024.

 

    Puglisi & Associates
     
    By: /s/ Donald J. Puglisi
    Name: Donald J. Puglisi
    Title: Authorized Representative in the United States

 

II-28

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Athens, Country of Greece, on August 1, 2024.

 

    DYNAGAS FINANCE LLC
     
    By: /s/ Michael Gregos
    Name: Michael Gregos
    Title: President and Secretary

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Michael Gregos and Filana R. Silberberg, and each of them, with full power to act alone, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and any registration statement (including any amendment thereto) for this offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons on August 1, 2024 in the capacities indicated.

 

Signature   Title
   
/s/ Michael Gregos   President and Secretary (Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
Michael Gregos

 

II-29

 

AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Dynagas Finance LLC has signed this registration statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware on August 1, 2024.

 

    Puglisi & Associates
     
    By: /s/ Donald J. Puglisi
    Name: Donald J. Puglisi
    Title: Authorized Representative in the United States

 

II-30
 

Exhibit 4.1

 

 

DYNAGAS LNG PARTNERS LP

FORM OF

SENIOR INDENTURE

Dated as of [ ], 20[ ]

[ ]

Trustee

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PAGE

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 1
SECTION 1.01. Definitions 1
SECTION 1.02. Other Definitions 4
SECTION 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act 4
SECTION 1.04. Rules of Construction 5
ARTICLE II THE SECURITIES 5
SECTION 2.01. Issuable in Series 5
SECTION 2.02. Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities 5
SECTION 2.03. Execution and Authentication 7
SECTION 2.04. Registrar and Paying Agent 8
SECTION 2.05. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust 8
SECTION 2.06. Securityholder Lists 8
SECTION 2.07. Transfer and Exchange 8
SECTION 2.08. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities 9
SECTION 2.09. Outstanding Securities 9
SECTION 2.10. Treasury Securities 10
SECTION 2.11. Temporary Securities 10
SECTION 2.12. Cancellation 10
SECTION 2.13. Defaulted Interest 10
SECTION 2.14. Global Securities 11
SECTION 2.15. CUSIP Numbers 12
ARTICLE III REDEMPTION 12
SECTION 3.01. Notice to Trustee 12
SECTION 3.02. Selection of Securities to be Redeemed 13
SECTION 3.03. Notice of Redemption 13
SECTION 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption 13
SECTION 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price 13
SECTION 3.06. Securities Redeemed in Part 13
ARTICLE IV COVENANTS 14
SECTION 4.01. Payment of Principal and Interest 14
SECTION 4.02. SEC Reports 14
SECTION 4.03. Compliance Certificate 14
SECTION 4.04. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws 15
SECTION 4.05. Corporate Existence 15
SECTION 4.06. Taxes 15
SECTION 4.07. Additional Interest Notice 15
SECTION 4.08. Further Instruments and Acts 16
ARTICLE V SUCCESSORS 16
SECTION 5.01. When Company May Merge, Etc. 16
SECTION 5.02. Successor Person Substituted 16
ARTICLE VI DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES 16
SECTION 6.01. Events of Default 16
SECTION 6.02. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment 18
SECTION 6.03. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee 19
SECTION 6.04. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim 19
SECTION 6.05. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities 19
SECTION 6.06. Application of Money Collected 20
SECTION 6.07. Limitation on Suits 20
SECTION 6.08. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest 20
SECTION 6.09. Restoration of Rights and Remedies 20
SECTION 6.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative 21
SECTION 6.11. Delay or Omission Not Waiver 21
SECTION 6.12. Control by Holders 21

 

SECTION 6.13. Waiver of Past Defaults 21
SECTION 6.14. Undertaking for Costs 21
ARTICLE VII TRUSTEE 22
SECTION 7.01. Duties of Trustee 22
SECTION 7.02. Rights of Trustee 23
SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee 23
SECTION 7.04. Trustee's Disclaimer 23
SECTION 7.05. Notice of Defaults 24
SECTION 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders 24
SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity 24
SECTION 7.08. Replacement of Trustee 25
SECTION 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, etc. 25
SECTION 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification 25
SECTION 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company 26
ARTICLE VIII SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE 26
SECTION 8.01. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture 26
SECTION 8.02. Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification 26
SECTION 8.03. Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series 27
SECTION 8.04. Covenant Defeasance 28
SECTION 8.05. Repayment to Company 29
ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS 29
SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of Holders 29
SECTION 9.02. With Consent of Holders 30
SECTION 9.03. Limitations 30
SECTION 9.04. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act 31
SECTION 9.05. Revocation and Effect of Consents 31
SECTION 9.06. Notation on or Exchange of Securities 31
SECTION 9.07. Trustee Protected 31
SECTION 9.08. Effect of Supplemental Indenture 31
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS 32
SECTION 10.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls 32
SECTION 10.02. Notices 32
SECTION 10.03. Communication by Holders with Other Holders 33
SECTION 10.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent 33
SECTION 10.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion 33
SECTION 10.06. Record Date for Vote or Consent of Holders 33
SECTION 10.07. Rules by Trustee and Agents 33
SECTION 10.08. Legal Holidays 34
SECTION 10.09. No Recourse Against Others 34
SECTION 10.10. Counterparts 34
SECTION 10.11. Governing Laws and Submission to Jurisdiction 34
SECTION 10.12. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements 34
SECTION 10.13. Successors 34
SECTION 10.14. Severability 34
SECTION 10.15. Table of Contents, Headings, Etc. 35
SECTION 10.16. Securities in a Foreign Currency or in ECU 35
SECTION 10.17. Judgment Currency 35
SECTION 10.18. Compliance with Applicable Anti-Terrorism and Money Laundering Regulations 36
ARTICLE XI SINKING FUNDS 36
SECTION 11.01. Applicability of Article 36
SECTION 11.02. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities 36
SECTION 11.03. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund 37

 

Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Indenture,

 

Dated as of [ ], 20[ ]

 

Section 310(a)(1) 7.10
(a)(2) 7.10
(a)(3) Not Applicable
(a)(4) Not Applicable
(a)(5) 7.10
(b) 7.10
(c) Not Applicable
Section 311(a) 7.11
(b) 7.11
(c) Not Applicable
Section 312(a) 2.06
(b) 10.03
(c) 10.03
Section 313(a) 7.06
(b)(1) 7.06
(b)(2) 7.06
(c)(1) 7.06
(d) 7.06
Section 314(a) 4.02, 10.05
(b) Not Applicable
(c)(1) 10.04
(c)(2) 10.04
(c)(3) Not Applicable
(d) Not Applicable
(e) 10.05
(f) Not Applicable
Section 315(a) 7.01
(b) 7.05
(c) 7.01
(d) 7.01
(e) 6.14
Section 316(a)(1)(A) 6.12
(a)(1)(B) 6.13
(a)(2) Not Applicable
(b) 6.13
(c) 10.06
Section 317(a)(1) 6.03
(a)(2) 6.04
(b) 2.05
Section 318(a) 10.01

 

Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of the Indenture. 

 

Indenture dated as of [ ], 20[ ] between Dynagas LNG Partners LP, a limited partnership organized under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (the “Company”) and [ ] (the “Trustee”).

 

Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities issued under this Indenture.

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

SECTION 1.01. Definitions.

 

Additional Amounts” means any additional amounts which are required hereby or by any Security, under circumstances specified herein or therein, to be paid by the Company in respect of certain taxes imposed on Holders specified therein and which are owing to such Holders.

 

Affiliate” of any specified person means any other person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by agreement or otherwise.

 

Agent” means any Registrar or Paying Agent.

 

Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11 of the United States Code (or any successor thereto) or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

 

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

 

Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been adopted by the Board of Directors or pursuant to authorization by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of the certificate and delivered to the Trustee.

 

Business Day” means any day other than a (x) Saturday, (y) Sunday or (z) day on which state or federally chartered banking institutions in New York, New York are not required to be open.

 

Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity of such Person, but excluding any debt securities convertible into such equity.

 

Certificated Securities” means Securities in the form of physical, certificated Securities in registered form.

 

Company” means the party named as such above until a successor replaces it in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor.

 

Company Order” means a written order signed in the name of the Company by two Officers, one of whom must be the Company's principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer.

 

Company Request” means a written request signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, a President or a Vice President, and by its Chief Financial Officer, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee. 

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Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered which office at the date of the execution of this Indenture is [ ], Attention: [ ], or at such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time.

 

Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

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

 

Default Rate” means the default rate of interest specified in the Securities.

 

Depository” means, with respect to the Securities of any Series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the person designated as Depository for such Series by the Company, which Depository shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act; and if at any time there is more than one such person, “Depository” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Depository with respect to the Securities of such Series.

 

Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the stated principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02.

 

Dollars” means the currency of The United States of America.

 

ECU” means the European Currency Unit as determined by the Commission of the European Union.

 

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

 

Foreign Currency” means any currency or currency unit issued by a government other than the government of The United States of America.

 

Foreign Government Obligations” means with respect to Securities of any Series that are denominated in a Foreign Currency, (i) direct obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency for the payment of which obligations its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by or acting as an agency or instrumentality of such government the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by such government, which, in either case under clauses (i) or (ii), are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.

 

Global Security” or “Global Securities” means a Security or Securities, as the case may be, in the form established pursuant to Section 2.02 evidencing all or part of a Series of Securities, issued to the Depository for such Series or its nominee, and registered in the name of such Depository or nominee.

 

Holder” or “Securityholder” means a person in whose name a Security is registered.

 

Indenture” means this Indenture as amended and supplemented from time to time and shall include the form and terms of particular Series of Securities established as contemplated hereunder.

 

Interest,” in respect of the Securities, unless the context otherwise requires, refers to interest payable on the Securities, including any additional interest that may become payable pursuant to Section 6.02(b).

 

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

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Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice-President, the Treasurer, the Secretary, any Assistant Treasurer or any Assistant Secretary of the Company.

 

Officers' Certificate” means a certificate signed by two Officers, one of whom must be the Company's principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer.

 

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of legal counsel who is, and which opinion is, acceptable to the Trustee and its counsel. Such legal counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or the Trustee.

 

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

 

Principal” or “principal” of a Security means the principal of the Security plus, when appropriate, the premium, if any, on, and any Additional Amounts in respect of, the Security.

 

Responsible Officer” means any officer of the Trustee in its Corporate Trust Office and also means, any vice president, managing director, director, associate, assistant vice president, or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with a particular subject.

 

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Security” or “Securities” means the debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company of any Series authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

 

Series” or “Series of Securities” means each series of debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company created pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 2.02 hereof.

 

Stated Maturity” when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.

 

Subordinated Indebtedness” means any indebtedness which is expressly subordinated to the indebtedness evidenced by Securities.

 

Subsidiary” means, in respect of 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.

 

TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of this Indenture; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “TIA” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act as so amended.

 

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

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U.S. Government Obligations” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of The United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of The United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by The United States of America, and which in the case of (i) and (ii) are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.

 

SECTION 1.02. Other Definitions.

 

TERM DEFINED IN SECTION
“Applicable Law” 10.18
“Event of Default” 6.01
“Instrument” 6.01
“Journal” 10.16
“Judgment Currency” 10.17
“Legal Holiday” 10.08
“mandatory sinking fund payment” 11.01
“Market Exchange Rate” 10.16
“New York Banking Day” 10.17
“optional sinking fund payment” 11.01
“Paying Agent” 2.04
“Registrar” 2.04
“Required Currency” 10.17
“successor person” 5.01
“Temporary Securities” 2.11

 

SECTION 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.

 

Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. This Indenture shall also include those provisions of the TIA required to be included herein by the provisions of the Trust Indenture Reform Act of 1990. The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

 

indenture securities” means the Securities.

 

indenture security holder” means a Securityholder.

 

indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.

 

indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.

 

obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company and any successor obligor upon the Securities.

 

All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as so defined. 

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SECTION 1.04. Rules of Construction.

 

Unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(a) a term has the meaning assigned to it;

 

(b) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c) references to “generally accepted accounting principles” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in effect as of the time when and for the period as to which such accounting principles are to be applied;

 

(d) “or” is not exclusive;

 

(e) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;

 

(f) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

 

(g) references to agreements and other instruments include subsequent amendments thereto;

 

(h) the term “merger” includes a statutory share exchange, and the term “merged” has a correlative meaning; and

 

(i) “herein,” “hereof” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.

 

ARTICLE II

THE SECURITIES

 

SECTION 2.01. Issuable in Series.

 

The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more Series. All Securities of a Series shall be identical except as may be set forth in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers' Certificate detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to the authority granted under a Board Resolution. In the case of Securities of a Series to be issued from time to time, the Board Resolution, Officers' Certificate or supplemental indenture may provide for the method by which specified terms (such as interest rate, maturity date, record date or date from which interest shall accrue) are to be determined. Securities may differ between Series in respect of any matters, provided that all Series of Securities shall be equally and ratably entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

 

SECTION 2.02. Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities.

 

At or prior to the issuance of any Securities within a Series, the following shall be established (as to the Series generally, in the case of Subsection (a), and either as to such Securities within the Series or as to the Series generally in the case of Subsections (b) through (t) by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers' Certificate pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution:

 

(a) the title, designation, aggregate principal amount and authorized denominations of the Securities of the Series;

 

(b) the price or prices, (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount thereof) at which the Securities of the Series will be issued;

 

(c) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the Series is payable;

 

(d) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or, if applicable, the method used to determine such rate or rates (including, but not limited to, any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the Securities of the Series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest, if any, shall commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date; 

5

(e) any optional or mandatory sinking fund provisions or conversion or exchangeability provisions upon which Securities of the Series shall be redeemed, purchased, converted or exchanged;

 

(f) the date, if any, after which and the price or prices at which the Securities of the Series may be optionally redeemed or must be mandatorily redeemed and any other terms and provisions of optional or mandatory provisions;

 

(g) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the Series shall be issuable;

 

(h) if other than the full principal amount, the portion of the principal amount of the Securities of the Series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration pursuant to Section 6.02 or provable in bankruptcy;

 

(i) any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the Series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 6.02;

 

(j) the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which payments of principal of, premium or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be payable, if other than the currency of the United States of America;

 

(k) if payments of principal of, premium or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be payable, at the Company's election or at the election of any Holder, in a currency other than that in which the Securities of the Series are stated to be payable, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, the election may be made;

 

(l) if payments of interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be payable, at the Company's election or at the election of any Holder, in cash or additional securities, and the terms and conditions upon which the election may be made;

 

(m) if denominated in a currency or currencies other than the currency of the United States of America, the equivalent price of the Securities of the Series in the currency of the United States of America for purposes of determining the voting rights of Holders of the Securities of the Series;

 

(n) if the amount of payments of principal, premium or interest may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method based on a coin or currency other than that in which the Securities of the Series are stated to be payable, the manner in which the amounts will be determined;

 

(o) any restrictive covenants or other material terms relating to the Securities of the Series;

 

(p) whether the Securities of the Series will be issued in the form of global securities or certificates in registered form;

 

(q) any terms with respect to subordination;

 

(r) any listing on any securities exchange or quotation system;

 

(s) additional provisions, if any, related to defeasance and discharge of the offered debt securities; and

 

(t) the applicability of any guarantees, which would be governed by New York law. 

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All Securities of any one Series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers' Certificate referred to above, and the authorized principal amount of any Series may not be increased to provide for issuance of additional Securities of such Series, unless otherwise provided in such Board Resolution, supplemental Indenture or Officers' Certificate.

 

SECTION 2.03. Execution and Authentication.

 

Two Officers shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.

 

If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Security is authenticated, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.

 

A Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.

 

The Trustee shall at any time, and from time to time, authenticate Securities for original issue in the principal amount provided in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers' Certificate, upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order. Such Company Order may authorize authentication and delivery pursuant to oral or electronic instructions from the Company or its duly authorized agent or agents, which oral instructions shall be promptly confirmed in writing. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication unless otherwise provided by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers' Certificate.

 

The aggregate principal amount of Securities of any Series outstanding at any time may not exceed any limit upon the maximum principal amount for such Series set forth in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers' Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.02, except as provided in Section 2.08.

 

Prior to the issuance of Securities of any Series, the Trustee shall have received and (subject to Section 7.02) shall be fully protected in relying on: (a) the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers Certificate establishing the form of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series and the terms of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series, (b) an Officers' Certificate complying with Section 10.04, and (c) an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 10.04.

 

The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Securities of such Series: (a) if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken; or (b) if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to Holders of any then outstanding Series of Securities.

 

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Securities. An authenticating agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or an Affiliate.

 

If any successor that has replaced the Company in accordance with Article 5 has executed an indenture supplemental hereto with the Trustee pursuant to Section 5.01, any of the Securities authenticated or delivered prior to such transaction may, from time to time, at the request of such successor, be exchanged for other Securities executed in the name of the such successor with such changes in phraseology and form as may be appropriate, but otherwise identical to the Securities surrendered for such exchange and of like principal amount; and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order of such successor, shall authenticate and deliver Securities as specified in such order for the purpose of such exchange. If Securities shall at any time be authenticated and delivered in any new name of such successor pursuant to this provision of Section 2.03 in exchange or substitution for or upon registration of transfer of any Securities, such successor, at the option of the Holders but without expense to them, shall provide for the exchange of all Securities then outstanding for Securities authenticated and delivered in such new name. 

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SECTION 2.04. Registrar and Paying Agent.

 

The Company shall maintain, with respect to each Series of Securities, at the place or places specified with respect to such Series pursuant to Section 2.02, an office or agency where Securities of such Series may be presented or surrendered for payment (“Paying Agent”) and where Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange (“Registrar”). The Registrar shall keep a register with respect to each Series of Securities and to their transfer and exchange. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the name and address, and any change in the name or address, of each Registrar and Paying Agent. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required Registrar or Paying Agent or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the name and address thereof, such presentations and surrenders 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 and surrenders.

 

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more co-registrars or additional paying agents and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligations to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent in each place so specified pursuant to Section 2.02 for Securities of any Series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the name or address of any such co-registrar or additional paying agent. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar; and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent.

 

The Company hereby appoints [ ] as the initial Registrar and Paying Agent for each Series unless another Registrar or Paying Agent as the case may be, is appointed prior to the time Securities of that Series are first issued. Each Registrar and Paying Agent shall be entitled to all of the rights, protections, exculpations and indemnities afforded to the Trustee in connection with its roles as Registrar and Paying Agent.

 

SECTION 2.05. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

 

The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust, for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities, or the Trustee, all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Series of Securities, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities all money held by it as Paying Agent.

 

SECTION 2.06. Securityholder Lists.

 

The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities and shall otherwise comply with TIA Section 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least [ ] days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list, in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities.

 

SECTION 2.07. Transfer and Exchange.

 

Where Securities of a Series are presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of the same Series, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if its requirements for such transactions are met. To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trustee shall authenticate Securities at the Registrar's request. Any exchange or transfer shall be without charge, except that the Company or the Registrar may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge required by law; provided that this sentence shall not apply to any exchange pursuant to Section 2.11, 2.08, 3.06 or 9.06. 

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Neither the Company nor the Registrar shall be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange Securities of any Series for the period beginning at the opening of business [ ] days immediately preceding the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of that Series selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any Series selected, called or being called for redemption as a whole or the portion being redeemed of any such Securities selected, called or being called for redemption in part.

 

All Securities issued upon any transfer or exchange of Securities shall be valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such transfer or exchange. Any Registrar appointed pursuant to Section 2.04 shall provide to the Trustee such information as the Trustee may reasonably require in connection with the delivery by such Registrar of Securities upon transfer or exchange of Securities. Each Holder of a Security agrees to indemnify the Company and the Trustee against any liability that may result from the transfer, exchange or assignment of such Holder's Security in violation of any provision of this Indenture and/or applicable U.S. federal or state securities law.

 

SECTION 2.08. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

 

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Registrar, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Registrar (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Registrar that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.

 

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

 

Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that Series duly issued hereunder.

 

The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

 

SECTION 2.09. Outstanding Securities.

 

The Securities outstanding at any time are all the Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest on a Global Security effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof and those described in this Section as not outstanding. 

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If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.08, it ceases to be outstanding until the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.

 

If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds on the Maturity of Securities of a Series money sufficient to pay such Securities payable on that date, then on and after that date such Securities of the Series cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

 

A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate holds the Security.

 

In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of a Discount Security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02.

 

SECTION 2.10. Treasury Securities.

 

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities of a Series have concurred in any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver Securities of a Series owned by the Company or an Affiliate shall be disregarded, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver only Securities of a Series that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.

 

SECTION 2.11. Temporary Securities.

 

Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary securities upon a Company Order (“Temporary Securities”). Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee upon written request shall authenticate definitive Securities of the same Series and date of maturity in exchange for temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, temporary securities shall have the same rights under this Indenture as the definitive Securities.

 

SECTION 2.12. Cancellation.

 

The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee or its agent any Securities surrendered to them for transfer, exchange, payment or conversion. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel, in accordance with its standard procedures, all Securities surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment, conversion or cancellation and shall deliver the cancelled Securities to the Company. No Security shall be authenticated in exchange for any Security cancelled pursuant to this Section 2.12.

 

The Company may, to the extent permitted by law, purchase Securities in the open market or by tender offer at any price or by private agreement. Any Securities purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries prior to the final maturity of such Securities may, to the extent permitted by law, be reissued or resold or may, at the option of the Company, be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation. Any Securities surrendered for cancellation may not be reissued or resold and shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee, and the Company may not hold or resell such Securities or issue any new Securities to replace any such Securities.

 

SECTION 2.13. Defaulted Interest.

 

If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on a Series of Securities, it shall pay defaulted interest, plus, to the extent permitted by law, any interest payable on the defaulted interest at the Default Rate, to the persons who are Security holders of the Series on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix the record date and payment date. At least [ ] days before the record date, the Company shall mail to the Trustee and the Paying Agent and to each Securityholder of the Series a notice that states the record date, the payment date and the amount of interest to be paid. The Company may pay defaulted interest in any other lawful manner. 

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SECTION 2.14. Global Securities.

 

(a) A Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers' Certificate shall establish whether the Securities of a Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and the Depository for such Global Security or Securities.

 

(b) (i) Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in Section 2.07 of the Indenture and in addition thereto, any Global Security shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 2.07 of the Indenture for Securities registered in the names of Holders other than the Depository for such Security or its nominee only if (A) such Depository notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository for such Global Security or if at any time such Depository ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, the Company fails to appoint a successor Depository within 90 days of such event, (B) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate to the effect that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable or (C) an Event of Default with respect to the Securities represented by such Global Security shall have happened and be continuing.

 

(ii) Except as provided in this Section 2.14(b), a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depository with respect to such Global Security to a nominee of such Depository, by a nominee of such Depository to such Depository or another nominee of such Depository or by the Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such a successor Depository.

 

(iii) Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof shall be issued in definitive, fully registered form, without interest coupons, shall have an aggregate principal amount equal to that of such Global Security or portion thereof to be so exchanged, shall be registered in such names and be in such authorized denominations as the Depository shall designate and shall bear the applicable legends provided for herein. Any Global Security to be exchanged in whole shall be surrendered by the Depository to the Trustee, as Registrar. With regard to any Global Security to be exchanged in part, either such Global Security shall be so surrendered for exchange or, if the Registrar is acting as custodian for the Depository or its nominee with respect to such Global Security, the principal amount thereof shall be reduced by an amount equal to the portion thereof to be so exchanged, by means of an appropriate adjustment made on the records of the Trustee. Upon any such surrender or adjustment, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver the Security issuable on such exchange to or upon the order of the Depository or an authorized representative thereof.

 

(iv) The registered Holder may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including participants in the Depository and persons that may hold interests through participants in the Depository, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Securities.

 

(v) In the event of the occurrence of any of the events specified in 2.14(b)(i), the Company will promptly make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of Certificated Securities in definitive, fully registered form, without interest coupons. If (A) an event described in Section 2.14(b)(i)(A) or (B) occurs and definitive Certificated Securities are not issued promptly to all beneficial owners or (B) the Registrar receives from a beneficial owner instructions to obtain definitive Certificated Securities due to an event described in Section 2.14(b)(i)(C) and definitive Certificated Securities are not issued promptly to any such beneficial owner, the Company expressly acknowledges, with respect to the right of any Holder to pursue a remedy pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, the right of any beneficial owner of Securities to pursue such remedy with respect to the portion of the Global Security that represents such beneficial owner's Securities as if such definitive certificated Securities had been issued.

 

(vi) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Indenture, so long as a Global Security remains outstanding and is held by or on behalf of the Depository, transfers of a Global Security, in whole or in part, or of any beneficial interest therein, shall only be made in accordance with Section 2.07, this Section 2.14(b) and the rules and procedures of the Depository for such Global Security to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time. 

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(c) Any Global Security issued hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“This Security is a Global Security within the meaning of the Indenture hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of the Depository or a nominee of the Depository. This Security is exchangeable for Securities registered in the name of a person other than the Depository or its nominee only in the limited circumstances described in the Indenture, and may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depository to a nominee of the Depository, by a nominee of the Depository to the Depository or another nominee of the Depository or by the Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such a successor Depository.”

 

(d) The Depository, as a Holder, may appoint agents and otherwise authorize participants to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a Holder is entitled to give or take under the Indenture.

 

(e) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Indenture, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.02, payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on any Global Security shall be made to the Holder thereof at their registered office.

 

(f) At all times the Securities are held in book-entry form with a Depository, (i) the Trustee may deal with such Depository as the authorized representative of the Holders, (ii) the rights of the Holders shall be exercised only through the Depository and shall be limited to those established by law and agreement between the Holders and the Depository and/or direct participants of the Depository, (iii) the Depository will make book-entry transfers among the direct participants of the Depository and will receive and transmit distributions of principal and interest on the Securities to such direct participants; and (iv) the direct participants of the Depository shall have no rights under this Indenture, or any supplement hereto, under or with respect to any of the Securities held on their behalf by the Depository, and the Depository may be treated by the Trustee and its agents, employees, officers and directors as the absolute owner of the Securities for all purposes whatsoever.

 

SECTION 2.15. CUSIP Numbers.

 

The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP”, “CCN”, “ISIN” or other identification numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP”, “CCN”, “ISIN” or such other identification numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other elements of identification printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.

 

ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION

 

SECTION 3.01. Notice to Trustee.

 

The Company may, with respect to any series of Securities, reserve the right to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or may covenant to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or any part thereof prior to the Stated Maturity thereof at such time and on such terms as provided for in such Securities. If a Series of Securities is redeemable and the Company wants or is obligated to redeem prior to the Stated Maturity thereof all or part of the Series of Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, it shall notify the Trustee and Registrar in writing of the redemption date and the principal amount of Series of Securities to be redeemed. The Company shall give the notice at least [ ] days before the redemption date (or such shorter notice as may be acceptable to the Trustee and Registrar). 

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SECTION 3.02. Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.

 

Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers' Certificate, if less than all the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed, the Registrar shall select the Securities of the Series to be redeemed in accordance with its customary procedures. The Registrar shall make the selection from Securities of the Series outstanding not previously called for redemption. The Registrar may select for redemption portions of the principal of Securities of the Series that have denominations larger than $1,000. Securities of the Series and portions of them it selects shall be in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 or, with respect to Securities of any Series issuable in other denominations pursuant to Section 2.02(g), the minimum principal denomination for each Series and integral multiples thereof. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities of a Series called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities of that Series called for redemption.

 

SECTION 3.03. Notice of Redemption.

 

Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers' Certificate, at least [ ] days but not more than [ ] days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption by first-class mail to each Holder whose Securities are to be redeemed.

 

The notice shall identify the Securities of the Series to be redeemed and shall state:

 

(a) the redemption date;

 

(b) the redemption price;

 

(c) the name and address of the Paying Agent;

 

(d) that Securities of the Series called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

 

(e) that interest on Securities of the Series called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date; and

 

(f) any other information as may be required by the terms of the particular Series or the Securities of a Series being redeemed.

 

At the Company's written request, the Trustee shall distribute the notice of redemption prepared by the Company in the Company's name and at its expense.

 

SECTION 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption.

 

Once notice of redemption is mailed or published as provided in Section 3.03, Securities of a Series called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price. A notice of redemption may not be conditional. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price plus accrued interest to the redemption date.

 

SECTION 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price.

 

On or before the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest, if any, on all Securities to be redeemed on that date.

 

SECTION 3.06. Securities Redeemed in Part.

 

Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed in part, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder a new Security of the same Series and the same maturity equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered. 

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ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS

 

SECTION 4.01. Payment of Principal and Interest.

 

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each Series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of that Series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture.

 

Unless otherwise provided under the terms of a particular Series of Securities:

 

(a) an installment of principal or interest shall be considered paid on the date it is due if the Paying Agent (other than the Company) holds by [ ] [a].m., New York City time, on that date money, deposited by the Company or an Affiliate thereof, sufficient to pay such installment. The Company shall (in immediately available funds), to the fullest extent permitted by law, pay interest on overdue principal and overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by the Securities per annum; and

 

(b) payment of the principal of and interest on the Securities shall be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in [ ] (which shall initially be [ ], the Paying Agent) in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address appears in the register; provided, further, that a Holder with an aggregate principal amount in excess of $[] will be paid by wire transfer in immediately available funds at the election of such Holder if such Holder has provided wire transfer instructions to the Company at least [ ] Business Days prior to the payment date.

 

SECTION 4.02. SEC Reports.

 

So long as any Securities are outstanding, the Company shall (i) file with the SEC within the time periods prescribed by its rules and regulations and (ii) furnish to the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities within [ ] days after the date on which the Company would be required to file the same with the SEC pursuant to its rules and regulations (giving effect to any grace period provided by Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act), all quarterly and annual financial information required to be furnished or filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 and Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act and, with respect to the annual consolidated financial statements only, a report thereon by the Company's independent auditors. The Company also shall comply with the other provisions of TIA Section 314(a).

 

Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only, and the Trustee's receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company's compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers' Certificates). The Company shall not be required to file any report or other information with the SEC if the SEC does not permit such filing, although such reports shall be furnished to the Trustee. Documents filed by the Company with the SEC via the SEC's EDGAR system (or any successor thereto) will be deemed furnished to the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities as of the time such documents are filed via EDGAR (or such successor).

 

SECTION 4.03. Compliance Certificate.

 

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within [ ] days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, an officers certificate signed by two of the Company's officers stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he may have knowledge in reasonable detail and the efforts to remedy the same). For purposes of this Section 4.03, compliance shall be determined without regard to any grace period or requirement of notice provided pursuant to the terms of this Indenture. 

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The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within [ ] days after the occurrence thereof, written notice in the form of an Officers' Certificate of any Event of Default described in Section 6.01(e), (f), (g) or (h) and any event of which it becomes aware that with the giving of notice or the lapse of time would become such an Event of Default, its status and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. For the avoidance of doubt, a breach of a covenant under an Instrument that is not a payment default and that has not given rise to a right of acceleration under such Instrument shall not trigger the requirement to provide notice under this paragraph.

 

SECTION 4.04. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.

 

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

 

SECTION 4.05. Corporate Existence.

 

Subject to Article V, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each Subsidiary in accordance with the respective organizational documents of each Subsidiary and the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any Subsidiary, if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders.

 

SECTION 4.06. Taxes.

 

The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay prior to delinquency all taxes, assessments and governmental levies, except as contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings.

 

SECTION 4.07. Additional Interest Notice.

 

In the event that the Company is required to pay additional interest to Holders of Securities pursuant to Section 6.02(b) hereof, the Company shall provide a direction or order in the form of a written notice to the Trustee (and if the Trustee is not the Paying Agent, the Paying Agent) of the Company's obligation to pay such additional interest no later than [ ] Business Days prior to date on which any such additional interest is scheduled to be paid. Such notice shall set forth the amount of additional interest to be paid by the Company on such payment date and direct the Trustee (or, if the Trustee is not the Paying Agent, the Paying Agent) to make payment to the extent it receives funds from the Company to do so. The Trustee shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder to determine whether additional interest is payable, or with respect to the nature, extent, or calculation of the amount of additional interest owed, or with respect to the method employed in such calculation of additional interest. 

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SECTION 4.08. Further Instruments and Acts.

 

The Company will execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purposes of this Indenture.

 

ARTICLE V

SUCCESSORS

 

SECTION 5.01. When Company May Merge, Etc.

 

The Company shall not consolidate with, enter into a binding share exchange, or merge into any other Person in a transaction in which it is not the surviving entity, or sell, assign, convey, transfer or lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person (a “successor person”), unless:

 

(a) the successor person (if any) is a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity organized and validly existing under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, [ ], the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia and expressly assumes by a supplemental indenture executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and any interest on, all Securities and the performance or observance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

 

(b) immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Default or Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

(c) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee, prior to the consummation of the proposed transaction, an Officers' Certificate to the foregoing effect and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the proposed transaction and such supplemental indenture comply with this Indenture.

 

SECTION 5.02. Successor Person Substituted.

 

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 5.01, the successor person formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor person has been named as the Company herein; provided, however, that the predecessor company in the case of a sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company shall not be released from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities.

 

ARTICLE VI

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

SECTION 6.01. Events of Default.

 

“Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to securities of any Series, means any one of the following events, unless in the establishing Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers' Certificate, it is provided that such Series shall not have the benefit of said Event of Default:

 

(a) default in the payment of any interest on any Security of that Series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of such payment is deposited by the Company with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent prior to the expiration of such period of 30 days); or

 

(b) default in the payment of any principal of any Security of that Series at its Maturity; or 

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(c) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due in respect of any Security of that Series; or

 

(d) the Company fails to perform or comply with any of its other covenants or agreements contained in the Securities or in this Indenture (other than a covenant or agreement a default in whose performance or whose breach is specifically dealt with in clauses (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 6.01) and the default continues for 60 days after notice is given as specified below;

 

(e) any indebtedness under any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any Subsidiary or under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any indebtedness for money borrowed by, or any other payment obligation of, the Company or any Subsidiary (an “Instrument”) with a principal amount then, individually or in the aggregate, outstanding in excess of $[], whether such indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created, is not paid at Maturity or when otherwise due or is accelerated, and such indebtedness is not discharged, or such default in payment or acceleration is not cured or rescinded, within a period of 30 days after there shall have been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least [ ]% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series a written notice specifying such default and requiring the Company to cause such indebtedness to be discharged or cause such default to be cured or waived or such acceleration to be rescinded or annulled and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder. A payment obligation (other than indebtedness under any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any Subsidiary or under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any Subsidiary) shall not be deemed to have matured, come due, or been accelerated to the extent that it is being disputed by the relevant obligor or obligors in good faith. For the avoidance of doubt, the Maturity of an Instrument is the Maturity as set forth in that Instrument, as it may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms of that Instrument;

 

(f) the Company or any Subsidiary fails to pay one or more final and non-appealable judgments entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction, the aggregate uninsured or unbonded portion of which is in excess of $[ ], if the judgments are not paid, discharged, waived or stayed within [ ] days;

 

(g) the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

 

(i) commences a voluntary case or proceeding;

 

(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding;

 

(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

 

(v) or generally is unable to pay its debts as the same become due; or

 

(h) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

 

(i) is for relief against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in an involuntary case or proceeding;

 

(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for all or substantially all of the property of the Company or any such Subsidiary; or

 

(iii) orders the liquidation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; 

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and the case of each of clause (i), (ii) and (iii), the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for [ ] consecutive days; or

 

(i) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that Series, which is specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers' Certificate, in accordance with Section 2.02(i).

 

A default under clause (d) above is not an Event of Default until the Trustee notifies the Company, or the Holders of at least [ ]% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then outstanding notify the Company and the Trustee, in writing of the default, and the Company does not cure the default within 60 days after receipt of such notice. The notice given pursuant to this Section 6.01 must specify the default, demand that it be remedied and state that the notice is a “Notice of Default.” When any default under this Section 6.01 is cured, it ceases.

 

The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Event of Default unless written notice thereof shall have been given to a Trust Officer at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee by the Company, a Paying Agent, any Holder or any agent of any Holder.

 

SECTION 6.02. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

 

(a) If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (g) or (h) of Section 6.01) occurs and is continuing with respect to any Securities of any Series, then in every such case, the Trustee may, by notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that Series (or, if any Securities of that Series are Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such Securities) then outstanding may, by notice to the Company and the Trustee, declare all unpaid principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest on to the date of acceleration, the Securities of that Series then outstanding (if not then due and payable) to be due and payable upon any such declaration, and the same shall become and be immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in clause (g) or (h) of Section 6.01 occurs, all unpaid principal of the Securities then outstanding, and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of acceleration, shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that Series then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may rescind an acceleration of such Securities of that Series and its consequences if (a) all existing Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of the principal of the Securities which has become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived; (b) to the extent the payment of such interest is lawful, interest (calculated at the Default Rate) on overdue installments of interest and overdue principal, which has become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration, has been paid; (c) the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction; and (d) all payments due to the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under Section 7.07 have been made. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereto.

 

(b) Notwithstanding any of provision of this Article 6, at the election of the Company in its sole discretion, the sole remedy under this Indenture for an Event of Default relating to the failure to comply with Section 4.02, and for any failure to comply with the requirements of Section 314(a)(1) of the TIA, will consist, for the 180 days after the occurrence of such an Event of Default, exclusively of the right to receive additional interest on the Securities at a rate equal to 0.50% per annum of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities then outstanding up to, but not including, the 181st day thereafter (or, if applicable, the earlier date on which the Event of Default relating to Section 4.02 is cured or waived). Any such additional interest will be payable in the same manner and on the same dates as the stated interest payable on the Securities. In no event shall additional interest accrue under the terms of this Indenture at a rate in excess of 0.50% per annum, in the aggregate, for any violation or default caused by the failure of the Company to be current in respect of its Exchange Act reporting obligations. If the Event of Default is continuing on the 181st day after an Event of Default relating to a failure to comply with Section 4.02, the Securities will be subject to acceleration as provided in this Section 6.02. The provisions of this Section 6.02(b) will not affect the rights of Holders in the event of the occurrence of any other Events of Default.

 

In order to elect to pay additional interest as the sole remedy during the first 180 days after the occurrence of an Event of Default relating to the failure to comply with Section 4.02 in accordance with the immediately preceding paragraph, the Company shall notify all Holders and the Trustee and Paying Agent of such election on or before the close of business on the fifth Business Day after the date on which such Event of Default otherwise would occur. Upon a failure by the Company to timely give such notice or pay additional interest, the Securities will be immediately subject to acceleration as otherwise provided in this Section 6.02. 

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SECTION 6.03. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

 

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

 

If an Event of Default in the payment of principal, interest, if any, specified in clause (a) or (b) of Section 6.01 occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company or another obligor on the Securities for the whole amount of principal, and accrued interest remaining unpaid, if any, together with, to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest on overdue principal, on overdue installments of interest, if any, in each case at the Default Rate, and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

SECTION 6.04. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

 

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

 

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

 

(b) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same, and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07.

 

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

 

SECTION 6.05. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.

 

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

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SECTION 6.06. Application of Money Collected.

 

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

 

First: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07;

 

Second: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and interest on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest, respectively; and

 

Third: To the Company.

 

SECTION 6.07. Limitation on Suits.

 

No Holder of any Security of any Series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder (except actions for payment of overdue principal and interest), unless:

 

(a) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that Series;

 

(b) the Holders of not less than [ ]% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

 

(c) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

 

(d) the Trustee for [ ] days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

 

(e) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such [ ]-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series; it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders.

 

SECTION 6.08. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on such Security on the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

SECTION 6.09. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

 

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

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SECTION 6.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

 

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in Section 2.08, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

SECTION 6.11. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

 

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

 

SECTION 6.12. Control by Holders.

 

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such Series, provided that

 

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

 

(b) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction; and

 

(c) subject to the provisions of Section 6.01, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability or would be unduly prejudicial to the rights of another Holder or the Trustee.

 

SECTION 6.13. Waiver of Past Defaults.

 

Subject to Section 9.02, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such Series waive any past Default hereunder with respect to such Series and its consequences, except a Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security of such Series (provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration). Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

SECTION 6.14. Undertaking for Costs.

 

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Company, to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than [ ]% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security on or after the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date). 

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ARTICLE VII

TRUSTEE

 

SECTION 7.01. Duties of Trustee.

 

(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

 

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

 

(i) The Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied duties, covenants or obligations shall be deemed to be imposed upon the Trustee.

 

(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon Officers' Certificates or Opinions of Counsel furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; however, in the case of any such Officers' Certificates or Opinions of Counsel which by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine such Officers' Certificates and Opinions of Counsel to determine whether or not they conform on their face to the requirements of this Indenture.

 

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or willful misconduct, except that:

 

(i) This paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of Section 7.01 herein.

 

(ii) The Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer.

 

(iii) The Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it with respect to Securities of any Series in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series.

 

(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraph (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.

 

(e) The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power unless it receives an indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

 

(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. 

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(g) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to risk or expend its own funds or otherwise incur liability, financial or otherwise, in the performance of any of its duties, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or indemnity satisfactory to it against such risk is not reasonably assured to it.

 

(h) The Paying Agent, the Registrar and any authenticating agent shall be entitled to the same rights, indemnities, protections and immunities afforded to the Trustee.

 

(i) The Trustee shall have no duty to monitor the performance or compliance of the Company with its obligations hereunder or any under supplement hereto, nor shall it have any liability in connection with the malfeasance or nonfeasance by the Company. The Trustee shall have no liability in connection with compliance by the Company with statutory or regulatory requirements related to this Indenture, any supplement or any Securities issued pursuant hereto or thereto.

 

SECTION 7.02. Rights of Trustee.

 

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely on and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting as a result of its reasonable belief that any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, direction, approval or other paper or document was genuine and had been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it sees fit.

 

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers' Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers' Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.

 

(c) The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of, or for the supervision of, any agent appointed with due care. No Depository shall be deemed an agent of the Trustee and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any act or omission by any Depository.

 

(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers.

 

(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

 

(f) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by or pursuant to this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders of Securities, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

 

SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee.

 

The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or an Affiliate with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

 

SECTION 7.04. Trustee's Disclaimer.

 

The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities and the recitals contained herein and in the Securities shall be taken as statements of the Company and not of the Trustee, and the Trustee has no responsibility for such recitals. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the Company's use or application of the proceeds from the Securities or for monies paid over to the Company pursuant to this Indenture, and it shall not be responsible for any statement in the Securities other than its authentication. 

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SECTION 7.05. Notice of Defaults.

 

If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Securities of any Series and if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has knowledge or receives written notice of such event, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder of the Securities of that Series, notice of a Default or Event of Default within [ ] days after it occurs or, if later, after a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge of such Default or Event of Default. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of or interest on any Security of any Series, including any additional interest that may become payable pursuant to Section 6.02(b), the Trustee may withhold the notice so long as the Trustee in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Securityholders of that Series.

 

SECTION 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders.

 

Within [ ] days after [ ] in each year, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear on the register kept by the Registrar, a brief report dated as of such [ ], in accordance with, and to the extent required under, TIA Section 313.

 

A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Securityholders of any Series shall be filed with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Securities of that Series are listed. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when Securities of any Series are listed on any stock exchange.

 

SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity.

 

The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation for its services as shall be agreed 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, disbursements and advances incurred by it. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee's agents, counsel and other persons not regularly in its employ.

 

The Company shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Trustee and its officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents, from and against and reimburse the Trustee for any and all claims, expenses, obligations, liabilities, losses, damages, injuries (to person, property, or natural resources), penalties, stamp or other similar taxes, actions, suits, judgments, reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorney's and agent's fees and expenses) of whatever kind or nature regardless of their merit, demanded, asserted or claimed against the Trustee directly or indirectly relating to, or arising from, claims against the Trustee by reason of its participation in the transactions contemplated hereby, including without limitation all reasonable costs required to be associated with claims for damages to persons or property, and reasonable attorneys' and consultants' fees and expenses and court costs except to the extent caused by the Trustee's negligence or willful misconduct. The provisions of this Section 7.07 shall survive the termination of this Agreement or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee. The Company shall defend any claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have 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 or delayed. This indemnification shall apply to officers, directors, employees, shareholders and agents of the Trustee.

 

The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss liability incurred by the Trustee or by any officer, director, employee, shareholder or agent of the Trustee through negligence or bad faith.

 

To secure the Company's payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities of any Series on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Securities of that Series.

 

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(f) or (g) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law. 

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SECTION 7.08. Replacement of Trustee.

 

A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee's acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section.

 

The Trustee may resign with respect to the Securities of one or more Series by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any Series may remove the Trustee with respect to that Series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company. The Company may remove the Trustee with respect to Securities of one or more Series if:

 

(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;

 

(b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

 

(c) a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

 

(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

 

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.

 

If a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any one or more Series does not take office within [ ] days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders of at least [ ]% in principal amount of the Securities of the applicable Series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Immediately after that, the retiring Trustee shall transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.07, and subject to the payment of any and all amounts then due and owing to the retiring Trustee, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee with respect to each Series of Securities for which it is acting as Trustee under this Indenture. A successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to each Securityholder of each such Series. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Company's obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring trustee with respect to expenses and liabilities incurred by it prior to such replacement.

 

SECTION 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

 

If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee with the same effect as if the successor Trustee had been named as the Trustee herein.

 

SECTION 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification.

 

This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA Section 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee shall always have a combined capital and surplus of at least $25,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA Section 310(b). 

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SECTION 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

 

The Trustee is subject to TIA Section 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA Section 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TTA Section 311(a) to the extent indicated.

 

ARTICLE VIII

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE

 

SECTION 8.01. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

 

This Indenture shall upon Company Order cease to be of further effect (except as hereinafter provided in this Section 8.01), and the Trustee, on the demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when

 

(a) either

 

(i) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(ii) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable, or

 

(1) have become due and payable, or

 

(2) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within [ ], or

 

(3) are to be called for redemption within [ ] under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, or

 

(4) are deemed paid and discharged pursuant to section 8.03, as applicable; and the Company, in the case of (1), (2) or (3) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust an amount sufficient for the purpose of paying and discharging the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable on or prior to the date of such deposit) or to the Stated Maturity or redemption date, as the case may be;

 

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

 

(c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each meeting the applicable requirements of Sections 10.04 and 10.05 and each stating that all conditions precedent herein relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with and the Trustee receives written demand from the Company to discharge.

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 7.07, and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (a) of this Section, the provisions of Sections 2.04, 2.07, 2.08, 8.01 8.02 and 8.05 shall survive.

 

SECTION 8.02. Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification.

 

(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 8.05, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.01, all money and U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.03 or 8.04 and all money received by the Trustee in respect of U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.03 or 8.04, shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the persons entitled thereto, of the principal and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the Trustee or to make mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments as contemplated by Sections 8.03 or 8.04. 

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(b) The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee and the Agents against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Sections 8.03 or 8.04 or the interest and principal received in respect of such obligations other than any payable by or on behalf of Holders.

 

(c) The Trustee shall, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, deliver or pay to the Company from time to time, upon Company Request and at the expense of the Company any U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations or money held by it pursuant to this Indenture as provided in Sections 8.03 or 8.04 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants, expressed in a written certification thereof and delivered to the Trustee together with such Company Request, are then in excess of the amount thereof which then would have been required to be deposited for the purpose for which such U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations or money were deposited or received. This provision shall not authorize the sale by the Trustee of any U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations held under this Indenture.

 

SECTION 8.03. Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series.

 

Unless this Section 8.03 is otherwise specified, pursuant to Section 2.02(s), to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the outstanding Securities of such Series on the [ ] day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (d) hereof, and the provisions of this Indenture, as it relates to such outstanding Securities of such Series, shall no longer be in effect (and the Trustee, at the expense of the company, shall, at Company Request, execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except as to:

 

(a) the rights of Holders of Securities of such Series to receive, from the trust funds described in subparagraph (d) hereof, (i) payment of the principal of and each installment of principal of and interest on the outstanding Securities of such Series on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest and (ii) the benefit of any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to the Securities of such Series on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Securities of such Series;

 

(b) the provisions of Sections 2.04, 2.07, 2.08, 2.14, 8.02, 8.03 and 8.05; and

 

(c) the rights, powers, trust and immunities of the Trustee hereunder; provided that, the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

 

(d) the Company shall have deposited or caused to be deposited irrevocably with the Paying Agent as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for and dedicated solely to the benefit of the Holders of such Securities in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars (or such other money or currencies as shall then be legal tender in the United States) and/or U.S. Government Obligations, or (ii) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in a Foreign Currency (other than a composite currency), money and/or Foreign Government Obligations, which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof, in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Paying Agent), not later than [ ] day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee and the Paying Agent, to pay and discharge each installment of principal (including mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments) of and interest, if any, on all the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of interest or principal are due; 

27

(e) such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;

 

(f) no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or during the period ending on the [ ] day after such date;

 

(g) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred;

 

(h) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Securities of such Series over any other creditors of the company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company;

 

(i) such deposit shall not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended), or such trust shall be qualified under such Act or exempt from regulation thereunder; and

 

(j) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.

 

SECTION 8.04. Covenant Defeasance.

 

Unless this Section 8.04 is otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.02(s) to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, on and after the [ ] day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (a) hereof, the Company may omit to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth under Sections 4.02, 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, and 5.01 as well as any additional covenants contained in a supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series of Securities or a Board Resolution or an Officers' Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.02(s) (and the failure to comply with any such covenants shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default under Section 6.01) and the occurrence of any event described in clause (e) of Section 6.01 shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default hereunder, with respect to the Securities of such Series, provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

 

(a) With reference to this Section 8.04, the Company has deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 8.02(c)) with the Paying Agent as trust funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities (i) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars (or such other money or currencies as shall then be legal tender in the United States) and/or U.S. Government Obligations, or (ii) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in a Foreign Currency (other than a composite currency), money and/or Foreign Government Obligations, which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof, in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Paying Agent), not later than [ ] day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Paying Agent, to pay principal and interest, if any, on and any mandatory sinking fund in respect of the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of interest or principal are due; 

28

(b) Such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;

 

(c) No Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or during the period ending on the [ ] day after such date;

 

(d) the company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred;

 

(e) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Securities of such Series over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company; and

 

(f) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.

 

SECTION 8.05. Repayment to Company.

 

The Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal and interest that remains unclaimed for two years. After that, Securityholders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another person and all liability of the Paying Agent with respect to that money shall cease.

 

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

 

SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of Holders.

 

The Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series without the consent of any Securityholder:

 

(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

 

(b) to comply with Article V;

 

(c) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;

 

(d) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder;

 

(e) to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of Securities of any Series as permitted by this Indenture;

 

(f) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more Series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee;

 

(g) to comply with requirements of the TIA and any rules promulgated under the TIA; and

 

(h) to add to the covenants of the Company for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right, power or option conferred upon the Company. 

29

Any amendment or supplement made solely to conform the provisions of this Indenture or the Securities of any Series to the description thereof contained in the final prospectus relating to such Series will be deemed not to adversely affect the rights of any Holder.

 

SECTION 9.02. With Consent of Holders.

 

The Company and the Trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of all Series affected by such supplemental indenture, taken together as one class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series), for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Securityholders of each such Series. Except as provided in Section 6.13, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of all Series affected by such waiver by notice to the Trustee, taken together as one class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series) may waive compliance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities with respect to such Series.

 

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Securities under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. After a supplemental indenture or waiver under this section becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of Securities affected thereby a notice briefly describing the supplemental indenture or waiver. Any failure by the Company to mail or publish such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture or waiver.

 

SECTION 9.03. Limitations.

 

Without the consent of each Securityholder affected, an amendment or waiver may not:

 

(a) change the amount of Securities whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver, except to increase any such amount or to provide that certain provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified, amended or waived without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Security affected thereby;

 

(b) reduce the amount of interest, or change the interest payment time, on any Security;

 

(c) waive a redemption payment or alter the redemption provisions (other than any alteration that would not materially adversely affect the legal rights of any Holder under this Indenture) or the price at which the Company is required to offer to purchase the Securities;

 

(d) reduce the principal or change the Stated Maturity of any Security or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation;

 

(e) reduce the principal amount payable of any Security upon Maturity;

 

(f) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of or interest, if any, on any Security (except a rescission of acceleration of the Securities of any Series by the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

 

(g) change the place or currency of payment of principal of or interest, if any, on any Security other than that stated in the Security;

 

(h) impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal or, or interest on, the Securities of such Holder on or after the due dates therefor; 

30

(i) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on, or with respect to, any Security;

 

(j) make any change in Sections 10.15 or 10.16;

 

(k) change the ranking of the Securities; or

 

(l) make any other change which is specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers' Certificate as a limitation under this Section.

 

SECTION 9.04. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.

 

Every amendment to this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series shall be set forth in a supplemental indenture hereto that complies with the TIA as then in effect.

 

SECTION 9.05. Revocation and Effect of Consents.

 

Until an amendment or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder's Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his Security or portion of a Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date the amendment or waiver becomes effective.

 

Any amendment or waiver once effective shall bind every Securityholder of each Series affected by such amendment or waiver unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (a) through (g) of Section 9.03 in that case, the amendment or waiver shall bind each Holder of a Security who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder's Security.

 

SECTION 9.06. Notation on or Exchange of Securities.

 

If an amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Security, the Trustee may require the Holder of the Security to deliver it to the Trustee and the Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Security about the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Company or the Trustee so determines, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate upon request new Securities of that Series that reflect the changed terms.

 

SECTION 9.07. Trustee Protected.

 

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel or an Officer's Certificate, or both stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee shall sign all supplemental indentures, except that the Trustee need not sign any supplemental indenture that adversely affects its rights, duties or indemnities.

 

SECTION 9.08. Effect of Supplemental Indenture.

 

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

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ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS

 

SECTION 10.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls.

 

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with another provision which is required or deemed to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, such required or deemed provision shall control.

 

SECTION 10.02. Notices.

 

Any notice or communication by the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar to another is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail:

 

if to the Company:

 

Dynagas LNG Partners LP 

[ ]

 

if to the Trustee:


[ ]
Attn: [ ]
Fax: [ ]

 

if to the Registrar or Paying Agent:


[ ] 

Attn: [ ] 

Fax: [ ] 


with copy to: 


[ ] 

Attn: [ ] 

Fax: [ ] 

 

The Company, the Trustee and each Agent by notice to each other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

 

Any notice or communication to a Securityholder shall be mailed by first-class mail to his address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Securityholder of any Series or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Securityholders of that or any other Series.

 

If a notice or communication is mailed or published in the manner provided above, within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the Securityholder receives it.

 

If the company mails a notice or communication to Securityholders, it will mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

 

Whenever a notice is required to be given by the Company, such notice may be given by the Trustee or Registrar on the Company's behalf (and the Company will make any notice it is required to give to Holders available on its website). 

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SECTION 10.03. Communication by Holders with Other Holders.

 

Securityholders of any Series may communicate pursuant to TIA Section 312(b) with other Securityholders of that Series or any other Series with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities of that Series or all Series. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA Section 312(c).

 

SECTION 10.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

 

Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:

 

(a) an Officers' Certificate stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

 

(b) an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of counsel, all such conditions precedent (including any covenants, compliance with which constitutes a condition precedent) have been complied with.

 

SECTION 10.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

 

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA Section 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA Section 314(e) and shall include:

 

(a) a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

 

(b) 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;

 

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

 

(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

provided, however, that with respect to matters of fact an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officers' Certificate or certificates of public officials.

 

SECTION 10.06. Record Date for Vote or Consent of Holders.

 

The Company (or, in the event deposits have been made pursuant to Section 11.02, the Trustee) may set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders entitled to vote or consent to any action by vote or consent authorized or permitted under this Indenture, which record date shall not be more than [ ] days prior to the date of the commencement of solicitation of such action. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9.05, if a record date is fixed, those persons who were Holders of Securities at the close of business on such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those persons, shall be entitled to take such action by vote or consent or to revoke any vote or consent previously given, whether or not such persons continue to be Holders after such record date.

 

SECTION 10.07. Rules by Trustee and Agents.

 

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Securityholders of one or more Series. Any Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions. 

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SECTION 10.08. Legal Holidays.

 

Unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers' Certificate or supplemental indenture for a particular Series, a “Legal Holiday” is any day that is not a Business Day. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.

 

SECTION 10.09. No Recourse Against Others.

 

A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Securityholder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.

 

SECTION 10.10. Counterparts.

 

This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

SECTION 10.11. Governing Laws and Submission to Jurisdiction.

 

THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK EXCLUDING ANY RULE OF LAW THAT WOULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

The Company agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Indenture may be instituted in any federal or state court sitting in New York City, and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding, and irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such court in any suit, action or proceeding. The Company, as long as any Securities remain outstanding or the parties hereto have any obligation under this Indenture, shall have an authorized agent in the United States upon whom process may be served in any such legal action or proceeding. Service of process upon such agent and written notice of such service mailed or delivered to it shall to the extent permitted by law be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon it in any such legal action or proceeding and, if it fails to maintain such agent, any such process or summons may be served by mailing a copy thereof by registered mail, or a form of mail substantially equivalent thereto, addressed to it at its address as provided for notices hereunder. The Company hereby appoints Watson Farley & Williams LLP, 120 West 45th Street, 20th Floor, New York, New York 10036, as its agent for such purposes, and covenants and agrees that service of process in any legal action or proceeding may be made upon it at such office of such agent.

 

SECTION 10.12. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

 

This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or a Subsidiary. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

 

SECTION 10.13. Successors.

 

All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successor. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.

 

SECTION 10.14. Severability.

 

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

34

SECTION 10.15. Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.

 

The Table of Contents, Cross Reference Table, and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

SECTION 10.16. Securities in a Foreign Currency or in ECU.

 

Unless otherwise specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers' Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.02 of this Indenture with respect to a particular Series of Securities, whenever for purposes of this Indenture any action may be taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of Securities of all Series or all Series affected by a particular action at the time outstanding and, at such time, there are outstanding Securities of any Series which are denominated in a coin or currency other than Dollars (including ECUs), then the principal amount of Securities of such Series which shall be deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of taking such action shall be that amount of Dollars that could be obtained for such amount at the Market Exchange Rate at such time. For purposes of this Section 10.16, “Market Exchange Rate” shall mean the noon Dollar buying rate in New York City for cable transfers of that currency as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; provided, however, in the case of ECUs, Market Exchange Rate shall mean the rate of exchange determined by the Commission of the European Union (or any successor thereto) as published in the Official Journal of the European Union (such publication or any successor publication, the “Journal”). If such Market Exchange Rate is not available for any reason with respect to such currency, the Trustee shall use, without liability on its part, such quotation of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or, in the case of ECUs, the rate of exchange as published in the Journal, as of the most recent available date, or quotations or, in the case of ECUs, rates of exchange from one or more major banks in The City of New York or in the country of issue of the currency in question or, in the case of ECUs, in Luxembourg or such other quotations or, in the case of ECUs, rates of exchange as the Trustee, upon consultation with the Company, shall deem appropriate. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply in determining the equivalent principal amount in respect of Securities of a Series denominated in currency other than Dollars in connection with any action taken by Holders of Securities pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

 

All decisions and determinations of the Trustee regarding the Market Exchange Rate or any alternative determination provided for in the preceding paragraph shall be in its sole discretion and shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive to the extent permitted by law for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Company and all Holders.

 

SECTION 10.17. Judgment Currency.

 

The Company agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of or interest or other amount on the Securities of any Series (the “Required Currency”) into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the “Judgment Currency”), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered, unless such day is not a New York Banking Day, then, the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the New York Banking Day preceding the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with subsection (a)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable, and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture. For purposes of the foregoing, “New York Banking Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in The City of New York on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close. 

35

SECTION 10.18. Compliance with Applicable Anti-Terrorism and Money Laundering Regulations.

 

In order to comply with the laws, rules, regulations and executive orders in effect from time to time applicable to banking institutions, including those relating to the funding of terrorist activities and money laundering (“Applicable Law”), the Trustee is required to obtain, verify and record certain information relating to individuals and entities which maintain a business relationship with the Trustee. Accordingly, each of the parties agree to provide to the Trustee, upon its request from time to time such identifying information and documentation as may be available for such party in order to enable the Trustee to comply with the Applicable Law.

 

ARTICLE XI

SINKING FUNDS

 

SECTION 11.01. Applicability of Article.

 

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of the Securities of a Series, except as otherwise permitted or required by any form of Security of such Series issued pursuant to this Indenture.

 

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of the Securities of any Series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment” and any other amount provided for by the terms of Securities of such Series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of Securities of any Series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 11.02. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any Series as provided for by the terms of the securities of such Series.

 

SECTION 11.02. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

 

The Company may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of any Series to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities (1) deliver outstanding Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable (other than any of such Securities previously called for mandatory sinking fund redemption) and (2) apply as credit Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable and which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Series of Securities (except pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund) or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments or other optional redemptions pursuant to the terms of such Securities, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received by the Registrar, together with an Officers' Certificate with respect thereto, not later than [ ] days prior to the date on which the Registrar begins the process of selecting Securities for redemption, and shall be credited for such purpose by the Registrar at the price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly. If as a result of the delivery or credit of Securities in lieu of cash payments pursuant to this Section 11.02, the principal amount of Securities of such Series to be redeemed in order to exhaust the aforesaid cash payment shall be less than $[], the Registrar need not call Securities of such Series for redemption, except upon receipt of a Company Order that such action be taken, and such cash payment shall be held by the Paying Agent and applied to the next succeeding sinking fund payment, provided, however, that the Paying Agent shall from time to time upon receipt of a Company Order pay over and deliver to the Company any cash payment so being held by the Paying Agent upon delivery by the Company to the Registrar of Securities of that Series purchased by the Company having an unpaid principal amount equal to the cash payment required to be released to the Company. 

36

SECTION 11.03. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

 

Not less than [ ] days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers' Certificate in respect of a particular Series of Securities) prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee and the Paying Agent an Officers' Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that Series pursuant to the terms of that Series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting of Securities of that Series pursuant to Section 11.02., and the optional amount, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified. Not less than [ ] days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, Officers' Certificate or supplemental indenture in respect of a particular Series of Securities) before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.02 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.03. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall stated in Sections 3.04, 3.05 and 3.06.

 

[The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank

37

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

DYNAGAS LNG PARTNERS LP    
By:         
Name:        
Its:    
[ ]    
as Trustee    
By:          
Name:        
Its:    
By:        
Name:        
Its:    
[ ]    
as Registrar and Paying Agent    
By:        
Name:        
Its:    
By:        
Name:        
Its:    

 

38

 

 

Exhibit 4.2

 

 

DYNAGAS LNG PARTNERS LP

FORM OF

SUBORDINATED INDENTURE 

Dated as of [ ], 20[ ] 

[ ] 

Trustee

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PAGE

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 1
SECTION 1.01. Definitions 1
SECTION 1.02. Other Definitions 4
SECTION 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act 4
SECTION 1.04. Rules of Construction 5
ARTICLE II THE SECURITIES 5
SECTION 2.01. Issuable in Series 5
SECTION 2.02. Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities 5
SECTION 2.03. Execution and Authentication 7
SECTION 2.04. Registrar and Paying Agent 8
SECTION 2.05. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust 8
SECTION 2.06. Securityholder Lists 8
SECTION 2.07. Transfer and Exchange 8
SECTION 2.08. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities 9
SECTION 2.09. Outstanding Securities 9
SECTION 2.10. Treasury Securities 10
SECTION 2.11. Temporary Securities 10
SECTION 2.12. Cancellation 10
SECTION 2.13. Defaulted Interest 10
SECTION 2.14. Global Securities 11
SECTION 2.15. CUSIP Numbers 12
ARTICLE III REDEMPTION 12
SECTION 3.01. Notice to Trustee 12
SECTION 3.02. Selection of Securities to be Redeemed 13
SECTION 3.03. Notice of Redemption 13
SECTION 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption 13
SECTION 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price 13
SECTION 3.06. Securities Redeemed in Part 13
ARTICLE IV COVENANTS 14
SECTION 4.01. Payment of Principal and Interest 14
SECTION 4.02. SEC Reports 14
SECTION 4.03. Compliance Certificate 14
SECTION 4.04. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws 15
SECTION 4.05. Corporate Existence 15
SECTION 4.06. Taxes 15
SECTION 4.07. Additional Interest Notice 15
SECTION 4.08. Further Instruments and Acts 16
ARTICLE V SUCCESSORS 16
SECTION 5.01. When Company May Merge, Etc. 16
SECTION 5.02. Successor Person Substituted 16
ARTICLE VI DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES 16
SECTION 6.01. Events of Default 16
SECTION 6.02. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment 18
SECTION 6.03. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee 19
SECTION 6.04. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim 19
SECTION 6.05. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities 19
SECTION 6.06. Application of Money Collected 20
SECTION 6.07. Limitation on Suits 20
SECTION 6.08. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest 20
SECTION 6.09. Restoration of Rights and Remedies 20
SECTION 6.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative 21
SECTION 6.11. Delay or Omission Not Waiver 21
SECTION 6.12. Control by Holders 21

 

SECTION 6.13. Waiver of Past Defaults 21
SECTION 6.14. Undertaking for Costs 21
ARTICLE VII TRUSTEE 22
SECTION 7.01. Duties of Trustee 22
SECTION 7.02. Rights of Trustee 23
SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee 23
SECTION 7.04. Trustee's Disclaimer 23
SECTION 7.05. Notice of Defaults 24
SECTION 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders 24
SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity 24
SECTION 7.08. Replacement of Trustee 25
SECTION 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, etc. 25
SECTION 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification 25
SECTION 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company 26
ARTICLE VIII SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE 26
SECTION 8.01. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture 26
SECTION 8.02. Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification 26
SECTION 8.03. Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series 27
SECTION 8.04. Covenant Defeasance 28
SECTION 8.05. Repayment to Company 29
ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS 29
SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of Holders 29
SECTION 9.02. With Consent of Holders 30
SECTION 9.03. Limitations 30
SECTION 9.04. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act 31
SECTION 9.05. Revocation and Effect of Consents 31
SECTION 9.06. Notation on or Exchange of Securities 31
SECTION 9.07. Trustee Protected 31
SECTION 9.08. Effect of Supplemental Indenture 31
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS 32
SECTION 10.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls 32
SECTION 10.02. Notices 32
SECTION 10.03. Communication by Holders with Other Holders 33
SECTION 10.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent 33
SECTION 10.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion 33
SECTION 10.06. Record Date for Vote or Consent of Holders 33
SECTION 10.07. Rules by Trustee and Agents 33
SECTION 10.08. Legal Holidays 34
SECTION 10.09. No Recourse Against Others 34
SECTION 10.10. Counterparts. 34
SECTION 10.11. Governing Laws and Submission to Jurisdiction. 34
SECTION 10.12. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. 34
SECTION 10.13. Successors 34
SECTION 10.14. Severability 34
SECTION 10.15. Table of Contents, Headings, Etc. 35
SECTION 10.16. Securities in a Foreign Currency or in ECU 35
SECTION 10.17. Judgment Currency 35
SECTION 10.18. Compliance with Applicable Anti-Terrorism and Money Laundering Regulations 36
ARTICLE XI SINKING FUNDS 36
SECTION 11.01. Applicability of Article 36
SECTION 11.02. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities 36
SECTION 11.03. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund 37

 

Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Indenture,

 

Dated as of [ ], 20[ ]

 

Section 310(a)(1) 7.10
(a)(2) 7.10
(a)(3) Not Applicable
(a)(4) Not Applicable
(a)(5) 7.10
(b) 7.10
(c) Not Applicable
Section 311(a) 7.11
(b) 7.11
(c) Not Applicable
Section 312(a) 2.06
(b) 10.03
(c) 10.03
Section 313(a) 7.06
(b)(1) 7.06
(b)(2) 7.06
(c)(1) 7.06
(d) 7.06
Section 314(a) 4.02, 10.05
(b) Not Applicable
(c)(1) 10.04
(c)(2) 10.04
(c)(3) Not Applicable
(d) Not Applicable
(e) 10.05
(f) Not Applicable
Section 315(a) 7.01
(b) 7.05
(c) 7.01
(d) 7.01
(e) 6.14
Section 316(a)(1)(A) 6.12
(a)(1)(B) 6.13
(a)(2) Not Applicable
(b) 6.13
(c) 10.06
Section 317(a)(1) 6.03
(a)(2) 6.04
(b) 2.05
Section 318(a) 10.01

 

Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of the Indenture. 

 

Indenture dated as of [ ], 20[ ] between Dynagas LNG Partners LP, a limited partnership organized under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (the “Company”) and [ ] (the “Trustee”).

 

Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities issued under this Indenture.

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

SECTION 1.01. Definitions.

 

Additional Amounts” means any additional amounts which are required hereby or by any Security, under circumstances specified herein or therein, to be paid by the Company in respect of certain taxes imposed on Holders specified therein and which are owing to such Holders.

 

Affiliate” of any specified person means any other person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by agreement or otherwise.

 

Agent” means any Registrar or Paying Agent.

 

Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11 of the United States Code (or any successor thereto) or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

 

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

 

Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been adopted by the Board of Directors or pursuant to authorization by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of the certificate and delivered to the Trustee.

 

Business Day” means any day other than a (x) Saturday, (y) Sunday or (z) day on which state or federally chartered banking institutions in New York, New York are not required to be open.

 

Capital Stock” of any Person means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity of such Person, but excluding any debt securities convertible into such equity.

 

Certificated Securities” means Securities in the form of physical, certificated Securities in registered form.

 

Company” means the party named as such above until a successor replaces it in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor.

 

Company Order” means a written order signed in the name of the Company by two Officers, one of whom must be the Company's principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer.

 

Company Request” means a written request signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, a President or a Vice President, and by its Chief Financial Officer, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee. 

1

Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered which office at the date of the execution of this Indenture is [ ], Attention: [ ], or at such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time.

 

Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

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

 

Default Rate” means the default rate of interest specified in the Securities.

 

Depository” means, with respect to the Securities of any Series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the person designated as Depository for such Series by the Company, which Depository shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act; and if at any time there is more than one such person, “Depository” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Depository with respect to the Securities of such Series.

 

Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the stated principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02.

 

Dollars” means the currency of The United States of America.

 

ECU” means the European Currency Unit as determined by the Commission of the European Union.

 

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

 

Foreign Currency” means any currency or currency unit issued by a government other than the government of The United States of America.

 

Foreign Government Obligations” means with respect to Securities of any Series that are denominated in a Foreign Currency, (i) direct obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency for the payment of which obligations its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by or acting as an agency or instrumentality of such government the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by such government, which, in either case under clauses (i) or (ii), are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.

 

Global Security” or “Global Securities” means a Security or Securities, as the case may be, in the form established pursuant to Section 2.02 evidencing all or part of a Series of Securities, issued to the Depository for such Series or its nominee, and registered in the name of such Depository or nominee.

 

Holder” or “Securityholder” means a person in whose name a Security is registered.

 

Indenture” means this Indenture as amended and supplemented from time to time and shall include the form and terms of particular Series of Securities established as contemplated hereunder.

 

Interest,” in respect of the Securities, unless the context otherwise requires, refers to interest payable on the Securities, including any additional interest that may become payable pursuant to Section 6.02(b).

 

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

2

Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice-President, the Treasurer, the Secretary, any Assistant Treasurer or any Assistant Secretary of the Company.

 

Officers' Certificate” means a certificate signed by two Officers, one of whom must be the Company's principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer.

 

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of legal counsel who is, and which opinion is, acceptable to the Trustee and its counsel. Such legal counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or the Trustee.

 

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

 

Principal” or “principal” of a Security means the principal of the Security plus, when appropriate, the premium, if any, on, and any Additional Amounts in respect of, the Security.

 

Responsible Officer” means any officer of the Trustee in its Corporate Trust Office and also means, any vice president, managing director, director, associate, assistant vice president, or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with a particular subject.

 

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Security” or “Securities” means the debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company of any Series authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

 

Series” or “Series of Securities” means each series of debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company created pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 2.02 hereof.

 

Stated Maturity” when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.

 

Subordinated Indebtedness” means any indebtedness which is expressly subordinated to the indebtedness evidenced by Securities.

 

Subsidiary” means, in respect of 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.

 

TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of this Indenture; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “TIA” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act as so amended.

 

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

3

U.S. Government Obligations” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of The United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of The United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by The United States of America, and which in the case of (i) and (ii) are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.

 

SECTION 1.02. Other Definitions.

 

TERM DEFINED IN SECTION
“Applicable Law” 10.18
“Event of Default” 6.01
“Instrument” 6.01
“Journal” 10.16
“Judgment Currency” 10.17
“Legal Holiday” 10.08
“mandatory sinking fund payment” 11.01
“Market Exchange Rate” 10.16
“New York Banking Day” 10.17
“optional sinking fund payment” 11.01
“Paying Agent” 2.04
“Registrar” 2.04
“Required Currency” 10.17
“successor person” 5.01
“Temporary Securities” 2.11

 

SECTION 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.

 

Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. This Indenture shall also include those provisions of the TIA required to be included herein by the provisions of the Trust Indenture Reform Act of 1990. The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

 

indenture securities” means the Securities.

 

indenture security holder” means a Securityholder.

 

indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.

 

indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.

 

obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company and any successor obligor upon the Securities.

 

All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as so defined. 

4

SECTION 1.04. Rules of Construction.

 

Unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(a) a term has the meaning assigned to it;

 

(b) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c) references to “generally accepted accounting principles” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in effect as of the time when and for the period as to which such accounting principles are to be applied;

 

(d) “or” is not exclusive;

 

(e) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;

 

(f) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

 

(g) references to agreements and other instruments include subsequent amendments thereto;

 

(h) the term “merger” includes a statutory share exchange, and the term “merged” has a correlative meaning; and

 

(i) “herein,” “hereof” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.

 

ARTICLE II

THE SECURITIES

 

SECTION 2.01. Issuable in Series.

 

The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more Series. All Securities of a Series shall be identical except as may be set forth in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers' Certificate detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to the authority granted under a Board Resolution. In the case of Securities of a Series to be issued from time to time, the Board Resolution, Officers' Certificate or supplemental indenture may provide for the method by which specified terms (such as interest rate, maturity date, record date or date from which interest shall accrue) are to be determined. Securities may differ between Series in respect of any matters, provided that all Series of Securities shall be equally and ratably entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

 

SECTION 2.02. Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities.

 

At or prior to the issuance of any Securities within a Series, the following shall be established (as to the Series generally, in the case of Subsection (a), and either as to such Securities within the Series or as to the Series generally in the case of Subsections (b) through (t) by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers' Certificate pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution:

 

(a) the title, designation, aggregate principal amount and authorized denominations of the Securities of the Series;

 

(b) the price or prices, (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount thereof) at which the Securities of the Series will be issued;

 

(c) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the Series is payable;

 

(d) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or, if applicable, the method used to determine such rate or rates (including, but not limited to, any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the Securities of the Series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest, if any, shall commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date; 

5

(e) any optional or mandatory sinking fund provisions or conversion or exchangeability provisions upon which Securities of the Series shall be redeemed, purchased, converted or exchanged;

 

(f) the date, if any, after which and the price or prices at which the Securities of the Series may be optionally redeemed or must be mandatorily redeemed and any other terms and provisions of optional or mandatory provisions;

 

(g) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the Series shall be issuable;

 

(h) if other than the full principal amount, the portion of the principal amount of the Securities of the Series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration pursuant to Section 6.02 or provable in bankruptcy;

 

(i) any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the Series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 6.02;

 

(j) the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which payments of principal of, premium or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be payable, if other than the currency of the United States of America;

 

(k) if payments of principal of, premium or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be payable, at the Company's election or at the election of any Holder, in a currency other than that in which the Securities of the Series are stated to be payable, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, the election may be made;

 

(l) if payments of interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be payable, at the Company's election or at the election of any Holder, in cash or additional securities, and the terms and conditions upon which the election may be made;

 

(m) if denominated in a currency or currencies other than the currency of the United States of America, the equivalent price of the Securities of the Series in the currency of the United States of America for purposes of determining the voting rights of Holders of the Securities of the Series;

 

(n) if the amount of payments of principal, premium or interest may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method based on a coin or currency other than that in which the Securities of the Series are stated to be payable, the manner in which the amounts will be determined;

 

(o) any restrictive covenants or other material terms relating to the Securities of the Series;

 

(p) whether the Securities of the Series will be issued in the form of global securities or certificates in registered form;

 

(q) any terms with respect to subordination;

 

(r) any listing on any securities exchange or quotation system;

 

(s) additional provisions, if any, related to defeasance and discharge of the offered debt securities; and

 

(t) the applicability of any guarantees, which would be governed by New York law. 

6

All Securities of any one Series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers' Certificate referred to above, and the authorized principal amount of any Series may not be increased to provide for issuance of additional Securities of such Series, unless otherwise provided in such Board Resolution, supplemental Indenture or Officers' Certificate.

 

SECTION 2.03. Execution and Authentication.

 

Two Officers shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.

 

If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Security is authenticated, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.

 

A Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.

 

The Trustee shall at any time, and from time to time, authenticate Securities for original issue in the principal amount provided in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers' Certificate, upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order. Such Company Order may authorize authentication and delivery pursuant to oral or electronic instructions from the Company or its duly authorized agent or agents, which oral instructions shall be promptly confirmed in writing. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication unless otherwise provided by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers' Certificate.

 

The aggregate principal amount of Securities of any Series outstanding at any time may not exceed any limit upon the maximum principal amount for such Series set forth in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers' Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.02, except as provided in Section 2.08.

 

Prior to the issuance of Securities of any Series, the Trustee shall have received and (subject to Section 7.02) shall be fully protected in relying on: (a) the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers Certificate establishing the form of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series and the terms of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series, (b) an Officers' Certificate complying with Section 10.04, and (c) an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 10.04.

 

The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Securities of such Series: (a) if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken; or (b) if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to Holders of any then outstanding Series of Securities.

 

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Securities. An authenticating agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or an Affiliate.

 

If any successor that has replaced the Company in accordance with Article 5 has executed an indenture supplemental hereto with the Trustee pursuant to Section 5.01, any of the Securities authenticated or delivered prior to such transaction may, from time to time, at the request of such successor, be exchanged for other Securities executed in the name of the such successor with such changes in phraseology and form as may be appropriate, but otherwise identical to the Securities surrendered for such exchange and of like principal amount; and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order of such successor, shall authenticate and deliver Securities as specified in such order for the purpose of such exchange. If Securities shall at any time be authenticated and delivered in any new name of such successor pursuant to this provision of Section 2.03 in exchange or substitution for or upon registration of transfer of any Securities, such successor, at the option of the Holders but without expense to them, shall provide for the exchange of all Securities then outstanding for Securities authenticated and delivered in such new name. 

7

SECTION 2.04. Registrar and Paying Agent.

 

The Company shall maintain, with respect to each Series of Securities, at the place or places specified with respect to such Series pursuant to Section 2.02, an office or agency where Securities of such Series may be presented or surrendered for payment (“Paying Agent”) and where Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange (“Registrar”). The Registrar shall keep a register with respect to each Series of Securities and to their transfer and exchange. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the name and address, and any change in the name or address, of each Registrar and Paying Agent. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required Registrar or Paying Agent or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the name and address thereof, such presentations and surrenders 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 and surrenders.

 

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more co-registrars or additional paying agents and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligations to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent in each place so specified pursuant to Section 2.02 for Securities of any Series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the name or address of any such co-registrar or additional paying agent. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar; and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent.

 

The Company hereby appoints [ ] as the initial Registrar and Paying Agent for each Series unless another Registrar or Paying Agent as the case may be, is appointed prior to the time Securities of that Series are first issued. Each Registrar and Paying Agent shall be entitled to all of the rights, protections, exculpations and indemnities afforded to the Trustee in connection with its roles as Registrar and Paying Agent.

 

SECTION 2.05. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

 

The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust, for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities, or the Trustee, all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Series of Securities, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities all money held by it as Paying Agent.

 

SECTION 2.06. Securityholder Lists.

 

The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities and shall otherwise comply with TIA Section 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least [ ] days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list, in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities.

 

SECTION 2.07. Transfer and Exchange.

 

Where Securities of a Series are presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of the same Series, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if its requirements for such transactions are met. To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trustee shall authenticate Securities at the Registrar's request. Any exchange or transfer shall be without charge, except that the Company or the Registrar may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge required by law; provided that this sentence shall not apply to any exchange pursuant to Section 2.11, 2.08, 3.06 or 9.06. 

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Neither the Company nor the Registrar shall be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange Securities of any Series for the period beginning at the opening of business [ ] days immediately preceding the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of that Series selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any Series selected, called or being called for redemption as a whole or the portion being redeemed of any such Securities selected, called or being called for redemption in part.

 

All Securities issued upon any transfer or exchange of Securities shall be valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such transfer or exchange. Any Registrar appointed pursuant to Section 2.04 shall provide to the Trustee such information as the Trustee may reasonably require in connection with the delivery by such Registrar of Securities upon transfer or exchange of Securities. Each Holder of a Security agrees to indemnify the Company and the Trustee against any liability that may result from the transfer, exchange or assignment of such Holder's Security in violation of any provision of this Indenture and/or applicable U.S. federal or state securities law.

 

SECTION 2.08. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

 

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Registrar, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Registrar (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Registrar that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.

 

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

 

Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that Series duly issued hereunder.

 

The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

 

SECTION 2.09. Outstanding Securities.

 

The Securities outstanding at any time are all the Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest on a Global Security effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof and those described in this Section as not outstanding. 

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If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.08, it ceases to be outstanding until the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.

 

If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds on the Maturity of Securities of a Series money sufficient to pay such Securities payable on that date, then on and after that date such Securities of the Series cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

 

A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate holds the Security.

 

In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of a Discount Security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02.

 

SECTION 2.10. Treasury Securities.

 

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities of a Series have concurred in any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver Securities of a Series owned by the Company or an Affiliate shall be disregarded, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver only Securities of a Series that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.

 

SECTION 2.11. Temporary Securities.

 

Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary securities upon a Company Order (“Temporary Securities”). Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee upon written request shall authenticate definitive Securities of the same Series and date of maturity in exchange for temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, temporary securities shall have the same rights under this Indenture as the definitive Securities.

 

SECTION 2.12. Cancellation.

 

The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee or its agent any Securities surrendered to them for transfer, exchange, payment or conversion. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel, in accordance with its standard procedures, all Securities surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment, conversion or cancellation and shall deliver the cancelled Securities to the Company. No Security shall be authenticated in exchange for any Security cancelled pursuant to this Section 2.12.

 

The Company may, to the extent permitted by law, purchase Securities in the open market or by tender offer at any price or by private agreement. Any Securities purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries prior to the final maturity of such Securities may, to the extent permitted by law, be reissued or resold or may, at the option of the Company, be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation. Any Securities surrendered for cancellation may not be reissued or resold and shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee, and the Company may not hold or resell such Securities or issue any new Securities to replace any such Securities.

 

SECTION 2.13. Defaulted Interest.

 

If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on a Series of Securities, it shall pay defaulted interest, plus, to the extent permitted by law, any interest payable on the defaulted interest at the Default Rate, to the persons who are Security holders of the Series on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix the record date and payment date. At least [ ] days before the record date, the Company shall mail to the Trustee and the Paying Agent and to each Securityholder of the Series a notice that states the record date, the payment date and the amount of interest to be paid. The Company may pay defaulted interest in any other lawful manner. 

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SECTION 2.14. Global Securities.

 

(a) A Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers' Certificate shall establish whether the Securities of a Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and the Depository for such Global Security or Securities.

 

(b) (i) Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in Section 2.07 of the Indenture and in addition thereto, any Global Security shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 2.07 of the Indenture for Securities registered in the names of Holders other than the Depository for such Security or its nominee only if (A) such Depository notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository for such Global Security or if at any time such Depository ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, the Company fails to appoint a successor Depository within 90 days of such event, (B) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate to the effect that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable or (C) an Event of Default with respect to the Securities represented by such Global Security shall have happened and be continuing.

 

(ii) Except as provided in this Section 2.14(b), a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depository with respect to such Global Security to a nominee of such Depository, by a nominee of such Depository to such Depository or another nominee of such Depository or by the Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such a successor Depository.

 

(iii) Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof shall be issued in definitive, fully registered form, without interest coupons, shall have an aggregate principal amount equal to that of such Global Security or portion thereof to be so exchanged, shall be registered in such names and be in such authorized denominations as the Depository shall designate and shall bear the applicable legends provided for herein. Any Global Security to be exchanged in whole shall be surrendered by the Depository to the Trustee, as Registrar. With regard to any Global Security to be exchanged in part, either such Global Security shall be so surrendered for exchange or, if the Registrar is acting as custodian for the Depository or its nominee with respect to such Global Security, the principal amount thereof shall be reduced by an amount equal to the portion thereof to be so exchanged, by means of an appropriate adjustment made on the records of the Trustee. Upon any such surrender or adjustment, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver the Security issuable on such exchange to or upon the order of the Depository or an authorized representative thereof.

 

(iv) The registered Holder may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including participants in the Depository and persons that may hold interests through participants in the Depository, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Securities.

 

(v) In the event of the occurrence of any of the events specified in 2.14(b)(i), the Company will promptly make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of Certificated Securities in definitive, fully registered form, without interest coupons. If (A) an event described in Section 2.14(b)(i)(A) or (B) occurs and definitive Certificated Securities are not issued promptly to all beneficial owners or (B) the Registrar receives from a beneficial owner instructions to obtain definitive Certificated Securities due to an event described in Section 2.14(b)(i)(C) and definitive Certificated Securities are not issued promptly to any such beneficial owner, the Company expressly acknowledges, with respect to the right of any Holder to pursue a remedy pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, the right of any beneficial owner of Securities to pursue such remedy with respect to the portion of the Global Security that represents such beneficial owner's Securities as if such definitive certificated Securities had been issued.

 

(vi) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Indenture, so long as a Global Security remains outstanding and is held by or on behalf of the Depository, transfers of a Global Security, in whole or in part, or of any beneficial interest therein, shall only be made in accordance with Section 2.07, this Section 2.14(b) and the rules and procedures of the Depository for such Global Security to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time. 

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(c) Any Global Security issued hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“This Security is a Global Security within the meaning of the Indenture hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of the Depository or a nominee of the Depository. This Security is exchangeable for Securities registered in the name of a person other than the Depository or its nominee only in the limited circumstances described in the Indenture, and may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depository to a nominee of the Depository, by a nominee of the Depository to the Depository or another nominee of the Depository or by the Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such a successor Depository.”

 

(d) The Depository, as a Holder, may appoint agents and otherwise authorize participants to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a Holder is entitled to give or take under the Indenture.

 

(e) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Indenture, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.02, payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on any Global Security shall be made to the Holder thereof at their registered office.

 

(f) At all times the Securities are held in book-entry form with a Depository, (i) the Trustee may deal with such Depository as the authorized representative of the Holders, (ii) the rights of the Holders shall be exercised only through the Depository and shall be limited to those established by law and agreement between the Holders and the Depository and/or direct participants of the Depository, (iii) the Depository will make book-entry transfers among the direct participants of the Depository and will receive and transmit distributions of principal and interest on the Securities to such direct participants; and (iv) the direct participants of the Depository shall have no rights under this Indenture, or any supplement hereto, under or with respect to any of the Securities held on their behalf by the Depository, and the Depository may be treated by the Trustee and its agents, employees, officers and directors as the absolute owner of the Securities for all purposes whatsoever.

 

SECTION 2.15. CUSIP Numbers.

 

The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP”, “CCN”, “ISIN” or other identification numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP”, “CCN”, “ISIN” or such other identification numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other elements of identification printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.

 

ARTICLE III

REDEMPTION

 

SECTION 3.01. Notice to Trustee.

 

The Company may, with respect to any series of Securities, reserve the right to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or may covenant to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or any part thereof prior to the Stated Maturity thereof at such time and on such terms as provided for in such Securities. If a Series of Securities is redeemable and the Company wants or is obligated to redeem prior to the Stated Maturity thereof all or part of the Series of Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, it shall notify the Trustee and Registrar in writing of the redemption date and the principal amount of Series of Securities to be redeemed. The Company shall give the notice at least [ ] days before the redemption date (or such shorter notice as may be acceptable to the Trustee and Registrar). 

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SECTION 3.02. Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.

 

Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers' Certificate, if less than all the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed, the Registrar shall select the Securities of the Series to be redeemed in accordance with its customary procedures. The Registrar shall make the selection from Securities of the Series outstanding not previously called for redemption. The Registrar may select for redemption portions of the principal of Securities of the Series that have denominations larger than $1,000. Securities of the Series and portions of them it selects shall be in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 or, with respect to Securities of any Series issuable in other denominations pursuant to Section 2.02(g), the minimum principal denomination for each Series and integral multiples thereof. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities of a Series called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities of that Series called for redemption.

 

SECTION 3.03. Notice of Redemption.

 

Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers' Certificate, at least [ ] days but not more than [ ] days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption by first-class mail to each Holder whose Securities are to be redeemed.

 

The notice shall identify the Securities of the Series to be redeemed and shall state:

 

(a) the redemption date;

 

(b) the redemption price;

 

(c) the name and address of the Paying Agent;

 

(d) that Securities of the Series called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

 

(e) that interest on Securities of the Series called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date; and

 

(f) any other information as may be required by the terms of the particular Series or the Securities of a Series being redeemed.

 

At the Company's written request, the Trustee shall distribute the notice of redemption prepared by the Company in the Company's name and at its expense.

 

SECTION 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption.

 

Once notice of redemption is mailed or published as provided in Section 3.03, Securities of a Series called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price. A notice of redemption may not be conditional. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price plus accrued interest to the redemption date.

 

SECTION 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price.

 

On or before the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest, if any, on all Securities to be redeemed on that date.

 

SECTION 3.06. Securities Redeemed in Part.

 

Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed in part, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder a new Security of the same Series and the same maturity equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered. 

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ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS

 

SECTION 4.01. Payment of Principal and Interest.

 

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each Series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of that Series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture.

 

Unless otherwise provided under the terms of a particular Series of Securities:

 

(a) an installment of principal or interest shall be considered paid on the date it is due if the Paying Agent (other than the Company) holds by [ ] [a].m., New York City time, on that date money, deposited by the Company or an Affiliate thereof, sufficient to pay such installment. The Company shall (in immediately available funds), to the fullest extent permitted by law, pay interest on overdue principal and overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by the Securities per annum; and

 

(b) payment of the principal of and interest on the Securities shall be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in [ ] (which shall initially be [ ], the Paying Agent) in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address appears in the register; provided, further, that a Holder with an aggregate principal amount in excess of $[] will be paid by wire transfer in immediately available funds at the election of such Holder if such Holder has provided wire transfer instructions to the Company at least [ ] Business Days prior to the payment date.

 

SECTION 4.02. SEC Reports.

 

So long as any Securities are outstanding, the Company shall (i) file with the SEC within the time periods prescribed by its rules and regulations and (ii) furnish to the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities within [ ] days after the date on which the Company would be required to file the same with the SEC pursuant to its rules and regulations (giving effect to any grace period provided by Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act), all quarterly and annual financial information required to be furnished or filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 and Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act and, with respect to the annual consolidated financial statements only, a report thereon by the Company's independent auditors. The Company also shall comply with the other provisions of TIA Section 314(a).

 

Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only, and the Trustee's receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company's compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers' Certificates). The Company shall not be required to file any report or other information with the SEC if the SEC does not permit such filing, although such reports shall be furnished to the Trustee. Documents filed by the Company with the SEC via the SEC's EDGAR system (or any successor thereto) will be deemed furnished to the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities as of the time such documents are filed via EDGAR (or such successor).

 

SECTION 4.03. Compliance Certificate.

 

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within [ ] days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, an officers certificate signed by two of the Company's officers stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he may have knowledge in reasonable detail and the efforts to remedy the same). For purposes of this Section 4.03, compliance shall be determined without regard to any grace period or requirement of notice provided pursuant to the terms of this Indenture. 

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The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within [ ] days after the occurrence thereof, written notice in the form of an Officers' Certificate of any Event of Default described in Section 6.01(e), (f), (g) or (h) and any event of which it becomes aware that with the giving of notice or the lapse of time would become such an Event of Default, its status and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. For the avoidance of doubt, a breach of a covenant under an Instrument that is not a payment default and that has not given rise to a right of acceleration under such Instrument shall not trigger the requirement to provide notice under this paragraph.

 

SECTION 4.04. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.

 

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

 

SECTION 4.05. Corporate Existence.

 

Subject to Article V, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and the corporate, partnership or other existence of each Subsidiary in accordance with the respective organizational documents of each Subsidiary and the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any Subsidiary, if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders.

 

SECTION 4.06. Taxes.

 

The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay prior to delinquency all taxes, assessments and governmental levies, except as contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings.

 

SECTION 4.07. Additional Interest Notice.

 

In the event that the Company is required to pay additional interest to Holders of Securities pursuant to Section 6.02(b) hereof, the Company shall provide a direction or order in the form of a written notice to the Trustee (and if the Trustee is not the Paying Agent, the Paying Agent) of the Company's obligation to pay such additional interest no later than [ ] Business Days prior to date on which any such additional interest is scheduled to be paid. Such notice shall set forth the amount of additional interest to be paid by the Company on such payment date and direct the Trustee (or, if the Trustee is not the Paying Agent, the Paying Agent) to make payment to the extent it receives funds from the Company to do so. The Trustee shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder to determine whether additional interest is payable, or with respect to the nature, extent, or calculation of the amount of additional interest owed, or with respect to the method employed in such calculation of additional interest. 

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SECTION 4.08. Further Instruments and Acts.

 

The Company will execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purposes of this Indenture.

 

ARTICLE V

SUCCESSORS

 

SECTION 5.01. When Company May Merge, Etc.

 

The Company shall not consolidate with, enter into a binding share exchange, or merge into any other Person in a transaction in which it is not the surviving entity, or sell, assign, convey, transfer or lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person (a “successor person”), unless:

 

(a) the successor person (if any) is a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity organized and validly existing under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, [ ], the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia and expressly assumes by a supplemental indenture executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and any interest on, all Securities and the performance or observance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

 

(b) immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Default or Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

(c) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee, prior to the consummation of the proposed transaction, an Officers' Certificate to the foregoing effect and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the proposed transaction and such supplemental indenture comply with this Indenture.

 

SECTION 5.02. Successor Peron Substituted.

 

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 5.01, the successor person formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor person has been named as the Company herein; provided, however, that the predecessor company in the case of a sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company shall not be released from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities.

 

ARTICLE VI

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

SECTION 6.01. Events of Default.

 

“Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to securities of any Series, means any one of the following events, unless in the establishing Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers' Certificate, it is provided that such Series shall not have the benefit of said Event of Default:

 

(a) default in the payment of any interest on any Security of that Series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of such payment is deposited by the Company with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent prior to the expiration of such period of 30 days); or

 

(b) default in the payment of any principal of any Security of that Series at its Maturity; or 

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(c) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due in respect of any Security of that Series; or

 

(d) the Company fails to perform or comply with any of its other covenants or agreements contained in the Securities or in this Indenture (other than a covenant or agreement a default in whose performance or whose breach is specifically dealt with in clauses (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 6.01) and the default continues for 60 days after notice is given as specified below;

 

(e) any indebtedness under any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any Subsidiary or under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any indebtedness for money borrowed by, or any other payment obligation of, the Company or any Subsidiary (an “Instrument”) with a principal amount then, individually or in the aggregate, outstanding in excess of $[], whether such indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created, is not paid at Maturity or when otherwise due or is accelerated, and such indebtedness is not discharged, or such default in payment or acceleration is not cured or rescinded, within a period of 30 days after there shall have been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least [ ]% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series a written notice specifying such default and requiring the Company to cause such indebtedness to be discharged or cause such default to be cured or waived or such acceleration to be rescinded or annulled and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder. A payment obligation (other than indebtedness under any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any Subsidiary or under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any Subsidiary) shall not be deemed to have matured, come due, or been accelerated to the extent that it is being disputed by the relevant obligor or obligors in good faith. For the avoidance of doubt, the Maturity of an Instrument is the Maturity as set forth in that Instrument, as it may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms of that Instrument;

 

(f) the Company or any Subsidiary fails to pay one or more final and non-appealable judgments entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction, the aggregate uninsured or unbonded portion of which is in excess of $[ ], if the judgments are not paid, discharged, waived or stayed within [ ] days;

 

(g) the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

 

(i) commences a voluntary case or proceeding;

 

(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding;

 

(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

 

(v) or generally is unable to pay its debts as the same become due; or

 

(h) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

 

(i) is for relief against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in an involuntary case or proceeding;

 

(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for all or substantially all of the property of the Company or any such Subsidiary; or

 

(iii) orders the liquidation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; 

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and the case of each of clause (i), (ii) and (iii), the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for [ ] consecutive days; or

 

(i) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that Series, which is specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers' Certificate, in accordance with Section 2.02(i).

 

A default under clause (d) above is not an Event of Default until the Trustee notifies the Company, or the Holders of at least [ ]% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then outstanding notify the Company and the Trustee, in writing of the default, and the Company does not cure the default within 60 days after receipt of such notice. The notice given pursuant to this Section 6.01 must specify the default, demand that it be remedied and state that the notice is a “Notice of Default.” When any default under this Section 6.01 is cured, it ceases.

 

The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Event of Default unless written notice thereof shall have been given to a Trust Officer at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee by the Company, a Paying Agent, any Holder or any agent of any Holder.

 

SECTION 6.02. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

 

(a) If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (g) or (h) of Section 6.01) occurs and is continuing with respect to any Securities of any Series, then in every such case, the Trustee may, by notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that Series (or, if any Securities of that Series are Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such Securities) then outstanding may, by notice to the Company and the Trustee, declare all unpaid principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest on to the date of acceleration, the Securities of that Series then outstanding (if not then due and payable) to be due and payable upon any such declaration, and the same shall become and be immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in clause (g) or (h) of Section 6.01 occurs, all unpaid principal of the Securities then outstanding, and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of acceleration, shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that Series then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may rescind an acceleration of such Securities of that Series and its consequences if (a) all existing Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of the principal of the Securities which has become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived; (b) to the extent the payment of such interest is lawful, interest (calculated at the Default Rate) on overdue installments of interest and overdue principal, which has become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration, has been paid; (c) the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction; and (d) all payments due to the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under Section 7.07 have been made. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereto.

 

(b) Notwithstanding any of provision of this Article 6, at the election of the Company in its sole discretion, the sole remedy under this Indenture for an Event of Default relating to the failure to comply with Section 4.02, and for any failure to comply with the requirements of Section 314(a)(1) of the TIA, will consist, for the 180 days after the occurrence of such an Event of Default, exclusively of the right to receive additional interest on the Securities at a rate equal to 0.50% per annum of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities then outstanding up to, but not including, the 181st day thereafter (or, if applicable, the earlier date on which the Event of Default relating to Section 4.02 is cured or waived). Any such additional interest will be payable in the same manner and on the same dates as the stated interest payable on the Securities. In no event shall additional interest accrue under the terms of this Indenture at a rate in excess of 0.50% per annum, in the aggregate, for any violation or default caused by the failure of the Company to be current in respect of its Exchange Act reporting obligations. If the Event of Default is continuing on the 181st day after an Event of Default relating to a failure to comply with Section 4.02, the Securities will be subject to acceleration as provided in this Section 6.02. The provisions of this Section 6.02(b) will not affect the rights of Holders in the event of the occurrence of any other Events of Default.

 

In order to elect to pay additional interest as the sole remedy during the first 180 days after the occurrence of an Event of Default relating to the failure to comply with Section 4.02 in accordance with the immediately preceding paragraph, the Company shall notify all Holders and the Trustee and Paying Agent of such election on or before the close of business on the fifth Business Day after the date on which such Event of Default otherwise would occur. Upon a failure by the Company to timely give such notice or pay additional interest, the Securities will be immediately subject to acceleration as otherwise provided in this Section 6.02. 

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SECTION 6.03. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

 

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

 

If an Event of Default in the payment of principal, interest, if any, specified in clause (a) or (b) of Section 6.01 occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company or another obligor on the Securities for the whole amount of principal, and accrued interest remaining unpaid, if any, together with, to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest on overdue principal, on overdue installments of interest, if any, in each case at the Default Rate, and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

SECTION 6.04. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

 

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

 

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

 

(b) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same, and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07.

 

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

 

SECTION 6.05. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.

 

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

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SECTION 6.06. Application of Money Collected.

 

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

 

First: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07;

 

Second: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and interest on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest, respectively; and

 

Third: To the Company.

 

SECTION 6.07. Limitation on Suits.

 

No Holder of any Security of any Series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder (except actions for payment of overdue principal and interest), unless:

 

(a) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that Series;

 

(b) the Holders of not less than [ ]% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

 

(c) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

 

(d) the Trustee for [ ] days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

 

(e) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such [ ]-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series; it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders.

 

SECTION 6.08. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on such Security on the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

SECTION 6.09. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

 

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

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SECTION 6.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

 

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in Section 2.08, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

SECTION 6.11. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

 

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

 

SECTION 6.12. Control by Holders.

 

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such Series, provided that

 

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

 

(b) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction; and

 

(c) subject to the provisions of Section 6.01, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability or would be unduly prejudicial to the rights of another Holder or the Trustee.

 

SECTION 6.13. Waiver of Past Defaults.

 

Subject to Section 9.02, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such Series waive any past Default hereunder with respect to such Series and its consequences, except a Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security of such Series (provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration). Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

SECTION 6.14. Undertaking for Costs.

 

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Company, to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than [ ]% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security on or after the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date). 

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ARTICLE VII

TRUSTEE

 

SECTION 7.01. Duties of Trustee.

 

(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

 

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

 

(i) The Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied duties, covenants or obligations shall be deemed to be imposed upon the Trustee.

 

(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon Officers' Certificates or Opinions of Counsel furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; however, in the case of any such Officers' Certificates or Opinions of Counsel which by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine such Officers' Certificates and Opinions of Counsel to determine whether or not they conform on their face to the requirements of this Indenture.

 

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or willful misconduct, except that:

 

(i) This paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of Section 7.01 herein.

 

(ii) The Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer.

 

(iii) The Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it with respect to Securities of any Series in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series.

 

(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraph (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.

 

(e) The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power unless it receives an indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

 

(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. 

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(g) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to risk or expend its own funds or otherwise incur liability, financial or otherwise, in the performance of any of its duties, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or indemnity satisfactory to it against such risk is not reasonably assured to it.

 

(h) The Paying Agent, the Registrar and any authenticating agent shall be entitled to the same rights, indemnities, protections and immunities afforded to the Trustee.

 

(i) The Trustee shall have no duty to monitor the performance or compliance of the Company with its obligations hereunder or any under supplement hereto, nor shall it have any liability in connection with the malfeasance or nonfeasance by the Company. The Trustee shall have no liability in connection with compliance by the Company with statutory or regulatory requirements related to this Indenture, any supplement or any Securities issued pursuant hereto or thereto.

 

SECTION 7.02. Rights of Trustee.

 

(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely on and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting as a result of its reasonable belief that any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, direction, approval or other paper or document was genuine and had been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it sees fit.

 

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers' Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers' Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.

 

(c) The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of, or for the supervision of, any agent appointed with due care. No Depository shall be deemed an agent of the Trustee and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any act or omission by any Depository.

 

(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers.

 

(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

 

(f) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by or pursuant to this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders of Securities, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

 

SECTION 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee.

 

The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or an Affiliate with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

 

SECTION 7.04. Trustee's Disclaimer.

 

The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities and the recitals contained herein and in the Securities shall be taken as statements of the Company and not of the Trustee, and the Trustee has no responsibility for such recitals. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the Company's use or application of the proceeds from the Securities or for monies paid over to the Company pursuant to this Indenture, and it shall not be responsible for any statement in the Securities other than its authentication. 

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SECTION 7.05. Notice of Defaults.

 

If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Securities of any Series and if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has knowledge or receives written notice of such event, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder of the Securities of that Series, notice of a Default or Event of Default within [ ] days after it occurs or, if later, after a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge of such Default or Event of Default. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of or interest on any Security of any Series, including any additional interest that may become payable pursuant to Section 6.02(b), the Trustee may withhold the notice so long as the Trustee in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Securityholders of that Series.

 

SECTION 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders.

 

Within [ ] days after [ ] in each year, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear on the register kept by the Registrar, a brief report dated as of such [ ], in accordance with, and to the extent required under, TIA Section 313.

 

A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Securityholders of any Series shall be filed with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Securities of that Series are listed. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when Securities of any Series are listed on any stock exchange.

 

SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity.

 

The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation for its services as shall be agreed 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, disbursements and advances incurred by it. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee's agents, counsel and other persons not regularly in its employ.

 

The Company shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Trustee and its officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents, from and against and reimburse the Trustee for any and all claims, expenses, obligations, liabilities, losses, damages, injuries (to person, property, or natural resources), penalties, stamp or other similar taxes, actions, suits, judgments, reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorney's and agent's fees and expenses) of whatever kind or nature regardless of their merit, demanded, asserted or claimed against the Trustee directly or indirectly relating to, or arising from, claims against the Trustee by reason of its participation in the transactions contemplated hereby, including without limitation all reasonable costs required to be associated with claims for damages to persons or property, and reasonable attorneys' and consultants' fees and expenses and court costs except to the extent caused by the Trustee's negligence or willful misconduct. The provisions of this Section 7.07 shall survive the termination of this Agreement or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee. The Company shall defend any claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have 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 or delayed. This indemnification shall apply to officers, directors, employees, shareholders and agents of the Trustee.

 

The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss liability incurred by the Trustee or by any officer, director, employee, shareholder or agent of the Trustee through negligence or bad faith.

 

To secure the Company's payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities of any Series on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Securities of that Series.

 

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(f) or (g) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law. 

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SECTION 7.08. Replacement of Trustee.

 

A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee's acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section.

 

The Trustee may resign with respect to the Securities of one or more Series by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any Series may remove the Trustee with respect to that Series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company. The Company may remove the Trustee with respect to Securities of one or more Series if:

 

(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;

 

(b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

 

(c) a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

 

(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

 

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.

 

If a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any one or more Series does not take office within [ ] days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders of at least [ ]% in principal amount of the Securities of the applicable Series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Immediately after that, the retiring Trustee shall transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.07, and subject to the payment of any and all amounts then due and owing to the retiring Trustee, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee with respect to each Series of Securities for which it is acting as Trustee under this Indenture. A successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to each Securityholder of each such Series. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Company's obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring trustee with respect to expenses and liabilities incurred by it prior to such replacement.

 

SECTION 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

 

If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee with the same effect as if the successor Trustee had been named as the Trustee herein.

 

SECTION 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification.

 

This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA Section 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee shall always have a combined capital and surplus of at least $25,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA Section 310(b). 

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SECTION 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

 

The Trustee is subject to TIA Section 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA Section 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TTA Section 311(a) to the extent indicated.

 

ARTICLE VIII

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE

 

SECTION 8.01. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

 

This Indenture shall upon Company Order cease to be of further effect (except as hereinafter provided in this Section 8.01), and the Trustee, on the demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when

 

(a) either

 

(i) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(ii) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable, or

 

(1) have become due and payable, or

 

(2) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within [ ], or

 

(3) are to be called for redemption within [ ] under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, or

 

(4) are deemed paid and discharged pursuant to section 8.03, as applicable; and the Company, in the case of (1), (2) or (3) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust an amount sufficient for the purpose of paying and discharging the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable on or prior to the date of such deposit) or to the Stated Maturity or redemption date, as the case may be;

 

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

 

(c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each meeting the applicable requirements of Sections 10.04 and 10.05 and each stating that all conditions precedent herein relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with and the Trustee receives written demand from the Company to discharge.

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 7.07, and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (a) of this Section, the provisions of Sections 2.04, 2.07, 2.08, 8.01 8.02 and 8.05 shall survive.

 

SECTION 8.02. Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification.

 

(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 8.05, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.01, all money and U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.03 or 8.04 and all money received by the Trustee in respect of U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.03 or 8.04, shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the persons entitled thereto, of the principal and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the Trustee or to make mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments as contemplated by Sections 8.03 or 8.04. 

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(b) The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee and the Agents against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Sections 8.03 or 8.04 or the interest and principal received in respect of such obligations other than any payable by or on behalf of Holders.

 

(c) The Trustee shall, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, deliver or pay to the Company from time to time, upon Company Request and at the expense of the Company any U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations or money held by it pursuant to this Indenture as provided in Sections 8.03 or 8.04 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants, expressed in a written certification thereof and delivered to the Trustee together with such Company Request, are then in excess of the amount thereof which then would have been required to be deposited for the purpose for which such U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations or money were deposited or received. This provision shall not authorize the sale by the Trustee of any U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations held under this Indenture.

 

SECTION 8.03. Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series.

 

Unless this Section 8.03 is otherwise specified, pursuant to Section 2.02(s), to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the outstanding Securities of such Series on the [ ] day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (d) hereof, and the provisions of this Indenture, as it relates to such outstanding Securities of such Series, shall no longer be in effect (and the Trustee, at the expense of the company, shall, at Company Request, execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except as to:

 

(a) the rights of Holders of Securities of such Series to receive, from the trust funds described in subparagraph (d) hereof, (i) payment of the principal of and each installment of principal of and interest on the outstanding Securities of such Series on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest and (ii) the benefit of any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to the Securities of such Series on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Securities of such Series;

 

(b) the provisions of Sections 2.04, 2.07, 2.08, 2.14, 8.02, 8.03 and 8.05; and

 

(c) the rights, powers, trust and immunities of the Trustee hereunder; provided that, the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

 

(d) the Company shall have deposited or caused to be deposited irrevocably with the Paying Agent as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for and dedicated solely to the benefit of the Holders of such Securities in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars (or such other money or currencies as shall then be legal tender in the United States) and/or U.S. Government Obligations, or (ii) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in a Foreign Currency (other than a composite currency), money and/or Foreign Government Obligations, which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof, in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Paying Agent), not later than [ ] day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee and the Paying Agent, to pay and discharge each installment of principal (including mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments) of and interest, if any, on all the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of interest or principal are due; 

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(e) such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;

 

(f) no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or during the period ending on the [ ] day after such date;

 

(g) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred;

 

(h) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Securities of such Series over any other creditors of the company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company;

 

(i) such deposit shall not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended), or such trust shall be qualified under such Act or exempt from regulation thereunder; and

 

(j) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.

 

SECTION 8.04. Covenant Defeasance.

 

Unless this Section 8.04 is otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.02(s) to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, on and after the [ ] day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (a) hereof, the Company may omit to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth under Sections 4.02, 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, and 5.01 as well as any additional covenants contained in a supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series of Securities or a Board Resolution or an Officers' Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.02(s) (and the failure to comply with any such covenants shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default under Section 6.01) and the occurrence of any event described in clause (e) of Section 6.01 shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default hereunder, with respect to the Securities of such Series, provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

 

(a) With reference to this Section 8.04, the Company has deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 8.02(c)) with the Paying Agent as trust funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities (i) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars (or such other money or currencies as shall then be legal tender in the United States) and/or U.S. Government Obligations, or (ii) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in a Foreign Currency (other than a composite currency), money and/or Foreign Government Obligations, which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof, in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Paying Agent), not later than [ ] day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Paying Agent, to pay principal and interest, if any, on and any mandatory sinking fund in respect of the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of interest or principal are due; 

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(b) Such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;

 

(c) No Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or during the period ending on the [ ] day after such date;

 

(d) the company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred;

 

(e) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Securities of such Series over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company; and

 

(f) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.

 

SECTION 8.05. Repayment to Company.

 

The Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal and interest that remains unclaimed for two years. After that, Securityholders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another person and all liability of the Paying Agent with respect to that money shall cease.

 

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

 

SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of Holders.

 

The Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series without the consent of any Securityholder:

 

(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

 

(b) to comply with Article V;

 

(c) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;

 

(d) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder;

 

(e) to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of Securities of any Series as permitted by this Indenture;

 

(f) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more Series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee;

 

(g) to comply with requirements of the TIA and any rules promulgated under the TIA; and

 

(h) to add to the covenants of the Company for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right, power or option conferred upon the Company. 

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Any amendment or supplement made solely to conform the provisions of this Indenture or the Securities of any Series to the description thereof contained in the final prospectus relating to such Series will be deemed not to adversely affect the rights of any Holder.

 

SECTION 9.02. With Consent of Holders.

 

The Company and the Trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of all Series affected by such supplemental indenture, taken together as one class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series), for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Securityholders of each such Series. Except as provided in Section 6.13, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of all Series affected by such waiver by notice to the Trustee, taken together as one class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series) may waive compliance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities with respect to such Series.

 

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Securities under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. After a supplemental indenture or waiver under this section becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of Securities affected thereby a notice briefly describing the supplemental indenture or waiver. Any failure by the Company to mail or publish such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture or waiver.

 

SECTION 9.03. Limitations.

 

Without the consent of each Securityholder affected, an amendment or waiver may not:

 

(a) change the amount of Securities whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver, except to increase any such amount or to provide that certain provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified, amended or waived without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Security affected thereby;

 

(b) reduce the amount of interest, or change the interest payment time, on any Security;

 

(c) waive a redemption payment or alter the redemption provisions (other than any alteration that would not materially adversely affect the legal rights of any Holder under this Indenture) or the price at which the Company is required to offer to purchase the Securities;

 

(d) reduce the principal or change the Stated Maturity of any Security or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation;

 

(e) reduce the principal amount payable of any Security upon Maturity;

 

(f) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of or interest, if any, on any Security (except a rescission of acceleration of the Securities of any Series by the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

 

(g) change the place or currency of payment of principal of or interest, if any, on any Security other than that stated in the Security;

 

(h) impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal or, or interest on, the Securities of such Holder on or after the due dates therefor; 

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(i) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on, or with respect to, any Security;

 

(j) make any change in Sections 10.15 or 10.16;

 

(k) change the ranking of the Securities; or

 

(l) make any other change which is specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers' Certificate as a limitation under this Section.

 

SECTION 9.04. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.

 

Every amendment to this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series shall be set forth in a supplemental indenture hereto that complies with the TIA as then in effect.

 

SECTION 9.05. Revocation and Effect of Consents.

 

Until an amendment or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder's Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his Security or portion of a Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date the amendment or waiver becomes effective.

 

Any amendment or waiver once effective shall bind every Securityholder of each Series affected by such amendment or waiver unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (a) through (g) of Section 9.03 in that case, the amendment or waiver shall bind each Holder of a Security who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder's Security.

 

SECTION 9.06. Notation on or Exchange of Securities.

 

If an amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Security, the Trustee may require the Holder of the Security to deliver it to the Trustee and the Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Security about the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Company or the Trustee so determines, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate upon request new Securities of that Series that reflect the changed terms.

 

SECTION 9.07. Trustee Protected.

 

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel or an Officer's Certificate, or both stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee shall sign all supplemental indentures, except that the Trustee need not sign any supplemental indenture that adversely affects its rights, duties or indemnities.

 

SECTION 9.08. Effect of Supplemental Indenture.

 

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

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ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS

 

SECTION 10.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls.

 

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with another provision which is required or deemed to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, such required or deemed provision shall control.

 

SECTION 10.02. Notices.

 

Any notice or communication by the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar to another is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail:

 

if to the Company:

 

Dynagas LNG Partners LP

[ ]

 

if to the Trustee:

 

[ ]
Attn: [ ]
Fax: [ ]

 

if to the Registrar or Paying Agent:

 

[ ] 

Attn: [ ] 

Fax: [ ] 


with copy to: 


[ ] 

Attn: [ ] 

Fax: [ ] 

 

The Company, the Trustee and each Agent by notice to each other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

 

Any notice or communication to a Securityholder shall be mailed by first-class mail to his address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Securityholder of any Series or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Securityholders of that or any other Series.

 

If a notice or communication is mailed or published in the manner provided above, within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the Securityholder receives it.

 

If the company mails a notice or communication to Securityholders, it will mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

 

Whenever a notice is required to be given by the Company, such notice may be given by the Trustee or Registrar on the Company's behalf (and the Company will make any notice it is required to give to Holders available on its website). 

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SECTION 10.03. Communication by Holders with Other Holders.

 

Securityholders of any Series may communicate pursuant to TIA Section 312(b) with other Securityholders of that Series or any other Series with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities of that Series or all Series. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA Section 312(c).

 

SECTION 10.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

 

Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:

 

(a) an Officers' Certificate stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

 

(b) an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of counsel, all such conditions precedent (including any covenants, compliance with which constitutes a condition precedent) have been complied with.

 

SECTION 10.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

 

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA Section 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA Section 314(e) and shall include:

 

(a) a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

 

(b) 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;

 

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

 

(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

provided, however, that with respect to matters of fact an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officers' Certificate or certificates of public officials.

 

SECTION 10.06. Record Date for Vote or Consent of Holders.

 

The Company (or, in the event deposits have been made pursuant to Section 11.02, the Trustee) may set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders entitled to vote or consent to any action by vote or consent authorized or permitted under this Indenture, which record date shall not be more than [ ] days prior to the date of the commencement of solicitation of such action. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9.05, if a record date is fixed, those persons who were Holders of Securities at the close of business on such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those persons, shall be entitled to take such action by vote or consent or to revoke any vote or consent previously given, whether or not such persons continue to be Holders after such record date.

 

SECTION 10.07. Rules by Trustee and Agents.

 

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Securityholders of one or more Series. Any Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions. 

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SECTION 10.08. Legal Holidays.

 

Unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers' Certificate or supplemental indenture for a particular Series, a “Legal Holiday” is any day that is not a Business Day. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.

 

SECTION 10.09. No Recourse Against Others.

 

A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Securityholder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.

 

SECTION 10.10. Counterparts.

 

This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

SECTION 10.11. Governing Laws and Submission to Jurisdiction.

 

THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK EXCLUDING ANY RULE OF LAW THAT WOULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

The Company agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Indenture may be instituted in any federal or state court sitting in New York City, and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding, and irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such court in any suit, action or proceeding. The Company, as long as any Securities remain outstanding or the parties hereto have any obligation under this Indenture, shall have an authorized agent in the United States upon whom process may be served in any such legal action or proceeding. Service of process upon such agent and written notice of such service mailed or delivered to it shall to the extent permitted by law be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon it in any such legal action or proceeding and, if it fails to maintain such agent, any such process or summons may be served by mailing a copy thereof by registered mail, or a form of mail substantially equivalent thereto, addressed to it at its address as provided for notices hereunder. The Company hereby appoints Watson Farley & Williams LLP, 120 West 45th Street, 20th Floor, New York, New York 10036, as its agent for such purposes, and covenants and agrees that service of process in any legal action or proceeding may be made upon it at such office of such agent.

 

SECTION 10.12. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

 

This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or a Subsidiary. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

 

SECTION 10.13. Successors.

 

All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successor. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.

 

SECTION 10.14. Severability.

 

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

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SECTION 10.15. Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.

 

The Table of Contents, Cross Reference Table, and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

SECTION 10.16. Securities in a Foreign Currency or in ECU.

 

Unless otherwise specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers' Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.02 of this Indenture with respect to a particular Series of Securities, whenever for purposes of this Indenture any action may be taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of Securities of all Series or all Series affected by a particular action at the time outstanding and, at such time, there are outstanding Securities of any Series which are denominated in a coin or currency other than Dollars (including ECUs), then the principal amount of Securities of such Series which shall be deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of taking such action shall be that amount of Dollars that could be obtained for such amount at the Market Exchange Rate at such time. For purposes of this Section 10.16, “Market Exchange Rate” shall mean the noon Dollar buying rate in New York City for cable transfers of that currency as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; provided, however, in the case of ECUs, Market Exchange Rate shall mean the rate of exchange determined by the Commission of the European Union (or any successor thereto) as published in the Official Journal of the European Union (such publication or any successor publication, the “Journal”). If such Market Exchange Rate is not available for any reason with respect to such currency, the Trustee shall use, without liability on its part, such quotation of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or, in the case of ECUs, the rate of exchange as published in the Journal, as of the most recent available date, or quotations or, in the case of ECUs, rates of exchange from one or more major banks in The City of New York or in the country of issue of the currency in question or, in the case of ECUs, in Luxembourg or such other quotations or, in the case of ECUs, rates of exchange as the Trustee, upon consultation with the Company, shall deem appropriate. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply in determining the equivalent principal amount in respect of Securities of a Series denominated in currency other than Dollars in connection with any action taken by Holders of Securities pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

 

All decisions and determinations of the Trustee regarding the Market Exchange Rate or any alternative determination provided for in the preceding paragraph shall be in its sole discretion and shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive to the extent permitted by law for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Company and all Holders.

 

SECTION 10.17. Judgment Currency.

 

The Company agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of or interest or other amount on the Securities of any Series (the “Required Currency”) into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the “Judgment Currency”), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered, unless such day is not a New York Banking Day, then, the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the New York Banking Day preceding the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with subsection (a)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable, and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture. For purposes of the foregoing, “New York Banking Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in The City of New York on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close. 

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SECTION 10.18. Compliance with Applicable Anti-Terrorism and Money Laundering Regulations.

 

In order to comply with the laws, rules, regulations and executive orders in effect from time to time applicable to banking institutions, including those relating to the funding of terrorist activities and money laundering (“Applicable Law”), the Trustee is required to obtain, verify and record certain information relating to individuals and entities which maintain a business relationship with the Trustee. Accordingly, each of the parties agree to provide to the Trustee, upon its request from time to time such identifying information and documentation as may be available for such party in order to enable the Trustee to comply with the Applicable Law.

 

ARTICLE XI

SINKING FUNDS

 

SECTION 11.01. Applicability of Article.

 

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of the Securities of a Series, except as otherwise permitted or required by any form of Security of such Series issued pursuant to this Indenture.

 

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of the Securities of any Series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment” and any other amount provided for by the terms of Securities of such Series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of Securities of any Series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 11.02. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any Series as provided for by the terms of the securities of such Series.

 

SECTION 11.02. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

 

The Company may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of any Series to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities (1) deliver outstanding Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable (other than any of such Securities previously called for mandatory sinking fund redemption) and (2) apply as credit Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable and which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Series of Securities (except pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund) or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments or other optional redemptions pursuant to the terms of such Securities, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received by the Registrar, together with an Officers' Certificate with respect thereto, not later than [ ] days prior to the date on which the Registrar begins the process of selecting Securities for redemption, and shall be credited for such purpose by the Registrar at the price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly. If as a result of the delivery or credit of Securities in lieu of cash payments pursuant to this Section 11.02, the principal amount of Securities of such Series to be redeemed in order to exhaust the aforesaid cash payment shall be less than $[], the Registrar need not call Securities of such Series for redemption, except upon receipt of a Company Order that such action be taken, and such cash payment shall be held by the Paying Agent and applied to the next succeeding sinking fund payment, provided, however, that the Paying Agent shall from time to time upon receipt of a Company Order pay over and deliver to the Company any cash payment so being held by the Paying Agent upon delivery by the Company to the Registrar of Securities of that Series purchased by the Company having an unpaid principal amount equal to the cash payment required to be released to the Company. 

36

SECTION 11.03. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

 

Not less than [ ] days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers' Certificate in respect of a particular Series of Securities) prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee and the Paying Agent an Officers' Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that Series pursuant to the terms of that Series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting of Securities of that Series pursuant to Section 11.02., and the optional amount, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified. Not less than [ ] days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, Officers' Certificate or supplemental indenture in respect of a particular Series of Securities) before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.02 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.03. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall stated in Sections 3.04, 3.05 and 3.06.

 

[The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank

37

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

DYNAGAS LNG PARTNERS LP    
By:        
Name:        
Its:    
[ ]    
as Trustee    
By:        
Name:        
Its:    
By:        
Name:        
Its:    
[ ]    
as Registrar and Paying Agent    
By:        
Name:        
Its:    
By:        
Name:        
Its:    

 

38

 


Exhibit 5.1


Dynagas LNG Partners LP
Poseidonos Avenue and Foivis 2 Street
16674 Glyfada, Athens, Greece

August 1, 2024

Re: Dynagas LNG Partners LP

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Dynagas LNG Partners LP, a limited partnership organized under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (the “Partnership”) and its subsidiaries listed on Schedule A hereto (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”) in connection with the Partnership’s registration statement on Form F-3 (such registration statement as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Registration Statement”) initially filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) on August 1, 2024, with respect to the registration of (i) up to an aggregate of $350,000,000 of securities, including common units (“Common Units”) and other classes of units (“Other Units”), each representing limited partner interests in the Partnership, debt securities of the Partnership (“Debt Securities”), guarantees of Debt Securities that are made by the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors (“Guarantees”), warrants to purchase the Partnership’s securities (“Warrants”), rights to purchase the Partnership’s securities (the “Rights”), and purchase contracts to purchase the Partnership’s securities (the “Purchase Contracts” and together with the Common Units, Other Units, Debt Securities, Guarantees, Warrants, and Rights, the “Primary Securities”) and (ii) an aggregate of 15,595,000 common units of the Partnership (the “Secondary Units” and, together with the Primary Securities, the “Securities”) to be offered by the selling shareholder named in the Prospectus (defined below).

The Debt Securities will be issued in one or more series pursuant to a Base Indenture (as defined below) to be entered into among the Partnership and a trustee to be named therein (the “Trustee”). Each such Base Indenture is to be supplemented, in connection with the issuance of each such series, by a supplemental indenture, or other writing thereunder, establishing the form and terms of such series (together with the applicable Base Indenture, an “Indenture”). The Guarantees, if any, with respect to any series of Debt Securities will be issued under such Indenture, to which each guarantor providing a Guarantee of the Debt Securities of such series shall be party.

As such counsel, we have examined originals or copies (certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction) of the following documents:


(i)
the Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein (the “Prospectus”);


 
Page 2

(ii)
the form of Senior Indenture and the form of Subordinated Indenture, each as filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (each, a “Base Indenture”);


(iii)
the Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership (the “Partnership Agreement”);


(iv)
the Partnership’s Certificate of Limited Partnership (together with the Partnership Agreement, the “Organizational Documents”) filed with the Republic of the Marshall Islands pursuant to the Marshall Islands Limited Partnership Act in connection with the formation of the Partnership;


(v)
other formation documents and agreements, as applicable, of the Subsidiary Guarantors; and


(vi)
such other documents and records of the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors and such other instruments, certificates and documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed.

In such examinations, we have assumed (a) the legal competence or capacity of persons or entities (other than the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors organized under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands or Delaware) to complete the execution of documents, (b) the genuineness of all signatures and the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, (c) the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as conformed or photostatic copies, (d) that the documents reviewed by us in connection with the rendering of the opinions set forth herein are true, correct and complete, and (e) the truthfulness of each statement as to all factual matters contained in any document or certificate encompassed within the due diligence review undertaken by us. As to matters of fact material to this opinion that have not been independently established, we have relied upon the representations and certificates of officers or representatives of the Partnership and its general partner, Dynagas GP LLC, a Marshall Islands limited liability company (the “General Partner”), and of public officials, in each case as we have deemed relevant and appropriate. We have not independently verified the facts so relied on.

We have further assumed for the purposes of this opinion, without investigation, that:


(i)
the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto, will have become effective;


(ii)
a Prospectus, including any supplement or amendment thereto, will have been prepared and filed with the Commission describing the Securities offered thereby;


(iii)
all Securities will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and in compliance with all terms, conditions and restrictions set forth in the Prospectus including any supplement or amendment thereto, and all of the instruments, agreements and other documents relating thereto or executed in connection therewith;


 
Page 3

(iv)
all documents contemplated by the Prospectus, including any supplement or amendment thereto, to be executed in connection with the offer and sale of Securities will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the parties thereto;


(v)
a definitive purchase agreement, underwriting agreement or similar agreement with respect to any Securities offered will have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the applicable registrants and the other parties thereto;


(vi)
the terms of the offer and sale of Securities will comply in all respects with the terms, conditions and restrictions set forth in the Prospectus including any supplement or amendment thereto, and all of the instruments, agreements and other documents relating thereto or executed in connection therewith;


(vii)
the definitive terms of any Security, other than Common Units, offered pursuant to the Registration Statement will have been established in accordance with resolutions of the board of directors of the Partnership and, if applicable, the General Partner, and the requisite holders of any Other Units (if applicable), the Organizational Documents and applicable law.


(viii)
all Securities, including Securities issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Security being offered, will be duly authorized and, if appropriate, reserved for issuance upon such conversion, exchange or exercise; and


(ix)
Fareastern Shipping Limited, a Subsidiary Guarantor that is organized under the laws of Malta, is validly existing and has the requisite power to enter into the authorize the applicable Indenture and issue a Guarantee thereunder.

With respect to the issuance and sale of Other Units, we have further assumed that an appropriate certificate of designations or similar instrument setting forth the preferential, deferred, qualified or special rights, powers, privileges, conditions or duties with respect to such series of Other Units, or an amendment to the Organizational Documents, will have been duly adopted and fixed by the Board of Directors of the Partnership and, if applicable, the General Partner and the holders of Other Units, all in conformity with the requirements of the Organizational Documents.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:


1.
The Partnership is validly existing under Marshall Islands law.


2.
The Partnership and each Subsidiary Guarantor has the power to enter into each Indenture and the issue a Guarantee thereunder.


3.
With respect to the Common Units, when (i) the Partnership has taken all necessary action to approve the terms and issuance of such Common Units, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters and (ii) the Common Units have been issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Partnership and upon payment of the consideration thereof as provided for therein, then the Common Units will be validly issued and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 30, 41, 51 and 60 of the Marshall Islands Limited Partnership Act).


 
Page 4

4.
With respect to the Other Units, when (i) the Partnership has taken all necessary action to approve the terms and issuance of such Other Units, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters and (ii) the Other Units have been issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Partnership and upon payment of the consideration thereof as provided for therein, then the Other Units will be validly issued and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 30, 41, 51 and 60 of the Marshall Islands Limited Partnership Act), and if the Other Units are convertible or exchangeable into Common Units or other Other Units, then such resulting Common Units or Other Units upon conversion will be (subject to compliance with the requirements set forth in this Paragraph and Paragraph 3 above) validly issued and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 30, 41, 51 and 60 of the Marshall Islands Limited Partnership Act).


5.
The Secondary Units have been duly authorized and are validly issued and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 30, 41, 51 and 60 of the Marshall Islands Limited Partnership Act).


6.
With respect to the Debt Securities and related Guarantees, (A) when (i) the applicable Indenture has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors, as applicable, and the Trustee thereunder, (ii) the applicable Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “TIA”), and a Form T-1 shall have been filed with the Commission and become effective under the TIA with respect to the Trustee executing the applicable Indenture; (iii) the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors, as applicable, have taken all necessary action to approve the issuance and terms of such Debt Securities and related Guarantees, if any, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters; and (iv) such Debt Securities and related Guarantees, if any, have been duly created, executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Indenture and the other applicable definitive purchase, underwriting, or similar agreement approved by the Partnership and as contemplated in the Prospectus or prospectus supplement related thereto, against payment of the consideration therefor as provided for therein, such Debt Securities will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Partnership, and the related Guarantees, if any, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Partnership and Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, in each case, enforceable against the Partnership and each Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, in accordance with their terms, except as such enforcement may be subject to any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance or other law relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity, and (B) if the Debt Securities issued by the Partnership are convertible or exchangeable into Common Units or Other Units, then such resulting Common Units or Other Units will be (subject to compliance with the requirements set forth in this Paragraph and Paragraphs 3 and 4 above), validly issued and non-assessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 30, 41, 51 and 60 of the Marshall Islands Limited Partnership Act).


 
Page 5

7.
With respect to the Warrants, Rights and Purchase Contracts (together, the “Subscription Securities”), (A) when (i) the Partnership has taken all necessary action to approve the issuance and terms of such Subscription Securities, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters; and (ii) such Subscription Securities have been duly executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the applicable warrant agreement, rights agreement, purchase contract, or similar agreement and in accordance with the provisions of the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting, or similar agreement approved by the Partnership and as contemplated in the Prospectus or prospectus supplement related thereto, against payment of the consideration therefor as provided for therein, such Subscription Securities will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Partnership, enforceable against the Partnership in accordance with their terms, except as such enforcement may be subject to any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance or other law relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and general principles of equity, and (B) if Common Units or Other Units are issuable under any Subscription Securities, then such issuable Common Units or Other Units upon exercise, conversion or otherwise a part thereof will be (subject to compliance with the requirements set forth in this Paragraph and Paragraphs 3 and 4 above), validly issued and nonassessable (except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 30, 41, 51 and 60 of the Marshall Islands Limited Partnership Act).

This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of New York (with respect to paragraphs 6(A) and 7(A)) and to the Delaware General Corporation Law (with respect to paragraph 2), and the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (with respect to paragraphs 1-5, 6(B) and 7(B)) as in effect on the date hereof. Insofar as the opinions expressed herein depend on matters governed under the laws of Malta, we have relied on the opinion of Gauci-Maistre Xynou, filed as Exhibit 5.2 to the Registration Statement. This opinion is as of the date hereof and we have no responsibility to update this opinion for events and circumstances occurring after the date hereof or as to facts relating to prior events that are subsequently brought to our attention.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and to each reference to us and the discussions of advice provided by us under the headings “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus, without admitting we are “experts” within the meaning of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder with respect to any part of the Registration Statement.

Very truly yours,

Watson Farley & Williams LLP

/s/ Watson Farley & Williams LLP


 
Page 6
Schedule A

Dynagas Finance Inc.
Dynagas Operating GP LLC
Dynagas Operating L.P.
Dynagas Equity Holding Ltd.
Arctic LNG Carriers Ltd.
Dynagas Finance LLC.
Fareastern Shipping Limited
Lance Shipping S.A.
Navajo Marine Limited
Pegasus Shipholding S.A.
Seacrown Maritime Ltd
Solana Holding Ltd



Exhibit 5.2
01 August 2024

Dynagas LNG Partners LP
Poseidonos Avenue & 2 Foivis Street
166 74 Glyfada, Athens, Greece

Re: Fareastern Shipping Limited

We, Gauci-Maistre Xynou have acted as Maltese counsel to Dynagas LNG Partners LP (the “Partnership”) in respect of the legal personality and capacity of the Partnership’s subsidiary, i.e. Fareastern Shipping Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of Malta on 24 February 2011 with company registration number C 52103 and having its registered office at 147/1 St. Lucia Street, Valletta, VLT 1185, Malta (the “Company”), in connection with the filing of a Registration Statement on Form F-3 (the “Registration Statement”) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) by the Partnership and certain of its subsidiaries identified therein (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”), which includes the Company, on 01 August 2024. The Registration Statement is being filed pursuant the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”) and relates to the offering of securities that may be issued and sold by the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act. Such securities include, among others, debt securities of the Partnership (“Debt Securities”) and guarantees of Debt Securities that are made by the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantors (the “Guarantees”).

The Debt Securities will be issued in one or more series pursuant to a Base Indenture (as defined below) to be entered into among the Partnership and a trustee to be named therein (the “Trustee”). Each such Base Indenture is to be supplemented, in connection with the issuance of each such series, by a supplemental indenture, or other writing thereunder, establishing the form and terms of such series (together with the applicable Base Indenture, an “Indenture”). The Guarantees, if any, with respect to any series of Debt Securities will be issued under such Indenture, to which each guarantor providing a Guarantee of the Debt Securities of such series shall be party.

This opinion is being rendered subject to the Letter of Engagement entered into with the Partnership on 24 July 2024.

Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings given to them in the documents examined as below specified.

This opinion is being rendered subject to the assumptions mentioned hereunder.

1.
For the purposes of giving this legal opinion we have received the following:
(a)
A draft copy of the Registration Statement;

(b)
The forms of Senior Indenture and Subordinated Indenture, each as filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (each, a “Base Indenture”);
For the purposes of giving this legal opinion we have examined the following:
(c)
A copy of the Certificate of Registration of the Company issued pursuant to regulation 18 of Merchant Shipping Act, Chapter 234 of the laws of Malta, Merchant Shipping (Shipping Organisations-Private Companies) Regulations, 2004 (attached hereto as Annex “A”);
(d)
A copy of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company, registered on 24 February 2011 (attached hereto as Annex “B”);
(e)
A scanned copy of the resolution in writing signed by the sole director of the Company dated 1 August 2024 (attached hereto as Annex “C”).
2.
Searches of public records
We have carried out a search in respect of the Company at the Malta Business Registry which we considered appropriate in support of the opinions expressed herein.

3.
Assumptions
In rendering this opinion, we have assumed without further enquiry:

General

(a)
The authenticity of all documents received as listed at clause 1 of this opinion;
(b)
That no proceedings for the dissolution of the Partnership and the Company, insolvency proceedings, arrangements, compositions, recovery proceedings or any other analogous proceedings have been commenced by or against the Partnership and the Company in Malta or elsewhere, as at the date of this opinion;
(c)
The due execution, completeness and conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies;
(d)
That the facts described in this opinion are true and correct as at the date of this opinion;
(e)
That the resolution referred to in sub-clause 1.e above, was duly convened and held, that those present at any such meetings acted bona fide throughout, that was duly passed and that no further resolutions have been passed, or corporate or other action taken which would or might alter the effectiveness thereof, and that as at the date of this opinion the resolutions have not been repealed or amended;
(f)
The legal capacity of natural persons;
(g)
The validity and enforceability of any documents regulated by any law other than the laws of Malta; and

(h)
That no other person has been appointed by the Board of Directors to represent the Company in a particular case or cases or classes of cases, as at the date of this opinion.
Debt Securities and Guarantees

(i)
at the time any Debt Securities and Guarantees are sold pursuant to the Registration Statement (the “Relevant Time”), the Registration Statement and any supplements and amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) will be effective and will comply with all applicable laws;
(j)
at the Relevant Time, a prospectus supplement will have been prepared and filed with the Commission describing the Debt Securities and Guarantees offered thereby and all related documentation and will comply with all applicable laws;
(k)
all Debt Securities and Guarantees will be issued and sold in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the applicable prospectus supplement;
(l)
at the Relevant Time, the Board of Directors of the Partnership will have taken all necessary company action to authorize the issuance of the Debt Securities and any other securities issuable on the conversion, exchange, redemption or exercise thereof, and to authorize the terms of the offering and sale of such Debt Securities and related matters;
(m)
Relevant Time, the Board of Directors or other governing body of each Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, will have taken all necessary corporate or other organizational action to authorize the issuance of the Guarantee to be issued by such Subsidiary Guarantor, and to authorize the terms of the offering and sale of such Guarantee and related matters;
(n)
at the Relevant Time, a definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement and any other necessary agreement with respect to any Debt Securities and Guarantees offered or issued will have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action of the Company and/or each applicable Subsidiary Guarantor and duly executed and delivered by the Company, each such Subsidiary Guarantor and the other parties thereto; and
(o)
at the Relevant Time, the relevant trustee shall have been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “TIA”), a Statement of Eligibility of the applicable indenture trustee on Form T-1 shall have been properly filed with the Commission and the Indenture shall have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and all other parties thereto and duly qualified under the TIA.

4.
Opinion
Based on, subject to and in reliance upon the assumptions set forth above and subject to the qualifications in this letter set forth and contained, and subject to any factual matters not disclosed to us in the course of our examination, and following such investigation as we have deemed necessary, and after having examined such corporate and other documents and records as we have considered relevant or appropriate for the purpose of giving the opinions set out below, and having regard to the applicable law in force in Malta, it is our considered opinion that:

4.1.
As appears from the Certificate of Registration, the Company is duly registered with the Malta Business Registry as a single member, private company in accordance with the Laws of Malta with the name Fareastern Shipping Limited and company registration number C52103 and is regulated by the Merchant Shipping (Shipping Organisations-Private Companies) Regulations, 2004.
In terms of regulation 18 of Merchant Shipping Act, Chapter 234 of the laws of Malta, Merchant Shipping (Shipping Organisations-Private Companies) Regulations, 2004, a Certificate of Registration given in respect of a company is conclusive evidence that the requirements of the Merchant Shipping (Shipping Organisations - Private Companies) Regulations and of matters precedent and incidental to it have been complied with and that the Company is duly registered as a private company in that terms;
4.2.
As appears from clause 8.b of the Company’s Memorandum of Association, the legal representation of the Company is vested in anyone director of the Company or in any person or persons which the Board of Directors may from time to time nominate and appoint to represent the Company for any purpose;
4.3.
The Company is duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of the Republic of Malta with all requisite power and authority to authorize the applicable Indenture and the issuance of a Guarantee thereunder;
4.4.
With respect to Guarantees, the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the applicable Indenture and the issuance by the Company of any Guarantee thereunder will be duly authorized by all necessary corporate action when (a) the specific terms of a particular series of Debt Securities and related Guarantees have been duly established in accordance with the terms of such Indenture and authorized and approved by the Board of Directors of Company; and (b) the series of Debt Securities to which the Guarantee(s) relate shall have been duly issued by the Partnership.

5.
Reliance
5.1.
This opinion is limited to the laws of Malta as at the date hereof and is given on the basis of our knowledge of that law as of that date. We do not assume any obligation to advise any person entitled to rely on this opinion of any subsequent change in, or in the interpretation of, the laws of Malta or if we become aware of any facts or circumstances that might change the opinion expressed herein after the date hereof. We express no opinion on the law of any jurisdiction other than Malta and with respect to the laws of any country which may apply.
5.2.
This opinion is strictly limited to the matters stated in it and does not apply by implication or otherwise to any other matters.
5.3.
Watson Farley & Williams LLP of 120 West 45th Street, 20th Floor, New York, New York 10036, may rely on this opinion as if it were addressed and had been delivered by us to it on the date hereof.
6.
Consent
6.1.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.2 to the Registration Statement, the discussion of this opinion in the Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the title “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under the Act, or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
Yours Faithfully,
Despoina Xynou
Partner of Gauci-Maistre Xynou























Exhibit 8.1


August 1, 2024
Dynagas LNG Partners LP
97 Poseidonos Avenue and 2 Foivis Street166 74 Glyfada, Athens, Greece

Re: Dynagas LNG Partners LP: Exhibit 8.1 Opinion

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Dynagas LNG Partners LP, a limited partnership organized under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (the "Partnership") in connection with the Partnership's registration statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333- ) (such registration statement as amended or supplemented from time to time) (the "Registration Statement") as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, relating to the registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") of up to an aggregate of $350,000,000 of the Partnership's securities, plus 15,595,000 of the Partnership's common units that may be sold by the selling unitholder named therein.

In rendering this opinion, we have examined originals or copies (certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction) of the following documents:

(i)
the Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein (as amended and supplemented, the "Prospectus"), including the Partnership’s annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (the "Annual Report") incorporated by reference therein; and

(ii)
such other papers, documents, agreements, certificates of public officials and certificates of representatives of the Partnership, as we have deemed relevant and necessary as the basis for the opinions hereafter expressed.

In such examination, we have assumed (a) the legal capacity of each natural person, (b) the genuineness of all signatures and the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, (c) the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as conformed or photostatic copies, (d) that the documents reviewed by us in connection with the rendering of the opinion set forth herein are true, correct and complete and (e) the truthfulness of each statement as to all factual matters contained in any document or certificate encompassed within the due diligence review undertaken by us.

As to matters of fact material to this opinion that have not been independently established, we have relied upon the representations and certificates of public officials, directors and officers of the Partnership and others, in each case as we have deemed relevant and appropriate.  We have not independently verified the facts so relied on.


Page 2



We have reviewed the discussion set forth in the Annual Report under the heading “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation—United States Tax Considerations—U. S. Federal Income Taxation of U.S. Holders”. Based on the representations, covenants, assumptions, conditions and qualifications described in such section, and taking into account the fact that the discussions set forth in such section do not purport to discuss all possible U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the Partnership’s common units, and subject to the qualifications, limitations and assumptions set forth herein, we confirm that the discussions set forth in such section, to the extent they constitute summaries of law or legal conclusions, unless otherwise noted, constitute our opinion with respect to the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the Partnership’s common units as of the date of the Registration Statement, and accurately state our views as to the tax matters discussed therein (except for the representations and statements of fact of the Partnership included under such caption, as to which we express no opinion). We express no opinion as to any U.S. federal income tax consequences other than the opinion set forth above. Except as set forth in the paragraph below concerning Marshall Islands tax considerations, we express no opinion with respect to tax consequences under any state, local, or non-U.S. tax law.

We have reviewed the discussion set forth in the Annual Report under the heading “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation—Non-United States Tax Considerations—Marshall Islands Tax Consequences”. Based on the facts as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and having regard to legal considerations which we deem relevant, and subject to the qualifications, limitations and assumptions set forth herein, we confirm that the statements in such discussion, to the extent they constitute legal conclusions, unless otherwise noted, are the opinion of Watson Farley & Williams LLP with respect to Marshall Islands tax consequences as of the date of the Prospectus (except for the representations and statements of fact of the Partnership included under such caption, as to which we express no opinion).

Our opinions and the tax discussion as set forth in the Registration Statement are based on the current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, published pronouncements of the Internal Revenue Service which may be cited or used as precedents and case law, and the law of the Republic of the Marshall Islands as in effect on the date hereof, any of which may be changed at any time with retroactive effect. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof, and we are under no obligation to supplement or revise our opinion to reflect any legal developments or factual matters arising subsequent to the date hereof or the impact of any information, document, certificate, record, statement, representation, covenant, or assumption relied upon herein that becomes incorrect or untrue.

We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, the discussion of this opinion in the Registration Statement and to the references to our firm in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.  In giving this consent, we do not hereby 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 promulgated thereunder, nor do we admit that we are experts with respect to any part of the Registration Statement within the meaning of the term “expert” as used in the Securities Act.

Very truly yours,

Watson Farley & Williams LLP

/s/ Watson Farley & Williams LLP





Exhibit 22.1
LIST OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS
From time to time, the subsidiaries of Dynagas LNG Partners LP (the “Partnership”) listed in the table below may be guarantors of debt securities issued by the Partnership pursuant to the registration statement on Form F-3 to which this list is filed as an exhibit.

Name
 
Organization
Dynagas Operating LP
 
Marshall Islands
Dynagas Operating GP LLC
 
Marshall Islands
Dynagas Equity Holding Limited
 
Marshall Islands
Pegasus Shipholding S.A.
 
Marshall Islands
Seacrown Maritime Ltd.
 
Marshall Islands
Lance Shipping S.A.
 
Marshall Islands
Fareastern Shipping Limited
 
Malta
Dynagas Finance Inc.
 
Marshall Islands
Navajo Marine Limited
 
Marshall Islands
Solana Holding Ltd.
 
Marshall Islands
Arctic LNG Carriers Ltd.
 
Marshall Islands
Dynagas Finance LLC
 
Delaware



Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in the Registration Statement (Form F-3) and related Prospectus of Dynagas LNG Partners LP for the registration of $350,000,000 of common and other classes of units representing limited partner interests, debt securities and guarantees, warrants, rights, purchase contracts and 15,595,000 common units representing limited partner interests offered by the selling unitholder, and to the incorporation by reference therein of our report dated April 26, 2024, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Dynagas LNG Partners LP included in its Annual Report (Form 20-F) for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

/s/ Ernst & Young (Hellas) Certified Auditors Accountants S.A.

Athens, Greece

August 1, 2024


Exhibit 23.3

August 1, 2024

Dynagas LNG Partners LP
Poseidonos Avenue and Foivis 2 Street
16674, Athens Greece

Gentlemen:

Reference is made to the Form F-3 registration statement, including any amendments or supplements thereto, and the prospectus contained therein (the “Registration Statement”) of Dynagas LNG Partners LP (the “Partnership”), filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) on or about the date hereof. We hereby consent to all references to our name in the Registration Statement and to the use of the statistical information and industry and market data supplied by us as set forth in the Registration Statement, in each case, including by incorporation by reference to the Partnership’s annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023. We further advise the Partnership that our role has been limited to the provision of such statistical information and industry and market data supplied by us. With respect to such statistical information and industry and market data, we advise you that:

(1) we have accurately described the international LNG shipping industry, subject to the availability and reliability of the data supporting the statistical and graphical information presented; and

(2) our methodologies for collecting information and data may differ from those of other sources and does not reflect all or even necessarily a comprehensive set of the actual transactions occurring in the LNG shipping industry.

We hereby consent to the filing of this letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, and to the reference to our firm in the section of the Registration Statement entitled “Experts”.

Yours faithfully,

Jayendu Krishna
Director-Deputy Head Maritime Advisors
Drewry Maritime Services (Asia) Pte Ltd.

LONDON | DELHI | SINGAPORE | SHANGHAI
Drewry Maritime Services (Asia) Pte. Ltd, #17-01 Springleaf Tower, 3 Anson Road, Singapore 079909
t: +65 6220 9890        f: +65 62208258        e: enquiries@drewry.co.uk
Registered in Singapore No. 200705426N Registered GST No. 200 7054 26N
www.drewry.co.uk

Exhibit 107.1
Calculation of Filing Fee Tables
Form F-3
(Form Type)
Dynagas LNG Partners LP
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Table 1: Newly Registered Securities 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
Primary Offering of Securities
Fees to Be Paid
Equity
Common units representing limited partner interests
                   
 
Equity
Other classes of units representing limited partner interests
                   
 
Debt
Debt Securities(2)
                   
 
Other
Warrants
                   
 
Other
Rights
                   
 
Other
Purchase Contracts
                   
 
Debt
Guarantees(3)
                   
 
Unallocated (Universal) Shelf
Unallocated (Universal) Shelf
457(o)
(1)
N/A
$350,000,000(4)
0.00014760
$51,660(4)
       

 
Secondary Offering Securities
 
Fees to Be
Paid
 
 
Equity
Common units representing limited partner interests offered by the selling unitholder
457(c)
15,595,000
$3.89(5)
$60,664,550(5)
0.00014760
$8,954(5)
       
 
Carry Forward Securities
Carry Forward Securities
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
                         
Total Offering Amounts
   
$410,664,550
 
$60,614
       
Total Fees Previously Paid
       
N/A
       
Total Fee Offsets
       
$60,614
       
Net Fee Due
       
$0.00(6)
       

(1)
There are being registered hereunder such indeterminate principal amount or number of securities of each identified type being registered as may be sold from time to time at indeterminate prices, with an aggregate public offering price not to exceed $350,000,000. Also includes such indeterminate principal amount or number of securities of the types listed above that may be issuable upon conversion, redemption, exchange, exercise or settlement of any securities registered hereunder, for which separate consideration may or may not be received. To the extent that separate consideration is received for any such securities, the aggregate amount of such consideration will be included in the aggregate offering price of all securities sold. This registration statement also covers any additional securities that may be offered or issued in connection with any stock split, stock dividend or pursuant to anti-dilution provisions of any of the securities. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or together with other securities registered hereunder.

(2)
If any debt securities are issued at an original issue discount, then the offering price of such debt securities shall be in such amount as shall result in an aggregate maximum offering price not to exceed $350,000,000, less the dollar amount of all registered securities previously issued hereunder.

(3)
The debt securities may be guaranteed pursuant to guarantees by Dynagas LNG Partners LP and its subsidiaries. No separate compensation will be received for the guarantees. Pursuant to Rule 457(n) under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”), no separate fees for the guarantees are payable.

(4)
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act. Pursuant to General Instruction I.C of Form F-3, the table does not specify by each class information as to the proposed maximum aggregate offering price. In no event will the aggregate maximum offering price of all primary securities offered from time to time pursuant to this registration statement exceed $350,000,000.

(5)
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act with respect to the common units to be sold by the selling unitholder listed herein based on the average of the high and low prices of the Partnership’s common units as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on July 31, 2024.

(6)
Dynagas LNG Partners LP previously filed a Registration Statement on Form F-3 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on July 22, 2020 (File No. 333-240014), which was declared effective on August 19, 2020 (the “Prior Registration Statement”), that registered an aggregate of $750,000,000 of an indeterminate number of primary securities thereunder, of which $746,700,000 remains unsold, and 15,595,000 secondary common units, all of which remain unsold. In connection with the total amount of securities registered under the Prior Registration Statement, Dynagas LNG Partners LP was deemed to have paid an aggregate filing fee of $103,949, of which $428.34 was used (calculated at the fee rate in effect on the filing date of the Prior Registration Statement), leaving $103,520.66 of previously paid fees available for future offset. In accordance with Rule 457(p) under the Securities Act, Dynagas LNG Partners LP is using $60,614 of the unused filing fees to offset the filing fee payable in connection with this filing.  Accordingly, no additional registration fee is due to be paid at this time.  The primary offerings under the Prior Registration Statement were effectively deemed terminated on August 19, 2023, and the secondary offering under the Prior Registration Statement is effectively deemed terminated upon the effectiveness of this Registration Statement.

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
Rule 457(p)
Fees Offset Claims
Dynagas LNG Partners LP
F-3
333-240014
07/22/2020
 
$103,520.66(1)
Unallocated (Universal) Shelf
(1)
 
$746,700,000
 
Fees Offset Sources
Dynagas LNG Partners LP
F-3
333-240014
07/22/2020
   
Unallocated (Universal) Shelf
(1)
 
$746,700,000
$96,921.66
Fees Offset Sources
Dynagas LNG Partners LP
F-3
333-240014
07/22/2020
   
Equity
Common Units
15,595,000
$50,839,700
$6,599
                       
                       

(1)
Pursuant to Rule 457(p) under the Securities Act, Dynagas LNG Partners LP is offsetting the registration fee due under this Registration Statement with $60,614 of the $103,520.66 of registration fees previously paid with respect to unsold securities registered on the Prior Registration Statement (the “Unsold Offset Securities”). The offering of the Unsold Offset Securities pursuant to the Prior Registration Statement associated with the claimed fee offset pursuant to Rule 457(p) has been completed or terminated.