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Form F-3 Azure Power Global Ltd

December 20, 2017 8:02 AM EST

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

 

 

FORM F-3

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

 

AZURE POWER GLOBAL LIMITED

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Mauritius   Not Applicable

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

 

 

3rd Floor, Asset 301-304 and 307,

Worldmark 3, Aerocity, New Delhi 110037, India

Tel: 0091 11 4940 9800

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

 

 

 

CT Corporation System

111 Eighth Avenue, 13th Floor, New York, NY 10011

Telephone: (212) 894-8940

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

 

 

 

Copies to:

 

Shuang Zhao, Esq.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

c/o 37th Floor, Hysan Place

500 Hennessy Road

Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

+852 2521 4122

 

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this registration statement is effective.

 

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 [X]

 

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 [X]

 

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.

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered  Amount to be registered(1)  Proposed maximum offering price per share(1)   Proposed maximum aggregate offering price(1)   Amount of registration fee(1) 
Primary offering:                  
Equity shares, par value $0.000625 per share(1)                  
Debt securities(1)                  
Warrants(1)                  
Total primary offering          $150,000,000.00(2)  $18,675.00 
Secondary offering:                  
Equity shares, par value $0.000625 per share  10,000,000 shares  $13.27(3)  $132,700,000.00(3)  $16,522.00 
Total               $35,197.00 

 

 

(1)

 

With respect to the primary offering, there are being registered hereunder such indeterminate number of equity shares, such indeterminate principal amount of debt securities, and such indeterminate number of warrants to purchase equity shares and/or debt securities as may be sold by the Registrant from time to time, which together shall have an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $150,000,000. If any debt securities are issued at an original issue discount, then the offering price of such debt securities shall be in such greater principal amount as shall result in an aggregate offering price not to exceed $150,000,000, less the aggregate dollar amount of all securities previously issued hereunder. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or in combination with other securities registered hereunder. The proposed maximum offering price per unit will be determined, from time to time, by the Registrant in connection with the issuance by the Registrant of the securities registered hereunder. The securities registered hereunder also include such indeterminate number of equity shares and amount of debt securities as may be issued upon conversion of or exchange for debt securities that provide for conversion or exchange, upon exercise of warrants or pursuant to the antidilution provisions of any of such securities. With respect to the secondary offering, up to 10,000,000 equity shares may be sold by the selling shareholders. In addition, pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act, the shares being registered hereunder include such indeterminate number of equity shares as may be issuable with respect to the shares being registered hereunder as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions.
   
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act, based on the maximum proceeds from the primary offering.
   
(3) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act, based on the average of high and low prices per share of the registrant’s equity shares as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on December 15, 2017.

 

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, as amended, or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 December 20, 2017

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

 

$150,000,000 of

Equity Shares

Debt Securities

Warrants

and

10,000,000 Equity Shares

Offered by Selling Shareholders

 

 

Azure Power Global Limited

 

 

From time to time, we may offer and sell up to an aggregate amount of $150,000,000 of any combination of equity shares, par value $0.000625 per share, debt securities or warrants described in this prospectus (the “Prospectus”) in one or more offerings. We may also offer securities as may be issuable upon conversion, redemption, repurchase, exchange or exercise of any securities registered hereunder, including any applicable antidilution provisions. In addition, selling shareholders (the “Selling Shareholders”) to be named in the applicable prospectus supplement may offer and sell up to an aggregate of 10,000,000 shares of our equity shares, from time to time, on or off the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE, on the terms described in this Prospectus or in an applicable prospectus supplement. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the shares offered by the Selling Shareholders hereunder. To the extent that any Selling Shareholders resells any equity shares, the Selling Shareholders may be required to provide you with this Prospectus and a prospectus supplement identifying and containing specific information about the Selling Shareholder and the terms of the equity shares being offered. We and the Selling Shareholders may sell the securities to or through underwriters and also to other purchasers or through agents. We provide more information about the Selling Shareholders and the related transactions in the section entitled “Selling Shareholders” on page 14 of this Prospectus. The names of any underwriters or agents, and any fees, discounts or other compensation payable to them will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement accompanying this Prospectus.

 

The specific variable terms of this offering will be set forth in one or more supplements to this Prospectus (a “Prospectus Supplement”) including, the number of shares offered and the offering price.

 

Our equity shares are traded on the NYSE under the symbol “AZRE.”

 

The securities may be sold directly, on a continuous or delayed basis, through dealers or agents designated from time to time, to or through underwriters or through a combination of these methods. See “Plan of Distribution” in this Prospectus. We may also describe the plan of distribution for any particular offering of the securities in any applicable Prospectus Supplement. If any agents, underwriters or dealers are involved in the sale of any securities in respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered, we will disclose their names and the nature of our arrangements as well as the net proceeds we expect to receive from any such sale, in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.

 

You should read this Prospectus and any applicable Prospectus Supplement before you invest in any security.

 

An investment in these securities involves risks. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” on page 5 of this Prospectus, and other risk factors contained in any applicable Prospectus Supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein.

 

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

 

The date of this Prospectus is                          .

 

 i 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS 2
   
NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 3
   
THE COMPANY 4
   
RISK FACTORS 5
   
USE OF PROCEEDS 6
   
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES 7
   
CAPITALIZATION 8
   
ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES 9
   
EMERGING GROWTH COMPANY 10
   
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION 11
   
TAXATION 12
   
DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES 13
   
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS

14

   
DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL 15
   
EXPENSES 22
   
LEGAL MATTERS 23
   
EXPERTS 24
   
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT US 25
   
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 26

 

 1
 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This Prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, offer and sell, either individually or in combination, in one or more offerings, up to a total dollar amount of $150,000,000 of our equity shares, various series of debt securities and/or warrants to purchase any such securities. In addition, under this shelf process, the Selling Shareholders to be named in any applicable Prospectus Supplement may, from time to time, offer and sell up to 10,000,000 equity shares, as described in this Prospectus and such Prospectus Supplement, in one or more offerings.

 

This Prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that may be offered from time to time. We may provide you with a Prospectus Supplement to this Prospectus that will provide updated information if required whenever our equity shares are offered pursuant to this Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement. This may include a Prospectus Supplement that will describe the information about the securities being offered and the specific terms of that offering. The Prospectus Supplement may also add, update or change the information contained in this Prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this Prospectus and any Prospectus Supplement, you should rely on 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.

 

This Prospectus does not contain all the information provided in the registration statement that we filed with the SEC. For further information about us or the securities offered hereby, you should refer to the registration statement, which you can obtain from the SEC as described below under “Where You Can Find Additional Information About Us.”

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and in any Prospectus Supplement. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information in this Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We and the Selling Shareholders will not make any offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this Prospectus and the applicable supplement to this Prospectus is accurate as of the date on its respective cover, and that any information incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, unless we indicate otherwise. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

In this Prospectus and in any Prospectus Supplement, unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires, all amounts are expressed in Indian Rupees or INR and / or “U.S. dollars” or “US$”, lawful currency of Republic of India and United States respectively. Unless otherwise indicated, all financial information included in this Prospectus or included in any Prospectus Supplement is determined using U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) Except as set forth under “Description of Share Capital”, and unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this Prospectus and any Prospectus Supplement to “Azure”, the “Company”, the “Corporation”, “we”, “us” and “our” mean Azure Power Global Limited. and its subsidiaries.

 

 2
 

 

NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This Prospectus and the annual report referred elsewhere in this document contains forward looking statements about our current expectations and views of future events. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this Prospectus and the annual report, including statements about our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and future megawatt goals of management, are forward looking statements. These statements relate to events that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In some cases, these forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions.

 

These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, some of which are beyond our control. In addition, these forward-looking statements reflect our current views about future events and are not a guarantee of future performance. All statements in this document that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, such matters as:

 

    the pace of government sponsored auctions;

 

    changes in auction rules;

 

    the government’s willingness to enforce Renewable Purchase Obligations, or RPOs;

 

    permitting, development and construction of our project pipeline according to schedule;

 

    solar radiation in the regions in which we operate;

 

    developments in, or changes to, laws, regulations, governmental policies, incentives and taxation affecting our operations;

 

    adverse changes or developments in the industry in which we operate;

 

    our ability to maintain and enhance our market position;

 

    our ability to successfully implement any of our business strategies, including acquiring other companies;

 

    our ability to enter into power purchasing agreements, or PPAs, on acceptable terms, the occurrence of any event that may expose us to certain risks under our PPAs and the willingness and ability of counterparties to our PPAs to fulfill their obligations;

 

    our ability to borrow additional funds and access capital markets, as well as our substantial indebtedness and the possibility that we may incur additional indebtedness going forward;

 

    our ability to establish and operate new solar projects;

 

    our ability to compete against traditional and renewable energy companies;

 

    the loss of one or more members of our senior management or key employees;

 

    political and economic conditions in India;

 

    material changes in the costs of solar panels and other equipment required for our operations;

 

    fluctuations in inflation, interest rates and exchange rates; and
       
    other risks and uncertainties, including those referred to under the caption “Risk Factors.”

 

The forward-looking statements made in this Prospectus relate only to events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this Prospectus. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should read this Prospectus and the documents that we reference in this Prospectus and have filed as exhibits with the SEC, of which the annual report is also a part, completely and with the understanding that our actual future results or performance may be materially different from what we expect.

 

This Prospectus also contains statistical data and estimates, including those relating to the solar industry and our competition from market research, analyst reports and other publicly available sources. These publications include forward-looking statements being made by the authors of such reports. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements.

 

 3
 

 

THE COMPANY

 

We are a leading independent solar power producer in India. We developed India’s first private utility scale solar project in 2009 and has been at the forefront in the sector as a developer, constructor and operator of utility scale, micro-grid and rooftop solar projects since its inception in 2008. With its inhouse engineering, procurement and construction expertise and advanced in-house operations and maintenance capability, We manage the entire development and operation process, providing low-cost solar power solutions to customers throughout India. Our equity shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “AZRE.”

 

 4
 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Investment in our securities is subject to various risks. Before deciding whether to invest in any of our securities, investors should consider carefully the risks incorporated by reference in this Prospectus (including documents that are subsequently filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference) and those described in any Prospectus Supplement, including those in “Item 3—Key Information—D. Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended March 31, 2017, filed with the Commission on June 19, 2017, which is incorporated in this prospectus by reference, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and any risk factors and other information described in the applicable prospectus supplement or relevant free writing prospectus before acquiring any of our securities. Please see the sections of this Prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find Additional Information About Us” and “Information Incorporated by Reference.” The occurrence of one or more of those risk factors could adversely impact our business, financial condition or results of operations and cause the value of our securities to decline.

 

 5
 

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We will not receive any proceeds from sales of our equity shares by the Selling Shareholders.

 

Unless otherwise specified in a Prospectus Supplement, the net proceeds from the sale of the securities will be added to the general funds of the Company to be used for general corporate purposes, which may include reducing outstanding indebtedness and financing capital expenditures, investments and working capital requirements of the Company. Specific information about the use of proceeds from the sale of any securities will be set forth in a Prospectus Supplement. The Company may invest funds that it does not immediately require in short-term marketable debt securities.

 

The net proceeds to be received by the Company from the sale of the securities from time to time under this Prospectus or by a Prospectus Supplement are not expected to be applied to fund any specific project. The Company’s overall corporate strategy and major initiatives supporting its strategy are summarized in the Company’s management’s discussion and analysis for the year ended March 31, 2017, as modified or superseded by information contained in the Company’s management’s discussion and analysis for the three and six months ended September 30, 2017, and any subsequent periods, incorporated herein by reference.

 

 6
 

 

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

 

The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges on a historical basis for the period indicated. The ratio of earnings to fixed charges is computed by dividing earnings by fixed charges.

 

    For the Year Ended March 31,     For the Six Months
Ended
 
    2015     2016     2017     September 30, 2017  
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (1)     -       -       -       -  

 

  (1) Earnings for the years ended March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017 and for the six months ended September 30, 2017 were insufficient to cover fixed charges by INR 986.3 million (US$ 15.1 million), INR 1,561.9 million (US$ 23.9 million), INR 579.8 million (US$ 8.9 million) and INR 1,275.1 million (US$ 19.5 million) respectively. The translation of INR to US$ is based on the exchange rate of INR 65.30 to US$ 1.00, the noon buying rate in effect as of September 29, 2017 as set forth in the H.10 Statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board, solely for the convenience of readers.

 

 7
 

 

CAPITALIZATION

 

The Company issued 61,101 equity shares to some of its employees pursuant to Employee Stock Option Plan 2015, resulting in an increase from 25,915,956 shares issued as of March 31, 2017, to 25,985,057 shares as of September 30, 2017.

 

 8
 

 

ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES

 

We are incorporated in Mauritius and our primary operating subsidiary, Azure Power India Private Limited, is incorporated in India. The majority of our directors and executive officers are not residents of the United States and substantially all of our assets and the assets of such persons are located outside the United States. As a result, it may not be possible for you to effect service of process within the United States upon such persons or us. In addition, you may be unable to enforce judgments obtained in courts of the United States against such persons outside the jurisdiction of their residence, including judgments predicated solely upon U.S. securities laws.

 

There is uncertainty as to whether the courts in Mauritius would enforce judgments obtained in the United States against us or our directors or executive officers, as well as the experts named herein, based on the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or allow actions in Mauritius against us or our directors or executive officers based only upon the securities laws of the United States. Further, foreign judgments may not be given effect to by a Mauritius court where it would be contrary to any principle affecting public policy in Mauritius or to the extent that they constitute the payment of an amount which is in the nature of a penalty and not in the nature of liquidated damages.

 

In addition to and irrespective of jurisdictional issues, neither Mauritian nor Indian courts will enforce a provision of the U.S. federal securities laws that is either penal in nature or contrary to public policy. An action brought pursuant to a public or penal law, the purpose of which is the enforcement of a sanction, power or right at the instance of the state in its sovereign capacity, is unlikely to be entertained by Mauritian or Indian courts. Specified remedies available under the laws of U.S. jurisdictions, including specified remedies under U.S. federal securities laws, would not be available under Mauritian or Indian law or enforceable in a Mauritian or Indian court, if they are considered to be contrary to Mauritian or Indian public policy. An award of punitive damages under a United States court judgment based upon United States federal securities laws is likely to be construed by Mauritian and Indian courts to be penal in nature and therefore unenforceable in both Mauritius and India. Further, no claim may be brought in Mauritius or India against us or our directors and officers, as well as the experts named herein, in the first instance for a violation of U.S. federal securities laws because these laws have no extraterritorial application under Mauritian or Indian law and do not have force of law in Mauritius or India.

 

Section 44A of the Indian Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, as amended, or the Civil Procedure Code, provides that where a foreign judgment has been rendered by a superior court in any country or territory outside of India which the Indian government has by notification declared to be a reciprocating territory, such foreign judgment may be enforced in India by proceedings in execution as if the judgment had been rendered by an appropriate court in India. However, the enforceability of such judgments is subject to the exceptions set forth in Section 13 of the Civil Procedure Code. This section, which is the statutory basis for the recognition of foreign judgments, states that a foreign judgment is conclusive as to any matter directly adjudicated upon except:

 

  where the judgment has not been pronounced by a court of competent jurisdiction;
     
  where the judgment has not been given on the merits of the case;
     
  where the judgment appears on the face of the proceedings to be founded on an incorrect view of international law or a refusal to recognize the law of India in cases where such law is applicable;
     
  where the proceedings in which the judgment was obtained were opposed to natural justice;
     
  where the judgment has been obtained by fraud; or
     
  where the judgment sustains a claim founded on a breach of any law in force in India.

 

Section 44A of the Civil Procedure Code is applicable only to decrees or judgments under which a sum of money is payable not being in the nature of amounts payable in respect of taxes or other charges of a similar nature or in respect of fines or other penalties and does not include arbitration awards. It is unlikely that a court in India would award damages on the same basis as a foreign court if an action were brought in India. Furthermore, it is unlikely that an Indian court would enforce a foreign judgment if it viewed the amount of damages awarded as excessive or inconsistent with public policy or practice in India.

 

If a judgment of a foreign court is not enforceable under Section 44A of the Civil Procedure Code as described above, it may be enforced in India only by a suit filed upon the judgment, subject to Section 13 of the Civil Procedure Code, and not by proceedings in execution. The United States has not been declared by the Indian government to be a reciprocating territory for the purposes of Section 44A of the Civil Procedure Code. Accordingly, a judgment of a court in the United States may be enforced only by filing a fresh suit on the basis of the judgment and not by proceedings in execution.

 

The suit must be brought in India within three years from the date of the judgment in the same manner as any other suit filed to enforce a civil liability in India. It is difficult to predict whether a suit brought in an Indian court will be disposed of in a timely manner or be subject to untimely delay. Further, under the Civil Procedure Code, a court in India shall, upon the production of any document purporting to be a certified copy of a foreign judgment, presume that the judgment was pronounced by a court of competent jurisdiction, unless the contrary appears on record.

 

A party seeking to enforce a foreign judgment in India is required to obtain prior approval from the Reserve Bank of India under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, as amended, to repatriate any amount recovered pursuant to such enforcement. Any judgment in a foreign currency would be converted into Indian rupees on the date of judgment and not on the date of payment.

 

A final and conclusive judgment in the superior courts of a foreign jurisdiction, or foreign courts, other than the courts of the United Kingdom, under which a sum of money is payable (other than a sum payable in respect of taxes, fines, penalties or similar charges) may be recognized by, and be enforceable in, the courts of Mauritius if (1) the judgment is still valid, final and is capable of execution in the jurisdiction in which it was delivered; (2) the judgment is not contrary to any principle affecting public policy in Mauritius; (3) the foreign courts had jurisdiction to hear the claim; and (4) our company had been regularly summoned to attend the proceedings before the foreign courts. Any judgment expressed in a foreign currency by a foreign court, may, when made executory in Mauritius, be expressed in that foreign currency. A valid and final judgment rendered by a court in the United States may not be enforced in Mauritius except by way of exequatur under the Mauritius Code on Civil Procedure. The exequatur may be sought in Mauritius so long as the valid and final judgment is capable of execution in the United States.

 

A final and conclusive judgment or order in the superior courts of the United Kingdom under which a sum of money is made payable (and including an award in proceedings on an arbitration if the award has, under the law in force in the place where it was made, become enforceable in the same manner as a judgment by a court in that place) would, on registration in accordance with the provisions of The Reciprocal Enforcement of Judgments Act 1923 be enforceable in the Supreme Court of Mauritius. Any judgment expressed in pounds sterling or other currency by a superior court of the United Kingdom, may, when made executory in Mauritius, be expressed in pounds sterling or any other currency at the rate of exchange prevailing at the date of judgment of the original court.

 

 9
 

 

EMERGING GROWTH COMPANY

 

As a company with less than US$1.07 billion in revenue during our last fiscal year, we qualify as an “emerging growth company” pursuant to the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act, and amendments thereto. An emerging growth company may take advantage of specified reduced reporting and other burdens that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include exemption from the auditor attestation requirement in the assessment of the emerging growth company’s internal control over financial reporting. The JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company need not comply with any new or revised financial accounting standard until such date that a non-reporting company is required to comply with such new or revised accounting standard. We have in this Prospectus utilized, and we plan in future filings with the SEC, to continue to utilize, the modified disclosure requirements available to emerging growth companies. Furthermore, we are not required to present selected financial information or any management’s discussion herein for any period prior to the earliest audited period presented in connection with this Prospectus.

 

We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (a) the last day of our fiscal year during which we have total annual gross revenues of at least US$1.07 billion; (b) the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the completion of the initial public offering of the Company; (c) the date on which we have, during the previous 3-year period, issued more than US$1.0 billion in non-convertible debt; or (d) the date on which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act. When we are no longer deemed to be an emerging growth company, we will not be entitled to the exemptions provided in the JOBS Act discussed above. If we choose to take advantage of any of these reduced reporting burdens, the information that we provide shareholders may be different than you might get from other public companies.

 

 10
 

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We or the Selling Shareholders, from time to time, may sell the securities to or through underwriters, agents or dealers and also may sell the securities directly to purchasers pursuant to applicable statutory exemptions or through agents.

 

The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, or at prices related to such prevailing market prices to be negotiated with purchasers.

 

The Prospectus Supplement relating to each series of the securities will also set forth the terms of the offering of the securities, including to the extent applicable, the initial offering price, the proceeds to the Company or the Selling Shareholders, the underwriting concessions or commissions, and any other discounts or concessions to be allowed or re-allowed to dealers. Underwriters or agents with respect to securities sold to or through underwriters or agents will be named in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such securities.

 

In connection with the sale of the securities, underwriters may receive compensation from the Company, the Selling Shareholders or purchasers of the securities for whom they may act as agents in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. Any such commissions will be paid either using a portion of the funds received in connection with the sale of the securities or out of the general funds of the Company or the Selling Shareholders.

 

Under agreements which may be entered into by the Company, the Selling Shareholders, underwriters, dealers and agents who participate in the distribution of the securities may be entitled to indemnification by the Company or the Selling Shareholders against certain liabilities, including liabilities under securities legislation, or to contribution with respect to payments which such underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make in respect thereof.

 

In connection with any offering of securities, the underwriters, agents or dealers may over-allot or effect transactions which stabilize or maintain the market price of the Securities offered at levels above those which might otherwise prevail in the open market. Such transactions, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

 

 11
 

 

TAXATION

 

Material income tax consequences relating to the purchase, ownership and disposition of any of the securities offered by this Prospectus will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement relating to the offering of those securities.

 

 12
 

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES

 

We may issue from time to time, in one or more offerings, the following securities:

 

  equity shares;
     
  debt securities; and
     
  warrants.

 

We will set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement a description of the debt securities and warrants, and, in certain cases, the equity shares that may be offered under this Prospectus. The terms of the offering of securities, the initial offering price and the net proceeds to us will be contained in the Prospectus Supplement, and other offering material, relating to such offer. The supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this Prospectus. You should carefully read this Prospectus and any Prospectus Supplement before you invest in any of our securities.

 

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SELLING SHAREHOLDERS

 

This Prospectus covers the resale, from time to time, of equity shares of up to 10,000,000 equity shares that were issued and outstanding as of the date of the registration statement. The Selling Shareholders may sell all, some or none of equity shares covered by this Prospectus. These equity shares were originally issued to the Selling Shareholders as a result of the conversion of compulsorily convertible preferred shares or compulsorily convertible debentures in connection with our initial public offering. Such preferred shares and debentures were initially acquired in private placements of shares prior to our initial public offering.

 

Additional information about any selling shareholders, including its beneficial ownership of our equity shares, the number of equity shares being offered and sold by it, and the number of shares beneficially owned by it after the applicable offering, will be set forth in a Prospectus Supplement, in a post-effective amendment or in filings we make with the SEC under the Exchange Act which are incorporated by reference into this Prospectus.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL

 

Equity Shares

 

General

 

All of the equity shares are fully paid. The preparation, issue and delivery of certificates shall be governed by the Mauritius Companies Act.

 

As of the date of this filing, 25,985,057 equity shares were issued with par value of $0.000625 per share.

 

Dividends

 

To the extent permitted by the Mauritius Companies Act and our Constitution, dividends may only be paid out of retained earnings (after having made good any accumulated losses of ours at the beginning of any relevant accounting period), to the shareholders according to their rights and interests, and no distribution (which term includes dividend) may be made unless our board of directors is satisfied that, upon the distribution being made (1) we are able to pay our debts as they become due in the normal course of business and (2) the value of our assets is greater than the sum of (a) the value of our liabilities and (b) our stated capital. Subject to the Mauritius Companies Act and our Constitution, the declaration and payment of any dividend has to be authorized by the board of directors.

 

Any distribution or part thereof payable in cash, or any other sum payable in cash to the holder of shares may be paid by wire transfer to the account designated by the Shareholder or by cheque, postal, or money order sent through the post or by courier addressed to the holder at his address in our register of shareholders or, in the case of joint holders, addressed to the holder whose name stands first in our register of shareholders in respect of the shares at his registered address as appearing in the said register or addressed to such person at such address as the holder or joint holders may in writing direct. Every such cheque, postal, money order or wire transfer shall, unless the holder or joint holders otherwise direct, be made payable to the order of the holder or, in the case of joint holders, to the order of the holder whose name stands first in our register of shareholders in respect of such shares, and shall be sent at his or their risk and payment of the cheque, postal, money order or wire transfer by the bank on which it is drawn shall constitute a good discharge to us. Any one of two or more joint holders may give effectual receipts for any dividends, distributions or other monies payable or property distributable in respect of the shares held by such joint holders.

 

Any dividend or distribution out of retained earnings unclaimed for a period of six years from the date of declaration of such dividend or distribution shall be forfeited and shall revert to us and the payment by our board of directors of any unclaimed dividend, distribution, interest or other sum payable on or in respect of the share into a separate account shall not constitute us a trustee in respect thereof.

 

Voting Rights and Certain Voting Requirements

 

For voting rights and certain voting requirements under our Constitution, please refer to the sections entitled “Description of Share Capital - Equity Shares – Voting Rights” and “Description of Share Capital - Equity Shares - Certain Voting Requirements” in our Registration Statement on Form F-1, filed with the SEC on December 16, 2015, including any subsequent amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description, incorporated by reference herein.

 

Transfer of Equity Shares

 

Subject to the Mauritius Companies Act and to such restrictions contained in our Constitution as may be applicable, any shareholder may transfer all or any of his equity shares by an instrument of transfer in the usual or common or in a form prescribed by the Designated Stock Exchange (as defined in our Constitution) or in any other form which our board of directors may approve. No such instrument shall be required on the redemption of an equity share or on the purchase by us of an equity share.

 

Subject to the provisions of the Mauritius Companies Act, we must, on the written request of the transferor or transferee of a registered equity share in us, enter in our register of shareholders the name of the transferee of the equity share save that the registration of transfers may be suspended and the share register closed at such times and for such periods as we may from time to time by resolution of directors determine provided always that such registration shall not be suspended and the share register closed for more than thirty days in any period of twelve months.

 

If our board of directors declines to register a transfer it shall, within twenty eight (28) days after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged, send to the transferee notice of such refusal.

 

Liquidation

 

Subject the laws of Mauritius and our Constitution, upon the winding up of us, the whole or any part of our assets shall be divided amongst the shareholders on a pro rata basis.

 

Redemption of Shares

 

Subject to the provisions of the Mauritius Companies Act and other applicable law, we may issue shares on terms that are subject to redemption, on the happening of a specified event or on a given date and/or at our option and/or at the option of the holders, on such terms and in such manner as may be determined by our board of directors.

 

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Variation of Rights of Shares

 

All or any of the special rights for the time being attached to any class of shares for the time being issued may from time to time (whether or not we are being wound up) be altered or abrogated with the consent in writing of the holders of not less than 75% of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of such shares voting in person or by proxy. The necessary quorum shall be one or more persons together holding or representing by proxy not less than one-third in nominal value of the issued shares of the relevant class, that every holder of shares of the relevant class shall be entitled on a poll to one vote for every such share held by him and that any holder of shares of the relevant class present in person or by proxy may demand a poll.

 

The special rights conferred upon the holders of any shares or class of shares shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided in the rights attaching to or the terms of issue of such shares, be deemed to be altered by the creation or issue of further shares ranking pari passu therewith.

 

Meetings of Shareholders

 

Subject to the Mauritius Companies Act, an annual shareholders’ meeting shall be convened by our board of directors not more than once in each year and not later than six months after our balance sheet date and not later than 15 months after the previous annual meeting. Special meetings of shareholders may be convened by our board of directors or on the written request of shareholders holding shares carrying together not less than 5% of the voting rights entitled to be exercised on the issue.

 

Subject to our Constitution, meeting of shareholders shall be called by not less than fourteen (14) nor more than sixty (60) business days’ notice in writing.

 

For a special meeting called on the written request of the shareholders, the shareholders must provide notice to our secretary which must be delivered to or mailed and received at our principal executive offices not less than ninety days nor more than one hundred twenty days prior to such special meeting.

 

A quorum for a meeting of shareholders shall be present where the shareholders or their proxies are present or have cast postal votes, who are between them able to exercise not less than 33.3% of the votes to be cast on the business to be transacted by the meeting.

 

A shareholder may exercise the right to vote either by being present in person or by proxy. A proxy for a shareholder may attend and be heard at a meeting of shareholders as if the proxy were the shareholder. A proxy shall be appointed by notice in writing signed by the shareholder, and the notice shall state whether the appointment is for a particular meeting or a specified term.

 

Inspection of Books and Records

 

Under the Mauritius Companies Act, we are required to keep available our certificate of incorporation, Constitution, share register, the full names and residential addresses of our directors, our registered office and address for service, copies of the instruments creating or evidencing charges which are required to be registered under section 127 of the Mauritius Companies Act, minutes of all meetings and resolutions of shareholders, copies of written communications to all shareholders or to all holders of a class of shares during the preceding seven years (including financial statements, and group financial statements), certificates given by directors under the Mauritius Companies Act and our interests register (if any) for inspection by any shareholder of ours or by a person authorized in writing by a shareholder for the purpose, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on each working day during the inspection period at the place at which our records are kept in Mauritius. A shareholder who wishes to inspect such records must serve written notice on us of his intention to inspect the records.

 

The term “inspection period” is defined in the Mauritius Companies Act to mean the period commencing on the third working day after the day on which notice of intention to inspect is served on us by the person.

 

Changes in Capital

 

Subject to the Mauritius Companies Act, we may, from time to time, by ordinary resolution:

 

  (a) divide our shares into several classes and attach thereto respectively any preferential, deferred, qualified or special rights, privileges or conditions;

 

  (b) consolidate and divide all or any of our share capital into shares of larger par value than our existing shares; and

 

  (c) engage in a forward stock split.

 

Subject to the Mauritius Companies Act and our Constitution and any confirmation or consent required by law or under our Constitution, we may from time to time by special resolution authorize the reduction of our stated capital (including any amount in any share premium account) or change the currency denomination of our share capital as we think fit.

 

Purchase by Our Company of our Own Shares

 

We may, pursuant to a special resolution, purchase or acquire and hold our own shares as treasury shares upon such terms as our board of directors may, in our discretion, determine, provided always that such purchase or acquisition is effected in accordance with the provisions of the Mauritius Companies Act, which generally requires solvency of the company after giving effect to such purchase or acquisition.

 

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Interested Directors

 

Subject to the Mauritius Companies Act and our Constitution, a director shall, forthwith after becoming aware of the fact that he is interested in a transaction or a proposed transaction with us, cause to be entered in our interests register and disclose to our board of directors the nature and monetary value of that interest, or where the monetary value of the director’s interest cannot be quantified, the nature and extent of that interest. A general notice entered in the interests register or disclosed to our board of directors to the effect that a director is a shareholder, director, officer or trustee of another named company or other person and is to be regarded as interested in any transaction which may, after the date of the entry or disclosure, be entered into with that company or person, is a sufficient disclosure of interest in relation to that transaction.

 

To the extent that our company is a reporting issuer, as defined in section 86 of the Mauritius Securities Act 2005, the relevant disclosure requirements under the Mauritius Securities Act 2005 may also be applicable. We have applied to the Mauritius Financial Services Commission for an exemption from the disclosure requirements applying to reporting issuers under the Mauritius Securities Act 2005.

 

Notification of Shareholdings by Directors and Substantial Shareholders

 

Our Constitution provides that (a) each of our directors shall, upon his appointment to our board of directors, give an undertaking to our company that, for so long as he remains a director of our company, he shall forthwith notify our company secretary of the particulars of our equity shares beneficially owned by him at the time of his appointment and of any change in such particulars (including the circumstances of any such change), and (b) each member of our company shall, upon becoming a substantial shareholder of our company, give an undertaking to our company that, for so long as he remains as a substantial shareholder of our company, he shall notify our company secretary of the particulars of our equity shares in which he has an interest at the time of his becoming a substantial shareholder or of any change in such particulars (including the circumstances of any such change) within 48 hours of such time or change (as the case may be), provided that he shall only be required to give notice of a change in the percentage level of his interests in the shares where there is a change of 1% or more in the percentage level of his shareholding interest in the relevant class of shares in our company. For this purpose, a “substantial shareholder” means a person who holds by himself or his nominee a share or an interest in a share in the capital of our company which entitles him to exercise not less than 5% of the aggregate voting power exercisable at a meeting of our shareholders.

 

Category 1 Global Business Company

 

We are licensed by the Financial Services Commission as a Mauritius Category 1 Global Business Company, or GBC1.

 

Before the coming into force of the Mauritius Finance Act 2010, Mauritius companies holding a GBC1 were only allowed to conduct business outside Mauritius. However, with the implementation of the Mauritius Finance Act 2010, Mauritius companies holding a GBC1 may (i) carry on business in Mauritius, (ii) deal with persons resident in Mauritius, and (iii) hold shares or other interests in a corporation which is resident in Mauritius.

 

A Mauritius company holding a GBC1 may conduct any business activity to the extent that it is not unlawful or contrary to public interest and to the extent that it does not cause or is likely to cause serious prejudice to the good repute of Mauritius as a center for financial services.

 

A Mauritius company holding a GBC1 should be administered at all times by a Management Company and should be controlled and managed in Mauritius.

 

The following indicative list of criteria has to be complied with:

 

  (a) The company must have at least 2 directors, resident in Mauritius, of sufficient caliber to exercise independence of mind and judgment.

 

  (b) The company will maintain at all times its principal bank account in Mauritius.

 

  (c) The company will keep and maintain at all times its accounting records at its registered office in Mauritius.

 

  (d) The company will prepare its statutory financial statements and cause the same to be audited in Mauritius.

 

  (e) The company will provide for meetings of directors to include at least 2 directors from Mauritius.

 

  (f) whether a corporation meets at least one of the following criteria:

 

  (i) the corporation has or shall have office premises in Mauritius;

 

  (ii) the corporation employs or shall employ on a full time basis at administrative/technical level, at least one person who shall be resident in Mauritius;

 

  (iii) the corporation’s constitution contains a clause whereby all disputes arising out of the constitution shall be resolved by way of arbitration in Mauritius;

 

  (iv) the corporation holds or is expected to hold within the next 12 months, assets (excluding cash held in bank account or shares/interests in another corporation holding a Global Business License) which are worth at least US$100,000 in Mauritius;

 

  (v) the corporation’s shares are listed on a securities exchange licensed by the Commission; or

 

  (vi) it has or is expected to have a yearly expenditure in Mauritius which can be reasonably expected from any similar corporation which is controlled and managed from Mauritius.

 

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A Mauritius company holding a GBC1 is tax resident in Mauritius and can therefore benefit from the network of Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements which Mauritius has in place with a number of countries.

 

Differences in Corporate Law

 

The Mauritius Companies Act differs from laws applicable to United States corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of the significant differences between the provisions of the Mauritius Companies Act applicable to us and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the United States and their shareholders.

 

Pursuant to the Mauritius Companies Act, subject to certain exceptions prescribed in the Mauritius Companies Act, a Mauritius company shall not enter into the following transactions unless the transaction is approved by special resolution or contingent on approval by special resolution of the shareholders of the company:

 

  (a) the acquisition of, or an agreement to acquire, whether contingent or not, assets the value of which is more than 75% of the value of the company’s assets before the acquisition;

 

  (b) the disposition of, or an agreement to dispose of, whether contingent or not, assets of the company the value of which is more than 75% of the value of the company’s assets before the disposition; or

 

  (c) a transaction that has or is likely to have the effect of the company acquiring rights or interests or incurring obligations or liabilities the value of which is more than 75% of the value of the company’s assets before the transaction (provided that this will not apply by reason only of the company giving, or entering into an agreement to give, a charge secured over assets of the company, the value of which is more than 75% of the value of the company’s assets for the purpose of securing the repayment of money or the performance of an obligation).

 

Under the Mauritius Companies Act, a special resolution is a resolution that is approved by a majority of 75% of the votes of those shareholders entitled to vote and voting on the question.

 

Where a transaction involves the acquisition or disposition or the acquiring of rights, interests or incurring obligations of, in any case, more than half the value of the Mauritius company’s assets, subject to certain exceptions prescribed in the Mauritius Companies Act, the transaction has to be approved by ordinary resolution or contingent on approval by ordinary resolution, and a Mauritius company shall not enter into the following transactions unless the transaction is approved by ordinary resolution or contingent on approval by ordinary resolution of the shareholders of the company:

 

  (a) the acquisition of, or an agreement to acquire, whether contingent or not, assets the value of which is more than 50% of the value of the company’s assets before the acquisition;

 

  (b) the disposition of, or an agreement to dispose of, whether contingent or not, assets of the company the value of which is more than 50% of the value of the company’s assets before the disposition; or

 

  (c) a transaction that has or is likely to have the effect of the company acquiring rights or interests or incurring obligations or liabilities the value of which is more than 50% of the value of the company’s assets before the transaction (provided that this will not apply by reason only of the company giving, or

 

  entering into an agreement to give, a charge secured over assets of the company, the value of which is more than 50% of the value of the company’s assets for the purpose of securing the repayment of money or the performance of an obligation).

 

Under the Mauritius Companies Act, an ordinary resolution is a resolution that is approved by a simple majority of the votes of those shareholders entitled to vote and voting on the matter which is the subject of the resolution.

 

Under Delaware law, a corporation may sell, lease or exchange all or substantially all of its property and assets upon approval by the board and resolutions adopted by holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the corporation entitled to vote.

 

Mergers and Similar Arrangements

 

A merger of two or more constituent companies under Mauritius law requires an amalgamation proposal to be approved by the directors of each constituent company and by special resolution of the shareholders of each constituent company.

 

A merger between a Mauritius parent company and its Mauritius subsidiary or subsidiaries does not require approval by a resolution of shareholders. For this purpose a “subsidiary” has the meaning assigned to it by the Mauritius Companies Act.

 

Save in certain circumstances, a dissentient shareholder of a Mauritius constituent company is entitled to payment of the fair and reasonable price for his shares upon dissenting to a merger or consolidation. The exercise of appraisal rights will normally preclude the exercise of any other rights save for the right to seek relief on the grounds that the merger or consolidation is void or unlawful.

 

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In addition, there are statutory provisions that facilitate the reconstruction and amalgamation of companies where the Supreme Court of Mauritius, on the application of the company or, with leave of the court, any shareholder or creditor of the company, may order that an arrangement or amalgamation or compromise shall be binding on the company and on such other persons or classes of persons as the court may specify and any such order may be made on such terms and conditions as the court thinks fit.

 

Under the Delaware General Corporations Law, a merger of two Delaware corporations requires approval by the board and, except in certain circumstances, shareholders of each corporation. A merger between a Delaware parent company and its Delaware subsidiary or subsidiaries does not generally require shareholder approval.

 

Shareholders’ Suits

 

In principle, we will normally be the proper plaintiff, but under the Mauritius Companies Act, the Mauritius courts may grant leave to a shareholder (including a minority shareholder) to bring a derivative action.

 

In Delaware, in any derivative suit instituted by a shareholder of a corporation, it shall be averred in the complaint that the plaintiff was a shareholder of the corporation at the time of the transaction of which he complains or that such shareholder’s stock thereafter devolved upon such shareholder by operation of law. The complaint shall set forth with particularity the efforts of the plaintiff to obtain the action by the board or the reasons for not making such effort. Such action shall not be dismissed or compromised without the approval of the Chancery Court. Moreover, if we were a Delaware corporation, a shareholder whose shares were canceled in connection with our dissolution, would not be able to bring a derivative action against us after the equity shares have been cancelled.

 

Indemnification of Directors and Executive Officers and Limitation of Liability

 

Under the Mauritius Companies Act, a company may indemnify a director or employee of the company or a related company for any costs incurred by him or the company in respect of any proceedings (a) that relates to liability for any act or omission in his capacity as a director or employee and (b) in which judgment is given in his favor, in which he is acquitted, which is discontinued, in which he is granted relief under section 350 of the Mauritius Companies Act or where proceedings are threatened and such threatened action is abandoned or not pursued. The Mauritius Companies Act further provides that a company may indemnify a director or employee of the company or a related company in respect of (a) liability to any person, other than the company or a related company, for any act or omission in his capacity as a director or employee or (b) costs incurred by that director or employee in defending or settling any claim or proceedings relating to any such liability, save in respect of any criminal liability or liability in respect of a breach (in the case of a director) of the duty to exercise his powers honestly in good faith in the best interests of the company. Our post-offering Constitution will provide for indemnification, to the extent permitted by Mauritius law, of our directors and officers for costs, charges, losses, expenses and liabilities incurred or sustained by them in the execution and discharge of their duties in their respective offices or in relation thereto, except in respect of their own fraud or dishonesty.

 

Under Delaware law, a corporation has the flexibility to indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful.

 

Directors’ Fiduciary Duties

 

Under Delaware corporate law, a director of a Delaware corporation has a fiduciary duty to the corporation and its shareholders. This duty has two components: the duty of care and the duty of loyalty. The duty of care requires that a director act in good faith, with the care that an ordinarily prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances. Under this duty, a director must inform himself of, and disclose to shareholders, all material information reasonably available regarding a significant transaction. The duty of loyalty requires that a director act in a manner he or she reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation. He or she must not use his or her corporate position for personal gain or advantage. This duty prohibits self-dealing by a director and mandates that the best interest of the corporation and its shareholders take precedence over any interest possessed by a director, officer or controlling shareholder and not shared by the shareholders generally. In general, actions of a director are presumed to have been made on an informed basis, in good faith and in the honest belief that the action taken was in the best interests of the corporation. However, this presumption may be rebutted by evidence of a breach of one of the fiduciary duties. Should such evidence be presented concerning a transaction by a director, a director must prove the procedural fairness of the transaction, and that the transaction was of fair value to the corporation.

 

As a matter of Mauritius law, a director of a Mauritius company is in the position of a fiduciary with respect to the company and therefore it is considered that he owes duties to the company that include a duty to act bona fide in the best interests of the company, a duty not to make a profit based on his or her position as director (unless the company permits him to do so) and a duty not to put himself in a position where the interests of the company conflict with his or her personal interest or his or her duty to a third party. Under the Mauritius Companies Act, our directors have a duty to our company to exercise their powers honestly, in good faith and in the best interests of our company. Our directors also have a duty to our company to exercise the degree of care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances. Where a director of a public company also holds office as an executive, the director is required under Mauritius law to exercise that degree of care, diligence and skill which a reasonably prudent and competent executive in that position would exercise. In fulfilling their duty of care to our company, our directors must ensure compliance with the Mauritius Companies Act and our Constitution, as amended from time to time.

 

Neither Mauritian law nor our Constitution requires the majority of our directors to be independent.

 

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Shareholder Action by Written Consent

 

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may eliminate the right of shareholders to act by written consent by amendment to its certificate of incorporation. Mauritius law provides that, save for the annual meeting of a company, shareholders may approve corporate matters by way of a unanimous written resolution signed by or on behalf of each shareholder who would have been entitled to vote on such matter at a general meeting without a meeting being held or by resolution in writing signed by not less than 75% or such other percentage as the constitution of the company may require for passing a special resolution, whichever is the greater, of the shareholders who would be entitled to vote on that resolution at a meeting of shareholders who together hold not less than 75% (or, if a higher percentage is required by the constitution, that higher percentage) of the votes entitled to be cast on that resolution.

 

Shareholder Meetings

 

Shareholders of a Delaware corporation generally do not have the right to call meetings of shareholders unless that right is granted in the certificate of incorporation or bylaws. However, if a corporation fails to hold its annual general meeting within a period of 30 days after the date designated for the annual meeting, or if no date has been designated for a period of 13 months after its last annual general meeting, the Delaware Court of Chancery may order a meeting to be held upon the application of a shareholder.

 

Mauritius law and our Constitution allow our shareholders to requisition a shareholders’ meeting. We are obliged by law to call a shareholders’ annual meeting once every year.

 

Cumulative Voting

 

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, cumulative voting for elections of directors is not permitted unless the corporation’s certificate of incorporation specifically provides for it. Cumulative voting potentially facilitates the representation of minority shareholders on a board of directors since it permits the minority shareholder to cast all the votes to which the shareholder is entitled on a single director, which increases the shareholder’s voting power with respect to electing such director. As permitted under Mauritius law, our Constitution does not provide for cumulative voting. As a result, our shareholders are not afforded any less protections or rights on this issue than shareholders of a Delaware corporation.

 

Removal of Directors

 

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a director of a corporation with a classified board may be removed only for cause with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under our Constitution, directors may be removed by ordinary resolution of our shareholders.

 

Transactions with Interested Shareholders

 

The Delaware General Corporation Law contains business combination provision applicable to Delaware corporations whereby, unless the corporation has specifically elected not to be governed by such statute by amendment to its certificate of incorporation, it is prohibited from engaging in certain business combinations with an “interested shareholder” for three years following the date that such person becomes an interested shareholder. Subject to specified exceptions, an interested shareholder is a person or a group that owns 15% or more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock (including any rights to acquire stock pursuant to an option, warrant, agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion or exchange rights, and stock with respect to which the person has voting rights only), or is an affiliate or associate of the corporation and was the owner of 15% of more of the corporation’s outstanding voting stock at any time within the previous three years. This has the effect of limiting the ability of a potential acquirer to make a two-tiered bid for the target in which all shareholders would not be treated equally. The statute does not apply if, among other things, prior to the date on which such shareholder becomes an interested shareholder, the board of directors approves either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the person becoming an interested shareholder. This encourages any potential acquirer of a Delaware corporation to negotiate the terms of any acquisition transaction with the target’s board of directors.

 

There is no such statutory provision under Mauritius law restricting transactions between a company and its significant shareholders.

 

Dissolution; Winding Up

 

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, unless the board of directors approves the proposal to dissolve, dissolution must be approved by all shareholders entitled to vote thereon. Only if the dissolution is initiated by the board of directors may it be approved by a simple majority of the corporation’s outstanding shares. Delaware law allows a Delaware corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a supermajority voting requirement in connection with dissolutions initiated by the board.

 

Under Mauritius law, a company may be wound up by either an order of the courts of Mauritius or by a special resolution of its members or, if the company is unable to pay its debts, by a special resolution of its members with leave of the court. The court has authority to order winding up in a number of specified circumstances including where it is, in the opinion of the court, just and equitable to do so.

 

Under the Insolvency Act 2009 of Mauritius, our company may be dissolved, liquidated or wound up by special resolution of our shareholders.

 

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Variation of Rights of Shares

 

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may vary the rights of a class of shares with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of such class, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under Mauritius law and our Constitution, if our share capital is divided into more than one class of shares, we may vary the rights attached to any class only with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a general meeting of the holders of the shares of that class.

 

Amendment of Governing Documents

 

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation’s governing documents may be amended with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. As permitted by Mauritius law, our Constitution may only be amended by special resolution of our shareholders.

 

Rights of Non-Resident or Foreign Shareholders

 

There are no limitations imposed by our Constitution on the rights of non-resident or foreign shareholders to hold or exercise voting rights on our shares.

 

Such limitations are not required under the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

Issuance of Preferred Shares

 

Our Constitution allows for our company to issue preferred shares. Our Constitution provides that, except for issuances of more than 10% of the share capital of the Company in a single transaction, which must be approved by an ordinary resolution of shareholders for so long as International Finance Corporation or IFC GIF Investment Company I hold any equity shares of the Company, the directors of our company may offer, issue, grant options over or otherwise dispose of shares of our company to such persons, at such times and for such consideration and upon such terms and conditions as the board of directors of our company may in its absolute discretion determine (save that no shares shall be issued below the par value of the share) and that any share in our company may be issued with or have attached thereto such rights or restrictions whether in regard to dividend, voting, return of capital or otherwise as our company may determine or, if there has not been any such determination or so far as the same does not make specific provision, as the board of directors of our company may determine.

 

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may issue preferred shares without shareholder approval.

 

Compulsory Acquisition

 

The Financial Services Commission in Mauritius has recently issued the Securities (Takeover) Rules 2010, or the Rules, under the Financial Services Act 2007 of Mauritius and the Mauritius Securities Act which may apply to takeover offers where the offeree is a reporting issuer in Mauritius and to a corporation holding a global business license which is listed on a relevant securities exchange. The Rules include provisions, inter alia, for the making of a mandatory offer and compulsory acquisition of shares. The Rules came into operation on May 1, 2011.

 

Anti-takeover provisions

 

Mauritius law does not prevent Mauritius companies from adopting a wide range of defensive measures, such as staggered boards, issue of preferred shares, adoption of poison pill shareholder rights plans and provisions that restrict the rights of shareholders to call meetings. Our Constitution includes the following provisions which may be regarded as defensive measures: (i) a staggered board of directors, (ii) the ability to issue preferred shares, (iii) granting directors the absolute discretion to decline to register a transfer of any shares (other than a fully paid share), and (iv) requiring that amendments to our Constitution be approved by a special resolution of the shareholders of our company.

 

Delaware law also does not prevent Delaware corporations from adopting defensive measures such as staggered boards, issue of preferred shares, adoption of poison pill shareholder rights plans and requirements for advance notification of shareholder nominations and proposals. In addition, Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging, under certain circumstances, in a business combination with an interested shareholder for a period of three years following the date the person became an interested shareholder unless certain conditions are met. Generally, a business combination includes a merger, asset or stock sale or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested shareholder. An interested shareholder is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns or, within three years prior to the determination of interested shareholder status, did own 15% or more of a corporation’s outstanding voting stock.

 

Registration Rights

 

On July 14, 2016 we entered into a registration rights agreement by and among Azure Power Global Limited, IFC, IFC GIF Investment Company I, PROPARCO, FC VI India Venture (Mauritius) Ltd., Helion Venture Partners II, LLC, Helion Venture Partners India II, LLC and DEG (collectively referred to as the “Holders”), pursuant to which we will grant certain registration rights to certain holders of our Registrable Securities, as described below.

 

Subject to the terms of the registration rights agreement and lock-up agreements described in this Prospectus, at any time or from time to time, one or more of the Holders may request that we effect a registration under the Securities Act of all or any part of the Registrable Securities (as will be defined in the registration rights agreement) owned by the Holders (each such registration is referred to as a “Demand Registration”), provided that the Registrable Securities to be so registered (i) have an aggregate value of at least US$25 million, based on the closing trading price of the equity shares on the date demand to file such Demand Registration Statement is made, or (ii) include all Registrable Securities of the Holder or Holders requesting the Demand Registration which remain outstanding at such time.

 

At any time after we become eligible to file a shelf registration statement under the Securities Act, the registration statement to be filed by us pursuant to any Demand Registration may be required by the Holder requesting such Demand Registration to be in the form of a shelf registration statement (or any similar or successor form for which we then qualify).

 

Each Holder is entitled to not more than four Demand Registrations pursuant to the registration rights agreement. All Holders are entitled to no more than one Demand Registration pursuant to the registration rights agreement per six-month period.

 

Whenever we propose to file a registration statement including, but not limited to, registration statements relating to our secondary offerings of Securities (but excluding registration statements relating to the paragraphs above and relating to employee benefit plans or with respect to corporate reorganizations) at any time and from time to time, we will, at least 20 days prior to such filing, give written notice to all Holders of our intention to do so and, upon the written request of any Holder(s) given within 10 days after we provide such notice, we will use our reasonable efforts to cause all Registrable Securities that we have been requested by such Holder(s) to register or to be registered under the Securities Act to the extent necessary to permit their sale or other disposition in accordance with the intended methods of distribution specified in the request of such Holder(s), provided that we shall have the right to postpone or withdraw any such registration effected without obligation to any Holder.

 

On September 30, 2016, we entered into a registration rights agreement with CDPQ on substantially the same terms as described above, except CDPQ is not entitled to more than three Demand Registrations pursuant to the registration rights agreement.

 

Transfer Agent

 

The registrar and transfer agent for our equity shares is Computershare Inc.

 

 21
 

 

EXPENSES

 

The following table sets forth the aggregate expenses in connection with this offering, all of which will be paid by us (other than the expenses in connection with the sale of equity shares by the Selling Shareholders, which expenses will be paid by the Selling Shareholders, unless stated otherwise in a Prospectus Supplement). All amounts shown are estimates, except for the SEC registration fee.

 

SEC registration fee   $ 35,197.00   
FINRA fees   $ *  
Legal fees and expenses   $ *  
Accounting fees and expenses   $ *  
NYSE Supplemental Listing Fee   $ *  
Miscellaneous   $ *  
         
Total   $ *  

 

* To be provided by a prospectus supplement or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 6-K that is incorporated by reference into this registration statement.

 

 22
 

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Except as otherwise set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, certain legal matters in connection with the securities offered pursuant to this Prospectus will be passed upon for us by Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, our special United States counsel, to the extent governed by the laws of the State of New York, and by Appleby, our special legal counsel as to Mauritius law, to the extent governed by the law of the Republic of Mauritius. Legal matters as to Indian law will be passed upon for us by Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas. If legal matters in connection with offerings made pursuant to this Prospectus are passed upon by counsel to underwriters, dealers or agents, such counsel will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any such offering.

 

 23
 

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of Azure Power Global Limited included in Azure Power Global Limited’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended March 31, 2017 have been audited by Ernst & Young Associates LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements are, and audited financial statements to be included in subsequently filed documents will be, incorporated herein in reliance upon the report of Ernst & Young Associates LLP pertaining to such financial statements to the extent covered by consents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

 24
 

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT US

 

We are subject to the information requirements of the U.S. Exchange Act, and in accordance therewith files reports and other information with the SEC. Such reports and other information are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Prospective investors may read and copy any document we have filed with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C. and may also obtain copies of those documents from the public reference room of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549 by paying a fee. Additionally, prospective investors may read and download some of the documents we have filed with the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering and Retrieval system at www.sec.gov. Reports and other information about the Corporation may also be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. Our filings are also available on our website at http://www.azurepower.com.

 

We will furnish holders of our equity shares with annual reports containing audited financial statements and a report by our independent registered public accounting firm. The audited financial statements will be prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from a number of rules and regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act, applicable to U.S. domestic issuers, including the furnishing and content of proxy statements, compliance with the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act applicable to executive officers, directors and principal shareholders.

 

We have filed with the SEC under the U.S. Securities Act, a registration statement on Form F-3 relating to the Securities and of which this Prospectus forms a part. This Prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in such registration statement, certain items of which are contained in the exhibits to the registration statement as permitted or required by the rules and regulations of the SEC. Statements made in this Prospectus as to the contents of any contract, agreement or other document referred to are not necessarily complete, and in each instance, for a complete description of the applicable contract, agreement or other document, reference is made to the exhibits available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

 25
 

 

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with it. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those filed documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this Prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC prior to the termination of this offering will also be considered to be part of this Prospectus and will automatically update and supersede previously filed information, including information contained in this document.

 

We hereby incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the Commission under Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

  Our Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on November 9, 2017;
     
  Our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended March 31, 2017, filed with the SEC on June 19, 2017, containing our audited consolidated financial statements for the most recent fiscal year for which those statements have been filed;
     
  The description of our equity shares contained in our Registration Statement on Form F-1, filed with the SEC on December 16, 2015, including any subsequent amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description; and
     
  The description of our equity shares contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-37909), filed with the SEC on October 7, 2016, and any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

 

We are also incorporating by reference all subsequent Annual Reports on Form 20-F that we file with the SEC and certain reports on Form 6-K that we furnish to the SEC after the date of this Prospectus (if they state that they are incorporated by reference into this Prospectus) until we file a post-effective amendment indicating that the offering of the Securities made by this Prospectus has been terminated. In all cases, you should rely on the later information over different information included in this Prospectus or the applicable Prospectus Supplement.

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and any accompanying Prospectus Supplement. We have not, and any underwriters have not, authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer to sell these Securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this Prospectus and any accompanying Prospectus Supplement as well as the information we previously filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference, is accurate as of the dates on the front cover of those documents only. Our business, financial condition and results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

You may request a free copy of the above-mentioned filing or any subsequent filing we incorporated by reference to this Prospectus by writing or telephoning us at [email protected] or Azure Power, 3rd Floor, Asset 301-304 and 307, WorldMark 3, Aerocity, New Delhi – 110037, or 0091 11 4940 9800.

 

 26
 

 

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS

 

Item 8. Indemnification of Officers and Directors

 

Under the Mauritius Companies Act, a company may indemnify a director or employee of the company or a related company for any costs incurred by him or the company in respect of any proceedings (a) that relates to liability for any act or omission in his capacity as a director or employee and (b) in which judgment is given in his favor, in which he is acquitted, which is discontinued, in which he is granted relief under section 350 of the Mauritius Companies Act or where proceedings are threatened and such threatened action is abandoned or not pursued. The Mauritius Companies Act further provides that a company may indemnify a director or employee of the company or a related company in respect of (a) liability to any person, other than the company or a related company, for any act or omission in his capacity as a director or employee or (b) costs incurred by that director or employee in defending or settling any claim or proceedings relating to any such liability, save in respect of any criminal liability or liability in respect of a breach (in the case of a director) of the duty to exercise his powers honestly in good faith in the best interests of the company.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act, may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

 

Pursuant to the form of indemnification agreement filed as Exhibit 10.18 to the Registrant’s F-1 registration statement, the Registrant may agree to indemnify its directors and officers against certain liabilities and expenses arising from their being a director or officer.

 

Item 9. Exhibits

 

A list of exhibits included as part of this registration statement is set forth in the Exhibit Index which immediately precedes such exhibits and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 10. Undertakings

 

(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

(i) to include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

 

(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this 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 this registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of Securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement;

 

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this Item 9 do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

 

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the Securities offered therein, and the offering of such Securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the Securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

(4) To file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A. of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act need not be furnished, provided, that the registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (4) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act or Rule 3-19 of Regulation S-K if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement.

 

 27
 

 

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:

 

(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

 

(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

 

(6) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities: the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

 

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

 

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

 

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

 

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

 

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the Securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

(d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

 28
 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, 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 New Delhi, India, on December 20, 2017.

 

  Azure Power Global Limited
     
  By: /s/ Inderpreet Singh Wadhwa
  Name: Inderpreet Singh Wadhwa
  Title: Principal Executive Officer

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

We, the undersigned directors of Azure Power Global Limited and executive officers of Azure Power Global Limited and its subsidiaries hereby severally constitute and appoint Inderpreet Singh Wadhwa and Sushil Bhagat, and each of them singly (with full power to each of them to act alone), our true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution in each of them for him and in his name, place and stead, and in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement (or any other Registration Statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as full to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities held on December 20, 2017.

 

 

Signature   Title
     
/s/ Inderpreet Singh Wadhwa

 

 

Inderpreet Singh Wadhwa   Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
     
/s/ Sushil Bhagat

 

 

Sushil Bhagat   Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
     
/s/ Harkanwal Singh Wadhwa

 

 

Harkanwal Singh Wadhwa   Director
     
/s/ Robert Douglas Kelly

 

 

Robert Kelly   Director

 

/s/ Sanjeev Aggarwal

 

 

Sanjeev Aggarwal   Director
     
/s/ Barney Sheppard Rush

 

 

Barney Sheppard Rush   Director
     
/s/ Arno Lockheart Harris

 

 

Arno Lockheart Harris   Director
     
/s/ Cyril Sebastien Dominique Cabanes

 

 

Cyril Sebastien Dominique Cabanes   Director

 

/s/ Eric Ng Yim On

 

 

Eric Ng Yim On   Director
     
/s/ Muhammad Khalid Peyrye

 

 

Muhammad Khalid Peyrye   Director
     
/s/ Rajendra Prasad Singh

 

 

Rajendra Prasad Singh   Director

 

 29
 

 

SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REGISTRANT IN THE UNITED STATES

 

Under the Securities Act, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Azure Power Global Limited has signed this registration statement in California, United States of America, on December 20, 2017.

 

  Authorized U.S. Representative
     
  By: /s/ Robert Douglas Kelly
  Name: Robert Douglas Kelly
  Title: Director

 

30
 

 

AZURE POWER GLOBAL LIMITED

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

No.  

Description

     
1.1^   Form of Underwriting Agreement
     
4.1*   Form of Indenture
     
4.2^   Form of Debt Security
     
4.3^   Form of Warrant
     
4.4^   Form of Warrant Agreement
     
4.5   Form of Equity Share Certificate of Azure Power Global Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file No. 333 208584) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 16, 2015)
     
5.1*   Opinion of Appleby
     
5.2*   Opinion of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP regarding the validity of the securities
     
10.1   Amended and Restated Shareholders Agreement, dated March 28, 2017, by and among Azure Power Global Limited, AZI, Inderpreet Singh Wadhwa and Harkanwal Singh Wadhwa (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.26 of our Annual Report on Form 20-F (file No. 001-37909) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 19, 2017).
     
12.1*   Statement regarding the computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges
     
23.1*   Consent of Ernst & Young Associates LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.
     
23.2*   Consent of Appleby (included in opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1).
     
23.3*   Consent of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP (included in opinion filed as Exhibit 5.2).
     
23.4*   Consent of Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas.
     
24.1*   Power of Attorney (included on signature page).
     
25.1^   Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of the Trustee under the Indenture

 

 

* Filed herewith.
^ To be filed as an exhibit to a post-effective amendment to this registration statement or as an exhibit to a report filed under the Exchange Act and incorporated herein by reference.

 

31
 

 

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

Azure Power Global Limited

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of [         ]

 

[         ]

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents

 

    Page
  ARTICLE I  
  DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE  
     
Section 1.1 Definitions. 1
Section 1.2 Other Definitions. 4
Section 1.3 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. 5
Section 1.4 Rules of Construction. 5
     
  ARTICLE II  
  THE SECURITIES  
     
Section 2.1 Issuable in Series. 6
Section 2.2 Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities. 6
Section 2.3 Execution and Authentication. 8
Section 2.4 Registrar and Paying Agent. 9
Section 2.5 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. 9
Section 2.6 Security Holder Lists. 10
Section 2.7 Transfer and Exchange. 10
Section 2.8 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities. 10
Section 2.9 Outstanding Securities. 11
Section 2.10 Treasury Securities. 11
Section 2.11 Temporary Securities. 12
Section 2.12 Cancellation. 12
Section 2.13 Defaulted Interest. 12
Section 2.14 Global Securities. 12
Section 2.15 CUSIP Numbers. 13
     
  ARTICLE III  
  REDEMPTION  
     
Section 3.1 Notice to Trustee. 14
Section 3.2 Selection of Securities to be Redeemed. 14
Section 3.3 Notice of Redemption. 14
Section 3.4 Effect of Notice of Redemption. 15
Section 3.5 Deposit of Redemption Price. 15
Section 3.6 Securities Redeemed in Part. 15

 

 -i- 

 

 

Table of Contents

(continued)

 

    Page
  ARTICLE IV  
  COVENANTS  
     
Section 4.1 Payment of Principal and Interest. 15
Section 4.2 SEC Reports. 15
Section 4.3 Compliance Certificate. 16
Section 4.4 Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. 16
Section 4.5 Corporate Existence. 16
     
  ARTICLE V  
  SUCCESSORS  
     
Section 5.1 When Company May Merge, Etc. 16
Section 5.2 Successor Corporation Substituted. 17
     
  ARTICLE VI  
  DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES  
     
Section 6.1 Events of Default. 17
Section 6.2 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. 18
Section 6.3 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee. 19
Section 6.4 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. 20
Section 6.5 Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities. 20
Section 6.6 Application of Money Collected. 21
Section 6.7 Limitation on Suits. 21
Section 6.8 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest. 21
Section 6.9 Restoration of Rights and Remedies. 22
Section 6.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative. 22
Section 6.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver. 22
Section 6.12 Control by Holders. 22
Section 6.13 Waiver of Past Defaults. 23
Section 6.14 Undertaking for Costs. 23

 

 -ii- 

 

 

Table of Contents

(continued)

 

    Page
  ARTICLE VII  
  TRUSTEE  
     
Section 7.1 Duties of Trustee. 23
Section 7.2 Rights of Trustee. 24
Section 7.3 Force Majeure. 26
Section 7.4 Individual Rights of Trustee. 26
Section 7.5 Trustee’s Disclaimer. 26
Section 7.6 Notice of Defaults. 26
Section 7.7 Reports by Trustee to Holders. 27
Section 7.8 Compensation and Indemnity. 27
Section 7.9 Replacement of Trustee. 28
Section 7.10 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc. 28
Section 7.11 Eligibility; Disqualification. 29
Section 7.12 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company. 29
     
  ARTICLE VIII  
  SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE  
     
Section 8.1 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. 29
Section 8.2 Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification. 30
Section 8.3 Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series. 30
Section 8.4 Covenant Defeasance. 32
Section 8.5 Repayment to Company. 33
     
  ARTICLE IX  
  SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES, AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS  
     
Section 9.1 Without Consent of Holders. 33
Section 9.2 With Consent of Holders. 34
Section 9.3 Limitations. 34
Section 9.4 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act. 35
Section 9.5 Revocation and Effect of Consents. 35
Section 9.6 Notation on or Exchange of Securities. 35
Section 9.7 Trustee Protected. 35
     
  ARTICLE X  
  MISCELLANEOUS  
     
Section 10.1 Trust Indenture Act Controls. 36
Section 10.2 Notices. 36
Section 10.3 Communication by Holders with Other Holders. 36
Section 10.4 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. 37
Section 10.5 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. 37
Section 10.6 Rules by Trustee and Agents. 37
Section 10.7 Legal Holidays. 37
Section 10.8 No Recourse Against Others. 37
Section 10.9 Counterparts. 38
Section 10.10 Governing Laws. 38
Section 10.11 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. 38
Section 10.12 Successors. 38
Section 10.13 Severability. 38
Section 10.14 Table of Contents, Headings, Etc. 38
Section 10.15 Securities in a Foreign Currency or in ECU. 38
Section 10.16 Judgment Currency. 39
     
  ARTICLE XI  
  SINKING FUNDS  
     
Section 11.1 Applicability of Article. 40
Section 11.2 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities. 40
Section 11.3 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund. 40

 

 -iii- 

 

 

Azure Power Global Limited

 

Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Indenture, dated as of [       ]

 

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

 

§ 310(a)(1) 7.11
(a)(2) 7.11
(a)(3) Not Applicable
(a)(4) Not Applicable
(a)(5) 7.11
(b) 7.11
§ 311(a) 7.12
(b) 7.12
§ 312(a) 2.6
(b) 10.3
(c) 10.3
§ 313(a) 7.7
(b)(1) 7.7
(b)(2) 7.7
(c) 7.7
(d) 7.7
§ 314(a) 4.2, 10.5
(b) Not Applicable
(c)(1) 10.4
(c)(2) 10.4
(c)(3) Not Applicable
(d) Not Applicable
(e) 10.5
(f) Not Applicable
§ 315(a) 7.1
(b) 7.6
(c) 7.1
(d) 7.1
(e) 6.14
§ 316(a) 2.10
(a)(1)(A) 6.12
(a)(1)(B) 6.13
(b) 6.8
§ 317(a)(1) 6.3
(a)(2) 6.4
(b) 2.5
§ 318(a) 10.1

 

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Indenture dated as of [         ] between Azure Power Global Limited, a public company limited by shares incorporated in Mauritius (“Company”), and [                ] (“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 1.1 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 herein or 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 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, Paying Agent or Notice Agent.

 

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, unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series, 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 or a day the Corporate Trust Office is closed.

 

Capital Stock” means any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock.

 

Company” means the party named as such above until a successor replaces it 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.

 

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

 

Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered.

 

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

 

Depositary” 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 Depositary for such Series by the Company, which Depositary shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act; and if at any time there is more than one such person, “Depositary” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Depositary 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 6.2.

 

Dollars” and “$” 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.

 

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect as of the date of determination.

 

Global Security” or “Global Securities” means a Security or Securities, as the case may be, in the form established pursuant to Section 2.2 evidencing all or part of a Series of Securities, issued to the Depositary for such Series or its nominee, and registered in the name of such Depositary or nominee.

 

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

 

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

 

interest” with respect to any Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.

 

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

 

Officer” means the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, any Vice President, or the Chief Financial Officer 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, which opinion, is acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company.

 

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” 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, 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 and who shall in each case have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

 

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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 2.1 and 2.2 hereof.

 

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

 

Subsidiary” of any specified person means any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that person or a combination thereof.

 

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TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code §§ 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.

 

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 1.2 Other Definitions.

 

TERM   DEFINED IN SECTION
“Bankruptcy Law”   6.1
“Custodian”   6.1
“Event of Default”   6.1
“Journal”   10.15
“Judgment Currency”   10.16
“Legal Holiday”   10.7
“mandatory sinking fund payment”   11.1
“Market Exchange Rate”   10.15
“New York Banking Day”   10.16
“Notice Agent”   2.4
“optional sinking fund payment”   11.1
“Paying Agent”   2.4
“Registrar”   2.4
“Required Currency”   10.16
“successor person”   5.1

 

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Section 1.3 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.

 

Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

 

“Commission” means the SEC.

 

“indenture securities” means the Securities.

 

“indenture security holder” means a Security Holder.

 

“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.

 

Section 1.4 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 GAAP;

 

(c) “or” is not exclusive;

 

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

 

(e) provisions apply to successive events and transactions.

 

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Article II

 

THE SECURITIES

 

Section 2.1 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 or determined in the manner provided in a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to 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 detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution 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 2.2 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 2.2(a) and either as to such Securities within the Series or as to the Series generally in the case of Subsections 2.2(a) through 2.2(u)) by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth or determined in the manner provided in a Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate, and associated supplemental indenture:

 

(a) the title of the Series (which shall distinguish the Securities of that particular Series from the Securities of any other Series);

 

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

 

(c) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the Series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the Series pursuant to Section 2.7, 2.8, 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6);

 

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

 

(e) 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 accrue, the date or dates on which such interest, if any, shall commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date;

 

(f) the place or places where the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series shall be payable, where the Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such Series and this Indenture may be served, and the method of such payment, if by wire transfer, mail or other means;

 

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(g) if applicable, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the Securities of the Series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;

 

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

 

(i) the dates, if any, on which and the price or prices at which the Securities of the Series will be repurchased by the Company at the option of the Holders thereof and other detailed terms and provisions of such repurchase obligations;

 

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

 

(k) the forms of the Securities of the Series and whether the Securities will be issuable as Global Securities;

 

(l) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the Securities of the Series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2;

 

(m) the currency of denomination of the Securities of the Series, which may be Dollars or any Foreign Currency, including, but not limited to, the ECU, and if such currency of denomination is a composite currency other than the ECU, the agency or organization, if any, responsible for overseeing such composite currency;

 

(n) the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be made;

 

(o) if payments of principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series are to be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such Securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to such payments will be determined;

 

(p) the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be determined, if such amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index;

 

(q) the provisions, if any, relating to any security provided for the Securities of the Series;

 

(r) 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 6.2;

 

(s) any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Articles IV or V which applies to Securities of the Series;

 

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(t) any other terms of the Securities of the Series (which may supplement, modify or delete any provision of this Indenture insofar as it applies to such Series); and

 

(u) any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to Securities of such Series if other than those appointed herein.

 

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 hereto or Officers’ Certificate referred to above.

 

Section 2.3 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 or facsimile 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. 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 2.2, except as provided in Section 2.8.

 

Prior to the issuance of Securities of any Series, the Trustee shall have received and (subject to Section 7.2) 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 10.4, and (c) an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 10.4.

 

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 be taken lawfully; or (b) if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or vice-presidents 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 of the Company.

 

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Section 2.4 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 2.2, an office or agency where Securities of such Series may be presented or surrendered for payment (“Paying Agent”), where Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange (“Registrar”) and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such Series and this Indenture may be delivered (“Notice Agent”). The Trustee or Notice Agent, as applicable, shall deliver such notices and demands to the Company in accordance with Section 10.2 hereof. 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, Paying Agent or Notice Agent. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required Registrar, Paying Agent or Notice Agent or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the name and address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or delivered at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more co-registrars, additional paying agents or notice 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, Paying Agent and Notice Agent in each place so specified pursuant to Section 2.2 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, additional paying agent or notice agent. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar; the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent; and the term “Notice Agent” includes any additional notice agent.

 

The Company hereby appoints the Trustee the initial Registrar, Paying Agent and Notice Agent for each Series unless another Registrar, Paying Agent or Notice Agent, as the case may be, is appointed prior to the time Securities of that Series are first issued.

 

The Company hereby appoints The Depository Trust Company to act as Depositary with respect to the Securities.

 

Section 2.5 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 Security Holders 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 of the Company) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of Security Holders of any Series of Securities all money held by it as Paying Agent.

 

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Section 2.6 Security Holder 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 Security Holders of each Series of Securities and shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least ten 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 Security Holders of each Series of Securities.

 

Section 2.7 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 upon receipt of a Company Order. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein), but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Sections 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6).

 

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 fifteen 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.

 

Section 2.8 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

 

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order, 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 Trustee (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 Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order, 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.

 

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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 2.9 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.

 

If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.8, 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 of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) 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 of the Company 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 6.2.

 

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 any Affiliate of the Company 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 the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.

 

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Section 2.11 Temporary Securities.

 

Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order, shall authenticate temporary Securities upon a Company Order. 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 receipt of a Company Order, 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 any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. Upon receipt of written instruction from the Company, the Trustee shall cancel all Securities surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy such canceled Securities and deliver a certificate of such destruction to the Company, unless the Company otherwise directs. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

 

Section 2.13 Defaulted Interest.

 

If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on a Series of Securities, it shall pay the defaulted interest, plus, to the extent permitted by law, any interest payable on the defaulted interest, 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 10 days before the record date, the Company shall mail to the Trustee and to each Security Holder 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.

 

Section 2.14 Global Securities.

 

(a) Terms of Securities. 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 Depositary for such Global Security or Securities.

 

(b) Transfer and Exchange. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in Section 2.7 of the Indenture and in addition thereto, any Global Security shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 2.7 of the Indenture for Securities registered in the names of Holders other than the Depositary for such Security or its nominee only if (i) such Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or if at any time such Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, the Company fails to appoint a successor Depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act within 90 days of such event or (ii) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable. Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for Securities registered in such names as the Depositary shall direct in writing in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security with like tenor and terms.

 

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

 

The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

 

(c) Legend. 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 Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary. This Security is exchangeable for Securities registered in the name of a person other than the Depositary or its nominee only in the limited circumstances described in the Indenture, and may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such a successor Depositary.”

 

(d) Acts of Holders. The Depositary, 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) Payments. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Indenture, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.2, payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on any Global Security shall be made to the Holder thereof.

 

(f) Consents, Declaration and Directions. Except as provided in Section 2.14(e), the Company, the Trustee and any Agent shall treat a person as the Holder of such principal amount of outstanding Securities of such Series represented by a Global Security as shall be specified in a written statement of the Depositary with respect to such Global Security, for purposes of obtaining any consents, declarations, waivers or directions required to be given by the Holders pursuant to this Indenture.

 

Section 2.15 CUSIP Numbers.

 

The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to 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.

 

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Article III

REDEMPTION

 

Section 3.1 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 of the redemption date and the principal amount of Series of Securities to be redeemed. The Company shall give the Trustee notice at least 45 days before the redemption date (or such shorter notice as may be acceptable to the Trustee).

 

Section 3.2 Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.

 

Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate, if less than all the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Securities of the Series to be redeemed in any manner that the Trustee deems fair and appropriate and in accordance with its customary practices or the selection shall be in accordance with DTC procedures, as applicable. The Trustee shall make the selection from Securities of the Series outstanding not previously called for redemption. The Trustee 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 2.2(j), 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 3.3 Notice of Redemption.

 

Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate, at least 30 days but not more than 60 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;

 

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(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;

 

(f) the CUSIP number, if any; and

 

(g) 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 request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption prepared by the Company, in the Company’s name and at its expense.

 

Section 3.4 Effect of Notice of Redemption.

 

Once notice of redemption is mailed or published as provided in Section 3.3, 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 3.5 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 3.6 Securities Redeemed in Part.

 

Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed in part, the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order, 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.

 

Article IV

COVENANTS

 

Section 4.1 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.

 

Section 4.2 SEC Reports.

 

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 15 days after it files them with the SEC copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents, and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Company also shall comply with the other provisions of TIA § 314(a).

 

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Section 4.3 Compliance Certificate.

 

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year (which on the date hereof ends on March 31) of the Company, an Officers’ Certificate 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/her 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).

 

The Company will, so long as any of the Securities are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, forthwith upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

Section 4.4 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 4.5 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 rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise 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.

 

Article V

SUCCESSORS

 

Section 5.1 When Company May Merge, Etc.

 

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its properties and assets to, any person (a “successor person”) unless:

 

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(a) the Company is the surviving corporation or the successor person (if other than the Company) is a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of any U.S. domestic jurisdiction and expressly assumes the Company’s obligations on the Securities and under this Indenture and

 

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

 

The Company shall deliver 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 any supplemental indenture comply with this Indenture.

 

Notwithstanding the above, any Subsidiary of the Company may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties to the Company. Neither an Officers’ Certificate nor an Opinion of Counsel shall be required to be delivered in connection therewith.

 

Section 5.2 Successor Corporation 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 5.1, the successor corporation 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, conveyance or other disposition (other than a lease) shall be released from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.

 

Article VI

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

Section 6.1 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

 

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

 

(c) default in the performance or breach of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty that has been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of Series of Securities other than that Series), which default continues uncured for a period of 60 days after there has 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 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

 

(d) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

 

(i) commences a voluntary case,

 

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

 

(iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property,

 

(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or

 

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

 

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

 

(i) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case,

 

(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of its property, or

 

(iii) orders the liquidation of the Company,

 

and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days; or

 

(f) 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 2.2 (r).

 

The term “Bankruptcy Law” means title 11, U.S. Code or any similar Federal or State law for the relief of debtors. The term “Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

Section 6.2 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any Series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing (other than an Event of Default referred to in Section 6.1(d) or (e)) then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series may declare the principal amount (or, if any Securities of that Series are Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such Securities) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all of the Securities of that Series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(d) or (e) shall occur, the principal amount (or specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding Securities 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.

 

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At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to any Series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that Series, other than the non-payment of the principal and interest, if any, of Securities of that Series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 6.13.

 

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

 

Section 6.3 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

 

The Company covenants that if

 

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

 

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

 

(c) default is made in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when and as due by the terms of a Security,

 

then, the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and any overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

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

 

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Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, 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 pursuing any available remedy by proceeding at law or in equity 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.

 

Section 6.4 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 7.8.

 

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 6.5 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 6.6 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:

 

First: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.8; and

 

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 or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.

 

Section 6.7 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, 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 25% 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 the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

 

(d) the Trustee for 60 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 60-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 6.8 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.

 

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Section 6.9 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.

 

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 2.8, 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, to the extent permitted by law, 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 not less than 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 7.1, 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.

 

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Section 6.13 Waiver of Past Defaults.

 

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 Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% 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).

 

Article VII

TRUSTEE

 

Section 7.1 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 man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

 

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

 

(i) The Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others.

 

(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 to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

 

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

 

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

 

(ii) The Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.

 

(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 security or 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

 

(g) 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.

 

(h) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability 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 adequate indemnity against such risk is not reasonably assured to it.

 

(i) The Paying Agent, the Registrar, the Notice Agent, any agent and any authenticating agent shall be entitled to the protections, immunities and standard of care as are set forth in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section with respect to the Trustee.

 

Section 7.2 Rights of Trustee.

 

(a) The Trustee may rely on and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

 

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(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. No such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel shall be at the expense of the Trustee. Any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate.

 

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

 

(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, provided that the Trustee’s conduct does not constitute negligence or bad faith. The Trustee shall not be liable for any special, punitive or consequential damages, even if they were reasonably foreseeable.

 

(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, and the Trustee may conclusively rely on any such advice or Opinion of Counsel.

 

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

 

(g) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit.

 

(h) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default (other than a payment default under Section 6.1 or 6.2) unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has received written notice of any event which is in fact such a default at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities generally or the Securities of a particular Series and this Indenture.

 

(i) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including without limitation its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and to each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.

 

(j) The Trustee may request that the Issuer deliver an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers’ Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officers’ Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.

 

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(k) The Trustee shall have no duty to inquire as to or monitor the performance of the Issuer with respect to the covenants contained in Article IV.

 

(l) The Trustee shall not be required to give any note, bond or surety in respect of the execution of the trusts and powers under this Indenture.

 

(m) Nothing herein shall be deemed to require the Trustee to submit to the jurisdiction or venue of a non-U.S. court.

 

Section 7.3 Force Majeure.

 

(a) The Trustee shall have no liability for delays or inability to perform its duties hereunder due to forces majeures, events beyond its control, such as (but not exclusively) civil unrest, earthquakes, hurricanes or other natural disasters, floods, utility failures, transmission interruptions, power failures, wars, governmental declarations or Acts of God; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

 

(b) Delivery of reports or information by the Company shall not be deemed to confer actual or constructive knowledge or notice on the Trustee with respect to a Default or Event of Default, or otherwise.

 

Section 7.4 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 of the Company 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 7.11 and 7.12.

 

Section 7.5 Trustee’s Disclaimer.

 

The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities, and it shall not be responsible for any statement in the Securities other than its authentication.

 

Section 7.6 Notice of Defaults.

 

If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Securities of any Series and if it is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail (or deliver notice subject to the applicable procedures of the Depositary or relevant clearing system) to each Security Holder of the Securities of that Series notice of a Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs or, if later, after a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has written notice 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, or in the payment of any sinking fund installment, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as its corporate trust committee or a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Security Holders of that Series.

 

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Section 7.7 Reports by Trustee to Holders.

 

Within 60 days after [  ] in each year, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Security Holders, 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 § 313.

 

A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Security Holders 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 7.8 Compensation and Indemnity.

 

The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time compensation for its services as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree upon in writing. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by it. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

 

The Company shall indemnify each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee against any loss, liability or expense (including the cost of defending itself) incurred by it except as set forth in the next paragraph in the performance of the Trustee duties under this Indenture as Trustee or Agent. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity; provided, however, that failure to so notify the Company shall not relieve it of its obligations hereunder. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense; provided, however, the Trustee may conduct its own defense if there is a conflict of interest between the interests of the Company and those of the Trustee. The Trustee may have one separate counsel (in addition to local counsel, if applicable) and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. This indemnification shall apply to officers, directors, employees, shareholders and Agents or agents of the Trustee.

 

The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee or by any officer, director, employee, shareholder, Agent or agent of the Trustee to the extent it is attributed to its own negligence or willful conduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final, non-appealable order.

 

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 of and interest on particular Securities of that Series.

 

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1 (d) or (e) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

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The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of this Indenture and the resignation and removal of the Trustee.

 

Section 7.9 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 at least 30 days prior to the date of the proposed resignation. 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 7.11;

 

(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 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders of at least a majority 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 upon payment of its fees and expenses then unpaid shall transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.8, 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 Security Holder of each such Series. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.9, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.8 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee with respect to expenses and liabilities incurred by it prior to such replacement.

 

Section 7.10 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.

 

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Section 7.11 Eligibility; Disqualification.

 

This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee shall always have a combined capital and surplus of at least $150,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 310(b).

 

Section 7.12 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

 

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

 

Article VIII

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE

 

Section 8.1 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

 

This Indenture shall upon Company Order cease to be of further effect (except as hereinafter provided in this Section 8.1), and the Trustee, 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

 

(A) have become due and payable, or

 

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

 

(C) have been called for redemption or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, or

 

(D) are deemed paid and discharged pursuant to Section 8.3, as applicable;

 

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and the Company, in the case of (A), (B) or (C) above, has irrevocably 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 stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 7.8, and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (a) of this Section, the provisions of Sections 2.4, 2.7, 2.8, 8.2 and 8.5 shall survive.

 

Section 8.2 Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification.

 

(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 8.5, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.1, all money and U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.3 or 8.4 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 8.3 or 8.4, 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 8.3 or 8.4.

 

(b) The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Sections 8.3 or 8.4 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 deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations or money held by it as provided in Sections 8.3 or 8.4 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, 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 8.3 Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series.

 

Unless this Section 8.3 is otherwise specified, pursuant to Section 2.2(t), 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 any Series on the 91st 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:

 

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(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 2.4, 2.7, 2.8, 8.2, 8.3 and 8.5; and

 

(c) the rights, powers, trust and immunities of the Trustee hereunder;

 

(d) provided that, the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

 

(e) the Company shall have deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 8.2(c)) with the Trustee 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 (i) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars 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 Trustee), not later than one 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, to pay and discharge each installment of principal of and interest, if any, on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of all the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of interest or principal and such sinking fund payments are due;

 

(f) 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;

 

(g) 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 91st day after such date;

 

(h) 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;

 

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(i) 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; 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 8.4 Covenant Defeasance.

 

Unless this Section 8.4 is otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.2(t) to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, the Company may omit to comply with respect to the Securities of any Series with any term, provision or condition set forth under Sections 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, and 5.1 as well as any additional covenants specified in a supplemental indenture for such Series of Securities or a Board Resolution or an Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2(t) (and the failure to comply with any such covenants shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default with respect to such Series under Section 6.1) and the occurrence of any event specified in a supplemental indenture for such Series of Securities or a Board Resolution or an Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2(r) and designated as an Event of Default 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 8.4, the Company has deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 8.2(c)) with the Trustee 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 (i) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars 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 Trustee), not later than one 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 Trustee, to pay and discharge each installment of principal of and interest, if any, on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of interest or principal and such sinking fund payments are due;

 

(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;

 

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(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;

 

(d) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect 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 covenant 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 covenant 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 covenant defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.

 

Section 8.5 Repayment to Company.

 

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

 

Article IX

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES, AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

 

Section 9.1 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 Security Holder:

 

(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 Security Holder;

 

(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; or

 

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(g) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA.

 

Section 9.2 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 each Series affected by such supplemental indenture (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 Security Holders 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 any Series by notice to the Trustee (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 9.2 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 9.3 Limitations.

 

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

 

(a) reduce the principal amount of Securities whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

 

(b) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest (including default interest) on any Security;

 

(c) 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;

 

(d) reduce the principal amount of Discount Securities payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof;

 

(e) 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);

 

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(f) make the principal of or interest, if any, on any Security payable in any currency other than that stated in the Security;

 

(g) make any change in Sections 6.8, 6.13 or 9.3 (this sentence); or

 

(h) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Security, provided that such redemption is made at the Company’s option.

 

Section 9.4 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.

 

Every amendment or waiver to this Indenture or the issuance of and establishment of the form and terms and conditions of 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 9.5 Revocation and Effect of Consents.

 

Until an amendment is set forth in a supplemental indenture or a 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 of the supplemental indenture or the date the waiver becomes effective.

 

Any amendment or waiver once effective shall bind every Security Holder of each Series affected by such amendment or waiver unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (a) through (h) of Section 9.3. 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 9.6 Notation on or Exchange of Securities.

 

The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment or waiver on any Security of any Series thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for Securities of that Series may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate upon receipt of a Company Order new Securities of that Series that reflect the amendment or waiver.

 

Section 9.7 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 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee shall sign all supplemental indentures, except that the Trustee need not sign any supplemental indenture that adversely affects its rights.

 

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Article X

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 10.1 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 10.2 Notices.

 

Any notice or communication by the Company or the Trustee to the other, or by a Holder to the Company or the Trustee, is duly given if in writing, in the English language, referencing this Indenture and the applicable securities or series of securities, and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail, or by facsimile transmission:

 

if to the Company:

 

Azure Power Global Limited

3rd Floor, Asset 301-304 and 307

Worldmark 3, Aerocity, New Delhi 110037, India

Fax No: 009111 4940 9807

Attention: Sushil Bhagat

 

if to the Trustee:

 

[  ]
Fax No: [  ]
Attention: [               ]

 

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

 

Any notice or communication to a Security Holder shall be mailed by first-class mail to his address shown on the register kept by the Registrar or delivered subject to the applicable procedures of Depositary or relevant clearing system. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Security Holder of any Series or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Security Holders 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 Security Holder receives it.

 

If the Company mails a notice or communication to Security Holders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

 

Section 10.3 Communication by Holders with Other Holders.

 

Security Holders of any Series may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Security Holders 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 § 312(c).

 

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Section 10.4 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 such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.

 

Section 10.5 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 § 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA § 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.

 

Section 10.6 Rules by Trustee and Agents.

 

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

 

Section 10.7 Legal Holidays.

 

Unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto 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 10.8 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 Security Holder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.

 

 37 

 

 

Section 10.9 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 10.10 Governing Laws.

 

THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAWS PROVISIONS THEREOF.

 

Section 10.11 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 of the Company. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

 

Section 10.12 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 10.13 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.

 

Section 10.14 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 10.15 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 2.2 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 10.15, “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, in its sole discretion and 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.

 

 38 

 

 

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, to the extent permitted by law, be conclusive for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Company and all Holders.

 

Section 10.16 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.

 

 39 

 

 

Article XI

SINKING FUNDS

 

Section 11.1 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 11.2. 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 11.2 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 repurchased by the Company or 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 Trustee, together with an Officers’ Certificate with respect thereto, not later than 15 days prior to the date on which the Trustee begins the process of selecting Securities for redemption, and shall be credited for such purpose by the Trustee 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 11.2, the principal amount of Securities of such Series to be redeemed in order to exhaust the aforesaid cash payment shall be less than $100,000, the Trustee 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 Trustee or a Paying Agent and applied to the next succeeding sinking fund payment, provided, however, that the Trustee or such 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 Trustee or such Paying Agent upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee 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.

 

Section 11.3 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

 

Not less than 45 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 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 11.2, 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 30 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 3.2 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 3.3. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6.

 

 40 

 

 

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

 

  Azure Power Global Limited
     
  By:  
  Name:  
  Title:  
     
  [        ],  
     
  as Trustee
     
  By:
  Name:  
  Title:  

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]

 

   
 

 

 

 

 

Mauritius Office
9th Floor
Medine Mews
La Chaussée Street
Port Louis
Republic of Mauritius
 

Azure Power Global Limited

 

1st Floor, The Exchange
18 Cybercity
Ebene
Mauritius

Email [email protected]

[email protected]

 

Direct Dial +230 203 4301

 

Tel +230 203 4300

Fax +230 210 8792

 

Your Ref

 

Appleby Ref 429640.0001

 

19 December 2017

 

  Dear Sirs  
     
  INTRODUCTION  
       
Tel +230 203 4300   This opinion as to Mauritius law is addressed to you in connection with the filing by Azure Power Global Limited, a public company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of Mauritius (the “Company”), of the Company’s registration statement on Form F-3, including all amendments or supplements thereto (the “Registration Statement”) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) in connection with the shelf registration under the Securities Act for:
   
applebyglobal.com  
   
   

 

  (a) the offer or sale, from time to time, in one or more offerings, up to an aggregate amount of US$150,000,000 of any combination of (i) equity shares, par value US$0.000625 per share (the “Equity Shares”), (ii) debt securities of the Company (the “Debt Securities”) to be issued under indentures to be entered into by the Company and the trustee for such Debt Securities (the “Indentures”) or (iii) warrants to subscribe for Equity Shares or Debt Securities in the Company (the “Warrants”) (collectively, the “Primary Offering Securities”); and
     
  (b) the sale, from time to time, of up to an aggregate of 10,000,000 equity shares, by the Selling Shareholders (as defined in the Registration Statement) of the Company as provided by the Registration Statement (the “Secondary Offering Securities”, and together with the Primary Offering Securities, the “Securities”).

 

  OUR REVIEW
   
 

For the purposes of giving this opinion we have examined and relied upon the documents listed in Part 1 of Schedule 1 (the “Documents”).

   
 

For the purposes of giving this opinion we also have carried out the Company Search described in Part 2 of Schedule 1.

 

Business Registration Number: P10018768
Appleby (JV) Ltd & Cie, trading under the name of Appleby, is a joint law venture firm registered under the Law Practitioners Act 1984.
  Bermuda ● British Virgin Islands ● Cayman Islands ● Guernsey ● Hong Kong ● Isle of Man ● Jersey ● London ● Mauritius ● Seychelles ● Shanghai ● Zurich

 

   

 

 

  We have not made any other enquiries concerning the Company and in particular we have not investigated or verified any matter of fact or opinion (whether set out in any of the Documents or elsewhere) other than as expressly stated in this opinion.
   
  Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalised terms have the meanings assigned to them in Schedule 1.
   
  LIMITATIONS
   
  Our opinion is limited to, and should be construed in accordance with, the laws of Mauritius at the date of this opinion. We express no opinion on the laws of any other jurisdiction.
   
  This opinion is strictly limited to the matters stated in it and does not extend to, and is not to be extended by implication, to any other matters. We express no opinion on the commercial implications of the Documents or whether they give effect to the commercial intentions of the parties.
   
  This opinion is issued solely for the purposes of filing the Registration Statement and the offering of the Securities and is not be relied upon in respect of any other matter.
   
  We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the references to our firm under the heading “Legal Matters” and elsewhere in the Registration Statement.
   
  ASSUMPTIONS AND RESERVATIONS
   
  We give the following opinions on the basis of the assumptions set out in Schedule 2 (Assumptions), and subject to the reservations set out in Schedule 3 (Reservations).
   
  OPINIONS

 

  1. The Company is a Global Business Licence company incorporated with limited liability and validly existing under the l.aws of Mauritius and is a separate legal entity. The Company is in good standing as evidenced by the Certificate of Current Standing issued by the Registrar of Companies.
     
  2. The Company is a holder of a Category 1 Global Business Licence issued by the Financial Services Commission of Mauritius.
     
  3. The sale and transfer of each of the Secondary Offering Securities by the Selling Shareholders pursuant to the Registration Statement have been duly authorised, and upon such sale or transfer each of the Secondary Offering Securities will be legally issued and allotted, and are fully paid and non-assessable.

 

Bermuda ● British Virgin Islands ● Cayman Islands ● Guernsey ● Hong Kong ● Isle of Man ● Jersey ● London ● Mauritius ● Seychelles ● Shanghai ● Zurich

 

  2

 

 

4. With respect to the Equity Shares, when (i) all necessary corporate actions shall have been taken to approve the issue thereof, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters; (ii) the issue of such Equity Shares has been recorded in the Company’s records; and (iii) the subscription price of such Equity Shares (being not less than the par value of the Equity Shares) has been fully paid in cash or other consideration approved in accordance with law, the Equity Shares will be duly authorised, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
     
5. With respect to each issue of the Debt Securities, when (i) all necessary corporate actions shall have been taken to approve the creation and terms of the Debt Securities and to approve the issue thereof, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters; (ii) an Indenture relating to the Debt Securities and the Debt Securities shall have been authorised and duly executed and unconditionally delivered by and on behalf of the Company and all the relevant parties thereunder in accordance with all relevant laws; and (iii) when such Debt Securities issued thereunder have been duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Company and authenticated in the manner set forth in the Indenture relating to such issue of Debt Securities and delivered against due payment therefor pursuant to, and in accordance with, the terms of the Registration Statement and any relevant prospectus supplement, such Debt Securities issued pursuant to the Indenture will have been duly executed, issued and delivered.
     
6. With respect to each issue of Warrants, when (i) all necessary corporate actions shall have been taken to approve the creation and terms of the Warrants and to approve the issue thereof, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters; (ii) the relevant documents relating to the Warrants shall have been duly authorised and validly executed and delivered by the Company and all relevant parties thereunder; and (iii) the certificates (if required) representing the Warrants have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered upon payment of the consideration therefor provided therein, the Warrants will be duly authorised, legal and binding obligations of the Company.
     
  Yours faithfully
     
  Appleby

 

Bermuda ● British Virgin Islands ● Cayman Islands ● Guernsey ● Hong Kong ● Isle of Man ● Jersey ● London ● Mauritius ● Seychelles ● Shanghai ● Zurich

 

  3

 

 

Schedule 1

 

Part 1

 

The Documents

 

    1. A copy the Registration Statement.

Mauritius Office

9th Floor

Medine Mews

La Chaussée Street

Port Louis

Republic of Mauritius

     
  2. A copy of the certificate of incorporation of the Company dated 02 February 2015.
     
  3. A copy of the constitution of the Company dated 17 October 2016.
     
      Items 1 -3 collectively referred to as the Constitutional Documents.
Tel +230 203 4300      

 

applebyglobal.Com

  4. A copy of the Global Business Licence bearing the name of the Company dated 02 February 2015 and a copy of the receipt issued by the Financial Services Commission of Mauritius to confirm that the Company has paid its annual fees for the renewal of the Global Business Licence for the period 07/2017 to 06/2018.
       
    5. A copy of the Certificate of Current Standing dated 23 November 2017 issued by the Registrar of Companies in respect of the Company.
       
    6. A copy of the written resolutions of the board of directors dated 19 December 2017 (the Resolutions).
       
    7. A copy of the Register of Directors.
       
    8. A copy of the Certificate of Incumbency dated 20 November 2017 issued by a director of the Company in respect of the Company.
       
    9. A copy of the certificate from a Director of the Company dated 19 December 2017 (the Director’s Certificate).
       
    10. A copy of the results of the Company Search.
       

 

Business Registration Number: P10018768
Appleby (JV) Ltd & Cie, trading under the name of Appleby, is a joint law venture firm registered under the Law Practitioners Act 1984.
  Bermuda ● British Virgin Islands ● Cayman Islands ● Guernsey ● Hong Kong ● Isle of Man ● Jersey ● London ● Mauritius ● Seychelles ● Shanghai ● Zurich

 

  4

 

 

Part 2

 

Searches

 

  1. A search of the entries and filings shown in respect of the Company on the file of the Company maintained in the Register of Companies at the office of the Registrar of Companies in Port Louis, Mauritius as revealed by a search conducted on 22 November 2017 (Company Search).

 

Bermuda ● British Virgin Islands ● Cayman Islands ● Guernsey ● Hong Kong ● Isle of Man ● Jersey ● London ● Mauritius ● Seychelles ● Shanghai ● Zurich

 

  5

 

 

Schedule 2

 

Assumptions

 

  We have assumed:

 

  1. that:

 

  (i) the original documents of all documents examined in connection with this opinion are authentic and complete;
     
  (ii) the authenticity, completeness and conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies; and
     
  (iii) that each of the documents received by electronic means is complete, intact and in conformity with the transmission as sent;

 

  2. that there has been no change to the information contained in the Constitutional Documents;
     
  3. that the signatures and seals on all documents and certificates submitted to us as originals or copies of executed originals are genuine and authentic, and the signatures on all documents executed by the Company are the signatures of the persons authorised to execute the documents by the Company;
     
  4. that where incomplete documents, drafts or signature pages only have been supplied to us for the purposes of issuing this opinion, that the original documents have been completed and correspond in all material respects with the last version of the relevant documents examined by us prior to giving our opinion;
     
  5. that the Documents do not differ in any material respects from any drafts of the same which we have examined and upon which this opinion is based;
     
  6. the due execution and delivery of the Documents by each of the parties thereto (other than the Company under Mauritius law);
     
  7. that, insofar as any obligation under the Documents is to be performed in any jurisdiction outside of Mauritius, its performance will be legal and effective in accordance with the law of any jurisdiction to which they are subject or in which they are respectively constituted and established;
     
  8. the truth, accuracy and completeness of all representations and warranties or statements of fact or law (other than as to the laws of Mauritius and those matters upon which we have expressly opined) made in the Documents and any correspondence submitted to us;

 

Bermuda ● British Virgin Islands ● Cayman Islands ● Guernsey ● Hong Kong ● Isle of Man ● Jersey ● London ● Mauritius ● Seychelles ● Shanghai ● Zurich

 

  6

 

 

  9. the accuracy, completeness and currency of the records and filing systems maintained at the public offices where we have searched or enquired or have caused searches or enquiries to be conducted, that such search and enquiry did not fail to disclose any information which had been filed with or delivered to the relevant body but had not been processed at the time when the search was conducted and the enquiries were made, and that the information disclosed by the Company Search is accurate and complete in all respect and such information has not been materially altered since the date and time thereof;
     
  10. that

 

  (i) the Documents are in the form of the documents approved in the Resolutions,
     
  (ii) any meetings at which Resolutions were passed were duly convened and had a constituted quorum present and voting throughout and any unanimous resolutions passed in writing were adopted in accordance with the law and the Constitutional Documents,
     
  (iii) all interests of the directors on the subject matter of the Resolutions, if any, were declared and disclosed in accordance with the law and Constitutional Documents,
     
  (iv) the Resolutions and any Power of Attorney have not been revoked, amended or superseded, in whole or in part, and remain in full force and effect at the date of this opinion; and
     
  (v) the Directors of the Company have concluded that the entry by the Company into the Documents and such other documents approved by the Resolutions and the transactions contemplated thereby are bone fide in the best interests of the Company.

 

  11. that the Certificate of Incumbency accurately reflects the names of all Directors and Officers of the Company as at the date the Resolutions were passed or adopted, the date the Documents were executed and as at the date hereof;
     
  12. that there is no matter affecting the authority of the Directors to effect entry by the Company into the Documents including breach of duty, lack of good faith, not disclosed by the Constitutional Documents or the Resolutions, which would have any adverse implications in relation to the opinions expressed in this opinion;
     
  13. that the Company has entered into its obligations under the Documents in good faith for the purpose of carrying on its business and that, at the time it did so, there were reasonable grounds for believing that the transactions contemplated by the Documents would benefit the Company;
     
  14. that no resolution to voluntarily wind up the Company has been adopted by the members and no event of a type which is specified in the Constitutional Documents as giving rise to the winding up of the Company (if any) has in fact occurred;
     
  15. that there are no matters of fact or law (excluding matters of Mauritius law) affecting the enforceability of the Documents that have arisen since the execution of the Documents which would affect the opinions expressed herein; and
     
  16. that there are no changes in the Documents as at the date of the opinion.

 

Bermuda ● British Virgin Islands ● Cayman Islands ● Guernsey ● Hong Kong ● Isle of Man ● Jersey ● London ● Mauritius ● Seychelles ● Shanghai ● Zurich

 

  7

 

 

SCHEDULE 3

 

Reservations

 

  Our opinion is subject to the following:

 

  1. Enforcement: there is a way of ensuring that each party performs an agreement or that there are remedies available for breach. Notwithstanding that the obligations established by the Documents are obligations which courts of Mauritius would generally enforce, they may not necessarily be capable of enforcement in all circumstances in accordance with their terms. In particular, but without limitation:

 

  (i) enforcement and priority may be limited by laws relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganisation, liquidation, court schemes, schemes of arrangements, moratoriums or other laws of general application relating to, or affecting the rights of, creditors generally;
     
  (ii) enforcement may be limited by the principles of unjust enrichment or by general principles of equity (for example equitable remedies such as the grant of an injunction or an order for specific performance may not be available where liquidated damages are considered an adequate remedy);
     
  (iii) claims may become barred by prescription or may be or become subject to defences of set-off, counterclaim, estoppel and similar defences;
     
  (iv) obligations to be performed outside Mauritius may not be enforceable in Mauritius to the extent that performance would be illegal or contrary to public policy under the laws of that foreign jurisdiction;
     
  (v) enforcement may be limited to the extent that matters which we have expressly assumed in this opinion will be done, have not been done;
     
  (vi) the enforcement of the obligations of the parties to the Documents may be limited by the law applicable to obligations held to have been frustrated by events happening after their execution;
     
  (vii) enforcement of obligations may be invalidated by reason of fraud, duress, misrepresentation or undue influence;
     
  (viii) where the performance of payment obligations is contrary to the exchange control regulations of any country in whose currency such amounts are payable, such obligations may not be enforceable in Mauritius;

 

Bermuda ● British Virgin Islands ● Cayman Islands ● Guernsey ● Hong Kong ● Isle of Man ● Jersey ● London ● Mauritius ● Seychelles ● Shanghai ● Zurich

 

  8

 

 

  (ix) any agreement that the Company will not exercise the powers reserved for exercise by the shareholders of the Company may constitute an unlawful fetter on those reserved powers;
     
  (x) matters of procedure on enforcement of the Documents and forum conveniens will be governed by and determined in accordance with the lex fori.

 

  2. Waiver of provisions of law: We express no opinion as the enforceability of any present or future waiver of any provision of law (whether substantive or procedural) or of any right or remedy which might otherwise be available presently or in the future under the Documents.
     
  3. Penalties: Any provision as to the payment of additional money consequent on the breach of any provision of a Document by any person expressed to be a party to it, whether expressed by way of penalty, additional or default interest, liquidated damages or otherwise, may be unenforceable if it could be established that such additional payment constitutes a penalty rather than a compensatory amount.
     
  4. Severability: Severability provisions contained in the Documents may not be binding and the question of whether or not provisions may be severed would be determined by the Mauritius courts at their discretion, having regard to such matters as whether a particular severance would accord with public policy or involve the courts in making a new contract for the parties.
     
  5. Determination: Notwithstanding the provisions of the Documents, a determination, designation, calculation or certificate of any party to the Documents, as to any matter provided for in such Documents might, in certain circumstances, be held in the Mauritius courts not to be final, conclusive or binding (for example, if it could be shown to have been fraudulent or erroneous on its face, manifestly inaccurate, made on an unreasonable or arbitrary basis or not to have been reached in good faith) and the Documents will not necessarily escape judicial enquiry into the merit of any claim by any party in that respect.
     
  6. Discretion: Where a party to the Documents is vested with a discretion or may determine a matter in its opinion or is given the right to determine a conclusive calculation or determination, the Mauritius courts, if called upon to consider the question, may require that such discretion be exercised reasonably or that such opinion be based upon reasonable grounds or may determine that such right is not finally binding.

 

Bermuda ● British Virgin Islands ● Cayman Islands ● Guernsey ● Hong Kong ● Isle of Man ● Jersey ● London ● Mauritius ● Seychelles ● Shanghai ● Zurich

 

  9

 

 

  7. Modification of documents: We express no view on any provision in any of the Documents requiring written amendments and waivers of any of the provisions of such Documents insofar as it suggests that oral or other modification, amendments or waivers could not be effectively agreed upon or granted by or between the parties or implied by the course of conduct of the parties.
     
  8. Limitations on liability: The effectiveness of any terms releasing or limiting a party from a liability or duty owed is limited by law.
     
  9. Jurisdiction: Where a Document provides for the submission to the exclusive or non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Mauritius courts, the court may decline to accept jurisdiction in any matter where:

 

  (i) it determines that some other jurisdiction is a more appropriate or convenient forum;
     
  (ii) another court of competent jurisdiction has made a determination in respect of the same matter; or
     
  (iii) litigation is pending in respect of the same matter in another jurisdiction.

 

  10. Concurrent proceedings: Proceedings may be stayed in Mauritius if concurrent proceedings in respect of the same matter are or have been commenced in another jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any provision in the Documents that all disputes arising under or in connection with the Documents should be brought before the competent court in the jurisdiction specified in the Documents, the Mauritius courts have discretion to refuse to stay proceedings in Mauritius if it is satisfied that it is just and equitable to do so and may grant leave to serve Mauritius proceedings outside of Mauritius.
     
  11. Foreign law: Relevant foreign law will not be applied by the Mauritius courts if it is not pleaded and proved, is not a bona fide and lawful choice of law, or it would be contrary to public policy for that law to be applied.
     
  12. Costs: A Mauritius court may refuse to give effect to any provisions of a Document in respect of costs of litigation brought before the Mauritius court.
     
  13. Preferences: A transaction by a debtor, including the grant of a charge over any property or undertaking of the debtor, may be set aside by the Supreme Court of Mauritius on the application of the Official Receiver or a liquidator where it is a voidable preference and was made within 2 years immediately before adjudication or commencement of the winding up. A charge may not be set aside where it secures money actually advanced or paid, or the actual price or value of property sold or supplied, or any other valuable consideration given in good faith, by the charge holder to the debtor at the time when, or at any time after, the charge was given. A charge or security may not be set aside where it is a substitute for an existing charge that was given by the debtor more than 2 years before the date of adjudication or the commencement of the winding up, except to the extent that (a) the amount secured by the substituted charge is greater than the amount that was secured by the existing charge; or (b) the value of the property subject to the substituted charge at the date of substitution was greater than the value of the property subject to the existing charge at that date.

 

Bermuda ● British Virgin Islands ● Cayman Islands ● Guernsey ● Hong Kong ● Isle of Man ● Jersey ● London ● Mauritius ● Seychelles ● Shanghai ● Zurich

 

  10

 

 

  14. Presumption of insolvency: A transaction by a debtor, including the grant of a charge over any property or undertaking of the debtor, that is made within 6 months immediately before the debtor’s adjudication or the commencement of the winding up is presumed, unless the contrary is proved, to be made at a time when the debtor is unable to pay his due debts.
     
  15. Good standing: the Company has received a Certificate of Current Standing issued by the Registrar of Companies.
     
  16. Corporate Authorisation and payment of consideration: All corporate authorisations and approvals in accordance with the constitution of the Company and applicable law should be obtained in connection with the issue or sale of the Primary Offering Securities. All necessary documents or agreements to give effect to the issue, sale or transfer of the Securities should be duly executed and payment of consideration in accordance with the Registration Statement and any supplements or other documents related to such issue, sale or transfer should be effected.
     
  17. Major transactions: Where the board of directors deems a transaction a major transaction within the meaning of section 130 of the Companies Act, shareholder approval by way of special resolution is required. Section 130 of the Companies Act defines a major transaction as

 

  (a) the acquisition of, or an agreement to acquire, whether contingent or not, assets the value of which is more than 75 per cent of the value of the company’s assets before the acquisition;
     
  (b) the disposition of, or an agreement to dispose of, whether contingent or not, assets of the company the value of which is more than 75 per cent of the value of the company’s assets before the disposition; or
     
  (c) a transaction that has or is likely to have the effect of the company acquiring rights or interests or incurring obligations or liabilities the value of which is more than 75 per cent of the value of the company’s assets before the transaction.

 

  18. Director’s Certificate: With respect to this opinion, we have relied upon the statements and representations made to us in the Director’s Certificate provided to us and issued by a Director of the Company for the purposes of this opinion. We have made no independent verification of the matters referred to in the Directors Certificate, and we qualify our opinion to the extent that the statements or representations made in the Director’s Certificate are not accurate in any respect.

 

Bermuda ● British Virgin Islands ● Cayman Islands ● Guernsey ● Hong Kong ● Isle of Man ● Jersey ● London ● Mauritius ● Seychelles ● Shanghai ● Zurich

 

  11

 

 

Exhibit 5.2

 

 

December 20, 2017

 

Azure Power Global Limited

3rd Floor, Asset 301-304 and 307
Worldmark 3, Aerocity
New Delhi 110037, India

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as special United States counsel to Azure Power Global Limited, a Mauritius corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of a registration statement on Form F-3 (the “Registration Statement”) relating to the offering from time to time, as set forth in the Registration Statement, the prospectus (the “Prospectus”) contained therein and one or more supplements to the Prospectus, of (i) equity shares, par value US$0.000625 per share, of the Company (the “Equity Shares”), (ii) debt securities of the Company (the “Debt Securities”), (iii) warrants of the Company to purchase the Equity Shares or the Debt Securities (the “Warrants”) and (iv) up to 10,000,000 Equity Shares (the “Selling Shareholder Equity Shares”) by the selling shareholders as defined therein (the “Selling Shareholders”). The Equity Shares, the Debt Securities, the Warrants and the Selling Shareholder Equity Shares are hereinafter referred to, collectively, as the “Securities.”

 

The Securities will be offered on an immediate, continuous or delayed basis pursuant to the provisions of Rule 415 under the Securities Act.

 

The Debt Securities are to be issued in one or more series under an indenture (the “Base Indenture”) to be entered into between the Company and the trustee to be named therein (the “Trustee”), the form of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, as such indenture may be amended or supplemented from time to time (the Base Indenture, as so amended or supplemented, the “Indenture”).

 

 

 
 

 

In arriving at the opinion expressed below, we have reviewed the following documents:

 

(a) the Registration Statement and the documents incorporated by reference therein;

 

(b) the Prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference therein; and

 

(c) the form of the Base Indenture.

 

In addition, we have reviewed the originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of all such other documents, and we have made such investigations of law as we have deemed appropriate as a basis for the opinion expressed below.

 

In rendering the opinion expressed below, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. In addition, we have assumed and have not verified the accuracy as to factual matters of each document we have reviewed.

 

Based on the foregoing, and subject to the further assumptions and qualifications set forth below, it is our opinion that when the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, when the issuance, execution and delivery by the Company of the Debt Securities of a series have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, and when such Debt Securities have been duly executed and delivered by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and sold as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any supplement or supplements to the Prospectus relating to such Debt Securities, such Debt Securities will constitute valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Company, entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

 

Insofar as the foregoing opinion relates to the validity, binding effect or enforceability of any agreement or obligation of the Company, (a) we have assumed that the Company and each other party to such agreement or obligation has satisfied, or prior to the issuance of the Debt Securities, will satisfy, those legal requirements that are applicable to it to the extent necessary to make such agreement or obligation enforceable against it (except that no such assumption is made as to the Company regarding matters of the federal law of the United States of America or the law of the State of New York that in our experience normally would be applicable to general business entities with respect to such agreement or obligation), (b) we have assumed that any Debt Securities denominated in a currency other than the U.S. dollar will comply in all respects with the applicable law of the country in whose currency such Debt Securities are denominated in respect of the use of or payment in such currency, (c) we have assumed that at the time of the issuance, sale and delivery of each Debt Security, the authorization thereof by the Company will not have been modified or rescinded and there will not have occurred any change in law affecting the validity, binding effect and enforceability of such Debt Security, (d) such opinion is subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity and (e) such opinion is subject to the effect of judicial application of foreign laws or foreign governmental actions affecting creditors’ rights.

 

2
 

 

In rendering the opinion expressed above, we have further assumed that (i) the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) will be or have been prepared and filed with the Commission describing the Debt Securities offered thereby and will comply with all applicable laws, (ii) the Registration Statement will be effective and will comply with all applicable laws at the time the Debt Securities are offered or issued as contemplated by the Registration Statement, (iii) the terms of the Debt Securities will conform to the forms thereof that will be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement, and the terms of the Indenture will not violate any applicable law, result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company, or violate any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, (iv) the Debt Securities will be sold and delivered to, and paid for by, the purchasers at the price specified in, and in accordance with the terms of, an agreement or agreements duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto, (v) the Company will authorize the offering and issuance of the Debt Securities and will authorize, approve and establish the final terms and conditions thereof and will take any other appropriate additional corporate action and (vi) certificates, if required, representing the Debt Securities will be duly executed and delivered and, to the extent required by the Indenture, duly authenticated and countersigned.

 

In addition, in rendering the opinion above, we have assumed that with respect to any Debt Security that includes any alternative or additional terms that are not specified in the forms thereof examined by us, such inclusion would not cause such Debt Security not to be valid, binding or enforceable.

 

In rendering the opinion expressed above, we have assumed that each series of Debt Securities will be issued with an original aggregate principal amount (or in the case of Debt Securities issued at original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) of US$2,500,000 or more.

 

We note that by statute New York provides that a judgment or decree rendered in a currency other than the currency of the United States shall be converted into U.S. dollars at the rate of exchange prevailing on the date of entry of the judgment or decree. There is no corresponding Federal statute and no controlling Federal court decision on this issue. Accordingly, we express no opinion as to whether a Federal court would award a judgment in a currency other than U.S. dollars or, if it did so, whether it would order conversion of the judgment into U.S. dollars.

 

We express no opinion as to the enforceability of Section 10.16 of the Base Indenture relating to currency indemnity.

 

The foregoing opinion is limited to the federal law of the United States of America and the law of the State of New York.

 

We hereby consent to the use of our name in the Prospectus under the heading “Legal Matters” and in any prospectus supplement related thereto, and to the use of this opinion as a part (Exhibit 5.2) of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

3
 

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  CLEARY GOTTLIEB STEEN & HAMILTON LLP
     
  By: /s/ Shuang Zhao
    Shuang Zhao, a Partner

 

4
 

 

 

EXHIBIT 12.1

 

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

 

The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges on a historical basis for the periods indicated. The ratio of earnings to fixed charges, as well as any deficiency of earnings are determined using the following applicable factors:

 

Earnings available for fixed charges are calculated by determining the sum of: (a) loss before income tax; (b) interest expense before preferred security dividends of consolidated subsidiaries and (c) amortization of capitalized interest.

 

Fixed charges are comprised of interest expense (including amortization of debt issuance costs), interest capitalised and preferred security dividends of consolidated subsidiaries.

 

   Amount in INR 000’s 
     
   For the Year Ended March 31,   For the Six
Months Ended
 
   2015   2016   2017   September 30, 2017 
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges                    
                     
Computation of Earnings:                    
(Loss) before income tax   (835,478)   (1,327,095)   (299,236)   (1,156,747)
Interest expense *   999,630    2,325,776    2,763,992    3,551,961 
Amortization of Capitalized Interest   4,142    14,209    20,333    14,522 
Total Earning/(loss) available for fixed charges   168,294    1,012,890    2,485,089    2,409,736 
                     
Computation of Fixed Charges:                    
Interest expense *   999,630    2,325,776    2,763,992    3,551,961 
Interest capitalized   155,012    219,166    256,802    110,817 
Redeemable non-controlling Interest   -    29,825    44,073    22,097 
Fixed Charges   1,154,642    2,574,767    3,064,867    3,684,875 
                     
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges:   -    -    -    - 
Earnings are inadequate to cover fixed charges in the amount of:   (986,348)   (1,561,877)   (579,778)   (1,275,139)

 

* Includes onetime refinance cost relating to non-cash write offs of unamortised deferred financing cost and one-time prepayment fees for debt refinancing of INR 62,095 during the year ended March 31, 2017 and INR 1,273,900 during year to date September 30, 2017.

 

 
 

 

 


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 Azure Power Global Limited for the registration of up to $150,000,000 of equity shares, debt securities, warrants and 10,000,000 equity shares offered by selling shareholders and to the incorporation by reference therein of our report dated June 19, 2017, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Azure Power Global Limited included in its Annual Report (Form 20-F) for the year ended March 31, 2017 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

/s/ Ernst & Young Associates LLP

Gurgaon, India

December 20, 2017

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Ref. No.: DEL/1926 December 20, 2017

 

Azure Power Global Limited

3rd Floor, Asset 301-304 and 307

Worldmark 3, Aerocity

New Delhi 110 037, India

 

Dear Sirs,

 

We hereby consent to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus included in the registration statement on Form F-3, filed by Azure Power Global Limited on December 20, 2017, with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

For Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas  
     
By /s/ Gokul Rajan  
Partner    

 

Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas

Advocates & solicitors

4th floor, prius platicum, d-3, district centre, saket, new delhi-110 017, india

T: + 91 11 6622 9000 f: +91 6622 9009 e: [email protected] w: www.cyrilshroff.com

Other offices: Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai & adhmedabad

 

 
 

 



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