ZVIA Zevia PBC

 

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 26, 2025

Registration No. 333-

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

ZEVIA PBC

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

Delaware		86-2862492
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

 

15821 Ventura Blvd., Suite 135
Encino, CA 91436
(424) 343-2654

(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

 

Girish Satya

Chief Financial Officer & Principal Accounting Officer

15821 Ventura Blvd., Suite 135

Encino, CA 91436

(424) 343-2654
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)

 

With copies to:

Stewart L. McDowell

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

One Embarcadero Center, Suite 2600

San Francisco, California 94111

(415) 393-8200

 

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

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☒

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer		☐		Accelerated filer		☒
Non-accelerated filer		☐		Smaller reporting company		☒
				Emerging growth company		☒

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐

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

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

Subject to Completion, dated February 26, 2025

PROSPECTUS

ZEVIA PBC

$50,000,000

CLASS A COMMON STOCK
PREFERRED STOCK
DEBT SECURITIES

WARRANTS

UNITS

From time to time, we may offer and sell up to $50,000,000 in the aggregate of the securities covered by this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus describes some of the general terms and conditions that may apply to these securities. We will provide the specific terms and conditions of these securities in prospectus supplements to this prospectus.

We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis, at prices and on other terms to be determined at the time of offering. We reserve the sole right to accept, and together with any agents, dealers and underwriters, reserve the right to reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of securities. If any agents, dealers or underwriters are involved in the sale of any securities, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth their names and any applicable commissions or discounts. The net proceeds to us from the sale of securities also will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Before you invest, you should carefully read this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and information described under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Documents Incorporated by Reference.”

Our Class A common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “ZVIA.” On February 25, 2025, the closing price of a share of our Class A common stock as reported on NYSE was $3.26 per share. Our principal executive offices are located at 15821 Ventura Blvd., Suite 135, Encino, CA 91436 and our telephone number is (424) 343-2654.

Investing in our securities involves certain risks. See the “Risk Factors” section on page 2 of this prospectus and the risk factors we incorporate by reference herein and, if any, in the relevant prospectus supplement.

None of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any state securities commission or any other regulatory body 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 February 26, 2025.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	Page
About This Prospectus	ii
Where You Can Find More Information	iii
Documents Incorporated by Reference	iv
Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements	v
Our Company	1
Risk Factors	2
Use of Proceeds	3
Description of Securities We May Offer	4
Description of Capital Stock	5
Description of Debt Securities	11
Description of Warrants	18
Description of Units	19
Plan of Distribution	20
Legal Matters	22
Experts	22

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, sell up to $50,000,000 of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement or a free writing prospectus that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

We have not authorized anyone to provide any information other than that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any related prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus prepared by us or on our behalf or to which we have referred you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We are offering to sell securities only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or in any such free writing prospectus is accurate only as of its respective date, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any such free writing prospectus or any sale of securities. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

References in this prospectus to “Zevia PBC” refer to Zevia PBC and not to any of its subsidiaries unless the context indicates otherwise. References in this prospectus to “Zevia,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer (1) prior to the consummation of the Reorganization Transactions (as defined in Note 1 - Description of Business in the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 incorporated by reference into this prospectus), to Zevia LLC, and (2) after the consummation of the Reorganization Transactions, to Zevia PBC and its consolidated subsidiaries unless the context indicates otherwise.

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information and documents with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file with the SEC:

This prospectus is part of a registration statement filed on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) with the SEC under the Securities Act. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement and the exhibits and schedules to the Registration Statement. For further information concerning us and the securities, you should read the entire Registration Statement and the additional information described under “Documents Incorporated by Reference” below. The Registration Statement has been filed electronically and may be obtained in any manner listed above. Any statements contained in this prospectus concerning the provisions of any document are not necessarily complete, and, in each instance, reference is made to the copy of such document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or otherwise filed with the SEC. Each such statement is qualified in its entirety by such reference.

Information about us is also available on our website at www.zevia.com. This URL and the SEC’s URL above are intended to be inactive textual references only. Information on our website or the website of the SEC is not a part of this prospectus.

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DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The SEC’s rules allow us to incorporate by reference information into this prospectus. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document. Any information referred to in this way is considered part of this prospectus from the date we file that document. Any reports filed by us with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and before the date that the offering of the securities by means of this prospectus is terminated will automatically update and, where applicable, supersede any information contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the following documents or information filed with the SEC (other than, in each case, information deemed to have been furnished or not filed in accordance with the SEC rules):

Each document filed subsequent to the date of this Registration Statement pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (other than, in each case, information deemed to have been furnished or not filed in accordance with the SEC rules), prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of the filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a document filed prior to the date of this Registration Statement and incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein (or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein) modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute part of this Registration Statement.

You may electronically access these documents through our website, www.zevia.com, under the “Company—Investor Relations—Financials—SEC Filings” caption. We are not incorporating the contents of the website into this prospectus. You may also request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing to or telephoning us at the following address:

Investor Relations

15821 Ventura Blvd., Suite 135

Encino, CA 91436

(424) 343-2654

Greg@zevia.com

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DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and the documents incorporated herein by reference contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) about us and our industry that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this prospectus or the documents incorporated herein by reference, including, without limitation, statements regarding our future results of operations or financial condition, business strategy, expectations about capital allocation, investment activities, sourcing of raw materials, the impact of our supply chain challenges, logistics, distribution and marketing initiatives, the impact of our Productivity Initiative, including expected restructuring charges, cost savings and other benefits, factors and trends in our business, including seasonality, future expenses or payments under our tax receivable agreement filed as an exhibit to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, shifting market demand and consumer preferences, ability to effectively compete, validity of our trademarks and other intellectual property, impact of government regulations, liquidity and capital requirements, including the sufficiency of our cash and liquidity or sources of capital, satisfying commitments, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “consider,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “intend,” “may,” “on track,” “outlook,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “pursue,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will” or “would” or the negative of these words or other similar words, terms or expressions with similar meanings.

You should not rely on forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We have based the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus and the documents incorporated herein by reference primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and operating results. The outcome of the events described in these forward-looking statements is subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors described in the section titled “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 or elsewhere in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus and the documents incorporated herein by reference. The results, events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur, and actual results, events or circumstances could differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.

In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based on information available to us as of the date such statements are made and while we believe that information provides a reasonable basis for these statements, that information may be limited or incomplete. Our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain, and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely on these statements.

The forward-looking statements made in this prospectus and the documents incorporated herein relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements for any reason, except as required by applicable law. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures or investments.

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OUR COMPANY

We are a better-for-you beverage company that develops, markets, sells, and distributes naturally delicious, zero sugar beverages. We are a Delaware public benefit corporation and have been designated as a “Certified B Corporation,” by B Lab, an independent non-profit organization, and are focused on addressing the global health challenges resulting from excess sugar consumption by offering a broad portfolio of zero sugar, zero calorie, naturally sweetened beverages. All Zevia® beverages are made with a handful of simple, ingredients which come from plants, contain no artificial sweeteners, and are Non-GMO Project verified, gluten-free, Kosher and vegan, and include a variety of flavors across Soda, Energy Drinks, and Organic Tea drinks.

Our products are distributed and sold principally across the U.S. and Canada through a diverse network of major retailers in the grocery, drug, warehouse club, mass, natural, convenience and e-commerce channels and in natural product stores and specialty outlets. Our products are manufactured and maintained at third-party beverage production and warehousing facilities located in both the U.S. and Canada. We believe that consumers increasingly select beverage products based on a variety of factors including taste, ingredients and fit with today’s consumer preferences, which has benefited the Zevia® brand and resulted in over 2.2 billion cans of Zevia sold to date.

Zevia PBC was incorporated as a Delaware public benefit corporation on March 23, 2021, and prior to the consummation of the reorganization and initial public offering (“IPO”), did not conduct any activities other than those incidental to our formation and the IPO. In connection with the completion of the IPO on July 26, 2021, Zevia PBC became a holding company, and its sole material asset is a controlling equity interest in Zevia LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Zevia LLC”). As the sole managing member of Zevia LLC, Zevia PBC operates and controls all of the business and affairs of Zevia LLC and, through Zevia LLC, conducts its business. Subsequent to July 26, 2021, Zevia PBC consolidates the results of Zevia LLC with a non-controlling interest reflected for the portion of Zevia LLC not owned by Zevia PBC. For more information about our holding company reorganization, see the section titled “Organizational Structure—The Reorganization” in the prospectus dated July 21, 2021, and filed with the SEC on July 23, 2021.

We maintain a website at www.zevia.com where general information about us is available. We are not incorporating the contents of the website into this prospectus.

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves risks. Before making a decision to invest in our securities, in addition to the other information contained in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, you should carefully consider the risks described under “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other documents that we incorporate by reference in this prospectus. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Except as otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sales of the securities covered by this prospectus for general corporate purposes. We may temporarily invest funds that are not immediately needed for these purposes in short-term investments, including, but not limited to, marketable securities.

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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

This prospectus contains summary descriptions of the Class A common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants and units that we may sell from time to time. These summary descriptions are not meant to be complete descriptions of each security. However, this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement together contain the material terms of the securities being offered.

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following is a brief description of the material provisions of our capital stock. As of the date of this prospectus, our Class A common stock is the only class of our securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act. The following description of our capital stock does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws, each of which are filed as exhibits to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, which is incorporated herein by reference, and the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). We encourage you to read our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws and the applicable provisions of the DGCL for more information.

General

Our authorized capital stock consists of 550,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, $0.001 par value per share (“Class A common stock”), 250,000,000 shares of Class B common stock, $0.001 par value per share (“Class B common stock”), and 10,000,000 shares of “blank check” preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share.

Common Stock

We have two classes of common stock: Class A and Class B, each of which has one vote per share. Holders of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock vote together as a single class on all matters presented to our stockholders for their vote or approval, except as provided in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or as otherwise required by applicable law. Pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, until such time as less than one-third of the currently outstanding Class B common stock remains outstanding, we may not amend, alter, repeal or waive the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that relate to the terms of our capital stock without the approval of the holders of a majority of the then outstanding shares of our Class B common stock, voting as a separate class. Holders of the Class A common stock and Class B common stock, as the case may be, would also have a separate class vote if we subdivide, combine or reclassify shares of the other class without concurrently subdividing, combining or reclassifying shares of such class in a proportional manner. Pursuant to the DGCL, the holders of the outstanding shares of a class shall be entitled to vote as a class upon a proposed amendment, whether or not entitled to vote thereon by the certificate of incorporation, if the amendment would increase or decrease the par value of the shares of such class or alter or change the powers, preferences, or special rights of the shares of such class so as to affect them adversely.

Class A common stock

Voting. Holders of our Class A common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. Stockholders do not have the ability to cumulate votes for the election of directors.

Dividends. Holders of our Class A common stock are entitled to receive dividends when and if declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefor, subject to any statutory or contractual restrictions on the payment of dividends and to any restrictions on the payment of dividends imposed by the terms of any outstanding preferred stock.

Dissolution and Liquidation. Upon our dissolution or liquidation or the sale of all or substantially all of our assets, after payment in full of all amounts required to be paid to creditors and to the holders of preferred stock having liquidation preferences, if any, the holders of our Class A common stock will be entitled to receive pro rata our remaining assets available for distribution.

No Preemptive Rights. Holders of our Class A common stock do not have preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights.

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Issuance of Additional Class A Common Stock. We may issue additional shares of Class A common stock from time to time, subject to applicable provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated bylaws and the DGCL. We are obligated to issue Class A common stock (subject to the transfer and exchange restrictions set forth in the Thirteenth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Zevia LLC, dated as of July 21, 2021 (the “Zevia LLC Agreement”)) to Class B unitholders who exchange their Class B units of Zevia LLC for shares of our Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis (unless we elect to satisfy such exchange for cash). When a Class B unit is exchanged for a share of our Class A common stock, the corresponding share of our Class B common stock will automatically be retired.

Class B common stock

Voting. Holders of our Class B common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. Stockholders do not have the ability to cumulate votes for the election of directors.

Dividends. Holders of our Class B common stock are not entitled to dividends in respect of their shares of Class B common stock.

Dissolution and Liquidation. Upon our dissolution or liquidation or the sale of all or substantially all of our assets, the holders of our Class B common stock will not be entitled to receive any distributions.

No Preemptive Rights. Holders of our Class B common stock do not have preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. The Class B common stock is subject to automatic retirement upon an exchange of a Class B unit of Zevia LLC for a share of Class A common stock.

Issuance of Additional Class B Common Stock. No additional issuance of shares of Class B common stock will occur, except to holders of Class B units as necessary to maintain a one-to-one ratio between the number of Class B units and the number of shares of Class B common stock outstanding, including in connection with a stock split, stock dividend, reclassification or similar transaction. In connection with an exchange of a Class B unit for Class A common stock, the corresponding share of Class B common stock will automatically be retired.

Preferred Stock

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our board of directors has the authority, without further action by the stockholders, to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock. Our board of directors is able to issue preferred stock in one or more series and determine the rights, preferences, privileges, qualifications and restrictions granted to or imposed upon our preferred stock, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, rights and terms of redemption, liquidation preferences and sinking fund terms, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of our common stock. Issuances of preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power of holders of our common stock and reduce the likelihood that holders of our common stock will receive dividend payments and payments upon liquidation. Any issuance of preferred stock could also have the effect of decreasing the market price of our common stock and could delay, deter or prevent a change in control of our company.

We will fix the designations, voting powers, preferences and rights of the preferred stock of each series we issue under this prospectus, as well as the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, in the certificate of designation relating to that series. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of preferred stock being offered.

Limitations on Directors’ Liability

Our governing documents limit the liability of, and require us to indemnify, our directors to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. The DGCL permits a corporation to limit or eliminate a director’s personal liability to the corporation or the holders of its capital stock for breaches of directors’ fiduciary duties as directors. This limitation

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is generally unavailable for acts or omissions by a director which (i) were not in good faith, (ii) were the result of intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) the director derived an improper personal benefit from (such as a financial profit or other advantage to which the director was not legally entitled) or (iv) breached the director’s duty of loyalty. The DGCL also prohibits limitations on director liability under Section 174 of the DGCL, which relates to certain unlawful dividend declarations and stock repurchases. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation includes provisions that eliminate, to the extent allowable under the DGCL, the personal liability of directors or officers for monetary damages for actions taken as a director or officer, as the case may be. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws also provide that we must indemnify and advance reasonable expenses to our directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL. We are also expressly authorized to carry directors’ and officers’ insurance for our directors, officers and certain employees for certain liabilities. We maintain insurance that insures our directors and officers against certain losses and which insures us against our obligations to indemnify the directors and officers.

Exclusive Forum Clause

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, unless we select or consent in writing to the selection of another forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, another state court or a federal court located within the State of Delaware) shall be the exclusive forum for any “internal corporate claims,” as defined in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. It is possible that a court could find our exclusive forum provision to be inapplicable or unenforceable. Although we believe this provision benefits us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that the federal district courts of the United States will be the exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). We note, however, that there is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce this provision and that investors cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for state and federal courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. This forum selection provision does not apply to claims brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act.

Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock is deemed to have notice of and consented to the foregoing provisions.

Delaware Takeover Statute

We are subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, an anti-takeover statute. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years following the time the person became an interested stockholder, unless (with certain exceptions) the business combination or the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder is approved in a prescribed manner. Generally, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Generally, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns (or within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status, did own) 15% or more of a corporation’s voting stock. The existence of this provision would be expected to have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions not approved in advance by the board of directors, including discouraging attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares of common stock held by stockholders.

Provisions of Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws to be Adopted and Delaware Law That May Have an Anti-Takeover Effect

Provisions of the DGCL and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws could make it more difficult to acquire our company by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise, or to remove incumbent officers and directors. These provisions, summarized below, are intended to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and to encourage persons seeking to acquire

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control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of these provisions outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging certain takeover or acquisition proposals because, among other things, negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms and enhance the ability of our board of directors to maximize stockholder value. However, these provisions may delay, deter or prevent a merger or acquisition of us that a stockholder might consider is in its best interest, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the prevailing market price of our common stock.

Classified Board of Directors

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that our board of directors is divided into three classes of directors, with the classes as nearly equal in number as possible, designated Class I, Class II and Class III. Class I directors initially serve until the first annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation; Class II directors initially serve until the second annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation; and Class III directors initially serve until the third annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Commencing with the first annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, directors of each class the term of which shall then expire shall be elected to hold office for a three-year term. Commencing with the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2027, directors of each class the term of which shall then expire shall be elected to hold office for a one-year term.

The classification of directors has the effect of making it more difficult for stockholders to change the composition of our board of directors. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that the number of directors will be fixed from time to time exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by the board of directors.

Removal of Directors; Vacancies

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provides that any director may only be removed by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of our outstanding shares of common stock and, until the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2027, only for cause. Each director is to hold office until the next election of the class for which such director shall have been chosen and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, disqualification, resignation or removal. Vacancies and newly created directorships on the board of directors may be filled at any time by the remaining directors, whether resulting from an increase in the number of directors or the death, disqualification, removal or resignation of a director.

No Cumulative Voting

The DGCL provides that a stockholder’s right to vote cumulatively in the election of directors does not exist unless the certificate of incorporation specifically provides otherwise. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting.

Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Meetings, Nominations and Proposals

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide that special meetings of the stockholders may be called by the board of directors. In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide that special meetings of the stockholders may only be called by the stockholders upon the written request of one or more stockholders of record that own, or who are acting on behalf of persons who own, shares representing 25% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote on the matter or matters to be brought before the proposed special meeting.

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Our amended and restated bylaws prohibit the conduct of any business at a special meeting other than as specified in the notice for such meeting. These provisions may have the effect of deferring, delaying or discouraging hostile takeovers, or changes in control or management of our company.

Our amended and restated bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as director. In order for any matter to be “properly brought” before a meeting, a stockholder will have to comply with such advance notice procedures and provide us with certain information. Our amended and restated bylaws allow the chairperson of the meeting of stockholders to adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings which may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if such rules and regulations are not followed. These provisions may also defer, delay or discourage a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to influence or obtain control of our company.

Supermajority Voting for Amendments to Our Governing Documents

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation requires the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all shares of our common stock then outstanding in order to amend certain provisions, including those relating to our public benefit purpose, the removal of directors, the rights and privileges of the common stock, indemnification, exclusive forum, and the prohibition on stockholder action by written consent. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide that the board of directors is expressly authorized to adopt, amend or repeal our bylaws and that our stockholders may amend our bylaws only with the approval of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all shares of our common stock then outstanding.

Stockholder Action by Written Consent

The DGCL permits any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders to be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares of stock entitled to vote thereon were present and voted, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws preclude stockholder action by written consent.

Authorized but Unissued Shares

Our authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock are available for future issuance without stockholder approval. The DGCL does not require stockholder approval for any issuance of authorized shares. However, the applicable stock exchange listing requirements require stockholder approval of certain issuances equal to or exceeding 20% of the then-outstanding voting power or the then-outstanding number of shares of common stock. No assurances can be given that our shares will remain so listed. We may use additional shares for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital, corporate acquisitions and employee benefit plans. As discussed above, our board of directors has the ability to issue preferred stock with voting rights or other preferences, without stockholder approval. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of our company by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.

Public Benefit Corporation Status

We are a public benefit corporation under Section 362 of the DGCL. As a public benefit corporation, our board of directors is required by the DGCL to manage or direct our business and affairs in a manner that balances the pecuniary interests of our stockholders, the best interests of those materially affected by our conduct, and the specific public benefits identified in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Under the DGCL, our stockholders may bring a derivative suit to enforce this requirement only if they own (individually or collectively), at least 2% of our outstanding shares or, upon the completion of this offering, the lesser of such percentage or shares of at least $2 million in market value.

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We believe that our public benefit corporation status will make it more difficult for another party to obtain control of us without maintaining our public benefit corporation status and purpose.

Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors

The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duties. These provisions may also have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. In addition, stockholder investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the settlement costs and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The Transfer Agent and Registrar for our Class A common stock is Equiniti Trust Company, LLC.

Listing

Our Class A common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ZVIA.”

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

We may issue debt securities under an indenture to be entered into between us and a trustee chosen by us, qualified to act as such under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”) and appointed under the indenture. The indenture will consist of a base indenture (the “base indenture”) as supplemented by a supplemental indenture or authorizing resolution setting forth the specific terms of any debt securities we may issue. References below to an “indenture” are references to the base indenture, as supplemented, under which a particular series of debt securities is issued. The indenture will be governed by the Trust Indenture Act unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will set forth the terms of any such debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The following is a summary of the base indenture. It does not restate the base indenture entirely. We urge you to read the indenture. We have filed the form of base indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and we will file the base indenture we enter into and the supplemental indentures or authorizing resolutions with respect to particular series of debt securities as exhibits to current or other reports we file with the SEC. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for information on how to obtain copies of the base indenture and the supplemental indentures or authorizing resolutions. You may also inspect copies of the documents for the particular series at the office of the trustee.

Terms of the Debt Securities

Our debt securities will be general obligations of Zevia PBC. We may issue them in one or more series. Supplemental indentures or authorizing resolutions will set forth the specific terms of each series of debt securities. We will provide a prospectus supplement for each series of debt securities that will describe:

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The applicable prospectus supplement will also describe any material covenants to which a series of debt securities will be subject and the applicability of those covenants to any of our subsidiaries to be restricted thereby, which are referred to herein as “restricted subsidiaries.” The applicable prospectus supplement will also describe provisions for restricted subsidiaries to cease to be restricted by those covenants.

Events of Default and Remedies

Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, an event of default with respect to any series of debt securities will be defined in the indenture as being:

The base indenture will provide that the trustee shall be protected in withholding notice to the holders of any series of debt securities of any default, except a default in payment of principal or interest, if any, with respect to such series of debt securities, if the trustee determines that it is in the interest of the holders of such series of debt securities to do so.

The base indenture will provide that if any event of default has occurred and is continuing with respect to any series of debt securities (other than an event of default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization), the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of such series of debt securities then outstanding (with a copy to the trustee if given by the holders) may declare all the debt securities of such series to be due and payable immediately. If an event of default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur, all amounts due and payable on the debt securities of such series will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration, notice or other act on the part of the trustee, us or any holder.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding by notice to the trustee may waive any existing default and its consequences with respect to such series of debt securities, other than a default in respect of a covenant or a provision of the indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of all holders of the applicable series of debt securities.

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to any series of debt securities has been made, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, by written notice to the

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us and the trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences, if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if:

The holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the trustee with respect to such series, subject to limitations specified in the indenture.

Defeasance, Satisfaction and Discharge

Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the indenture will permit us to terminate all our obligations under the indenture as they relate to any particular series of debt securities (“legal defeasance”), other than the right of the holders of the debt securities of such series to receive payments solely from the trust fund described below in respect of the principal and interest on such debt securities and certain other obligations, at any time by:

Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the indenture will also permit us to terminate all of our obligations under covenants in the indenture as they relate to any particular series of debt securities, and the debt securities of such series shall thereafter be deemed to be not “outstanding” for the purpose of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of holders of such series in connection with such covenants (“covenant defeasance”), at any time by:

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The indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect with respect to a series of debt securities when either:

In each case, we will also pay all other sums payable by us under the indenture with respect to the securities of such series, deliver irrevocable instructions to the trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the debt securities of such series at maturity or redemption, as the case may be, and deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel and an officers’ certificate, each stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge with respect to the securities of such series have been complied with.

Transfer and Exchange

A holder will be able to transfer or exchange debt securities only in accordance with the indenture. The registrar may require a holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents, and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the indenture.

Amendment, Supplement and Waiver

Without notice to or the consent of any holder, we and the trustee may amend or supplement the indenture or the debt securities of a series to:

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With the exceptions discussed below, we and the trustee may amend or supplement the indenture or the debt securities of a series with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of each series then outstanding affected by the amendment or supplement (voting as one class). In addition, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of each series then outstanding affected by the waiver (voting as one class) may, without notice to any holder, waive any existing default under, or compliance with, any provision of the debt securities of each such series or of the indenture relating to each such series. These consents and waivers may be obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, debt securities.

However, without the consent of each holder affected, we and the trustee may not:

Any supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of the indenture which shall have been included expressly and solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of debt securities, or which modifies the rights of the holders of debt securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights of the holders of debt securities of any other series.

The right of any holder to participate in any consent required or sought pursuant to any provision of the indenture, and our obligation to obtain any such consent otherwise required from such holder, may be subject to the requirement that such holder shall have been the holder of record of debt securities with respect to which such consent is required or sought as of a record date fixed by us in accordance with the indenture.

Concerning the Trustee

The indenture will contain limitations on the rights of the trustee, should it become our creditor, to obtain payment of claims in specified cases or to realize on property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The indenture will permit the trustee to engage in other transactions; however, if it acquires any conflicting interest, it must eliminate such conflict or resign.

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The indenture will provide that in case an event of default occurs and is not cured, the trustee will be required, in the exercise of its power, to use the degree of care of a prudent person in similar circumstances in the conduct of such person's own affairs. The trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by the indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders pursuant to the indenture, 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.

Repurchases in the Open Market

We or any of our affiliates may at any time or from time to time repurchase any of the debt securities in the open market or otherwise. Such debt securities may, at our or the applicable affiliate’s option, be held, resold or surrendered to the trustee for cancellation.

No Recourse against Others

The indenture will provide that a director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the debt securities or the indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of, such obligations or their creation.

Governing Law

The laws of the State of New York will govern the indenture and the debt securities.

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants for the purchase of Class A common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities in one or more series. We may issue warrants independently or together with the other offered by this prospectus that are offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from the securities offered by this prospectus. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants of such series and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms, where applicable, of the warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered:

Exercise of Warrants. Each warrant will entitle the holder of warrants to purchase for cash the amount of debt or equity securities at the exercise price stated or determinable in the prospectus supplement for the warrants. Warrants may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date shown in the applicable prospectus supplement, unless otherwise specified in such prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void. Warrants may be exercised as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. When the warrant holder makes the payment and properly completes and signs the warrant certificate at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as possible, forward the debt or equity securities that the warrant holder has purchased. If the warrant holder exercises the warrant for less than all of the warrants represented by the warrant certificate, we will issue a new warrant certificate for the remaining warrants.

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

We may issue units consisting of some or all of the securities described above, in any combination, including Class A common stock, preferred stock, warrants and/or debt securities. The terms of these units will be set forth in a prospectus supplement. The description of the terms of these units in the related prospectus supplement will not be complete. You should refer to the applicable form of unit and unit agreement for complete information with respect to these units.

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may offer and sell the securities described in this prospectus from time to time in one or more transactions:

The securities may be offered and sold at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or from time to time at market prices or at negotiated prices.

We may sell the securities directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act, with respect to any resale of the securities. A prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any sale of the securities we are offering hereunder. Direct sales may be arranged by a securities broker-dealer or other financial intermediary.

The applicable prospectus supplement will name any underwriter involved in a sale of securities. Underwriters may be deemed to have received compensation from us from sales of the securities in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions from purchasers of the securities for whom they may act as agent. Underwriters may be involved in any at the market offering of the securities by us or on our behalf.

Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions (which may be changed from time to time) from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent.

The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth whether or not underwriters may over-allot or effect transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the securities at levels above those that might otherwise prevail in the open market, including, for example, by entering stabilizing bids, effecting syndicate covering transactions or imposing penalty bids.

Our Class A common stock may also be sold in one or more of the following transactions: (i) block transactions (which may involve crosses) in which a broker-dealer may sell all or a portion of such shares as agent, but may position and resell all or a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; (ii) purchases by any such broker-dealer as principal, and resale by such broker-dealer for its own account pursuant to a prospectus supplement; (iii) a special offering, an exchange distribution or a secondary distribution in accordance with applicable NYSE or other stock exchange, quotation system or over-the-counter market rules; (iv) ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which any such broker-dealer solicits purchasers; (v) sales “at the market” to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise, for such shares; and (vi) sales in other ways not involving market makers or established trading markets, including direct sales to purchasers.

We will name any agent involved in a sale of the securities, as well as any commissions payable by us to such agent, in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, any such agent will be acting on a reasonable efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

If we utilize a dealer in the sale of the securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus, we will sell the securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale.

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Underwriters, dealers and agents participating in a sale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act, and any discounts and commissions received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. We may have agreements with underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to reimburse them for certain expenses.

Underwriters or agents and their affiliates may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us or our affiliates in the ordinary course of business.

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LEGAL MATTERS

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, certain legal matters as to U.S., Delaware and New York law will be passed upon for us by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, San Francisco, California.

EXPERTS

The financial statements of Zevia PBC as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2024 included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report. Such financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of such firm given their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

The following is an estimate, subject to future contingencies, of the expenses to be incurred by the Registrant in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered:

 

Registration Fee		$7,665
Legal Fees and Expenses		*
Trustee Fees and Expenses		*
Accounting Fees and Expenses		*
Blue Sky and Legal Investment Fees and Expenses		*
Printing and Engraving Fees		*
Rating Agency Fees		*
Listing Fees		*
Miscellaneous		*
Total*		$7,665

 

*These fees and expenses depend on the securities offered and the number of issuances, and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time and will be reflected in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporate Law, or the DGCL, no director shall be personally liable to our company or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. Our amended and restated bylaws will provide that each person who was or is party or is threatened to be made a party to, or was or is otherwise involved in, any threatened, pending or completed proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of our company or was serving at the request of our company as a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee of another entity shall be indemnified and held harmless by us to the full extent authorized by the DGCL against all expense, liability and loss actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith, subject to certain limitations.

Section 145(a) of the DGCL authorizes a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to a threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation), by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, 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 or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful.

Section 145(b) of the DGCL provides in relevant part that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit 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 except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

The DGCL also provides that indemnification under Sections 145(a) and (b) can only be made upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director, officer or employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Sections 145(a) and (b). Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination, (1) by a majority vote of directors who are not a party to the action at issue (even though less than a quorum), (2) by a majority vote of a designated committee of these directors (even though less than a quorum), (3) if there are no such directors, or these directors authorize, by the written opinion of independent legal counsel, or (4) by the stockholders.

Section 145(g) of the DGCL also empowers a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under Section 145 of the DGCL.

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Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a corporation to provide for eliminating or limiting the personal liability of one of its directors for any monetary damages related to a breach of fiduciary duty as a director, as long as the corporation does not eliminate or limit the liability of a director for acts or omissions which (1) were in bad faith, (2) were the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and were material to the cause of action so adjudicated, (3) the director derived an improper personal benefit from (such as a financial profit or other advantage to which such director was not legally entitled) or (4) breached the director’s duty of loyalty.

We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our executive officers and directors that provide, in general, that we will indemnify them to the fullest extent permitted by law in connection with their service to us or on our behalf.

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Item 16. Exhibits

The exhibits to this Registration Statement are listed on the Exhibit Index to this Registration Statement, which Exhibit Index is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Item 17. Undertakings

(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

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

(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

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

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

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the Registration Statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

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

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

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

(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a Registration Statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the Registration Statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of

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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 of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

The undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this Registration Statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

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

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

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

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

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

(h) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 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 Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by 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 of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

(j) 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 (the “Act”) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC under section 305(b)(2) of the Act.

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

1.1*		Form of Underwriting Agreement.
3.1		Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 26, 2021).
3.2		Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 26, 2021).
4.1*		Form of Certificate of Designation of Preferred Stock
4.2		Form of Base Indenture.
4.3		Form of Debt Security (included as Exhibit A to the Form of Indenture)
4.4*		Form of Warrant Certificate.
4.5*		Form of Warrant Agreement.
4.6*		Form of Unit Agreement.
5.1		Opinion of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP.
23.1		Consent of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, included in Exhibit 5.1.
23.2		Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
24.1		Powers of Attorney (included on signature page).
25.1**		Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 on Form T-1 of the Trustee under the Indenture.
107		Filing Fee Table

 

*To be filed by an amendment or as an exhibit to a document filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and incorporated by reference herein.

**To be filed in accordance with the requirements of Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Rule 5b-3 thereunder

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Los Angeles, State of California, on February 26, 2025.

 

	ZEVIA PBC
	By:	/s/ Amy E. Taylor
		Amy E. Taylor
		President & Chief Executive Officer

 

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Amy E. Taylor and Girish Satya, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to this registration statement and any and all related registration statements necessary to register additional securities, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, granting unto such attorneys in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each such attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on February 26, 2025.

 

Name		Title
/s/ Amy E. Taylor
Amy E. Taylor		Director, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Girish Satya
Girish Satya		Chief Financial Officer & Principal Accounting Officer  (Principal Financial Officer)
/s/ Padraic Spence
Padraic L. Spence		Director and Board Chair
/s/ David J. Lee
David J. Lee		Director
/s/ Andrew Ruben
Andrew Ruben		Director
/s/ Julie G. Ruehl
Julie G. Ruehl		Director
/s/ Rosemary L. Ripley
Rosemary L. Ripley		Director
/s/ Alexandre I. Ruberti
Alexandre I. Ruberti		Director
/s/ Justin Shaw
Justin Shaw		Director

 

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Zevia PBC

Debt Securities

Form of Indenture

Dated as of

,

as Trustee

 

 

 

 

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CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

This Cross-Reference Table is not a part of the Indenture

 

TIA Section	Indenture Section

 

310(a)(1)	7.10

 

(a)(2)	7.10

 

(a)(3)	N.A.

 

(a)(4)	N.A.

 

(b)	7.08; 7.10; 11.02

 

311(a)	7.11

 

(b)	7.11

 

(c)	N.A.

 

312(a)	2.05

 

(b)	11.03

 

(c)	11.03

 

313(a)	7.06

 

(b)(1)	N.A.

 

(b)(2)	7.06

 

(c)	11.02

 

(d)	7.06

 

314(a)	4.03; 11.02

 

(b)	N.A.

 

(c)(1)	11.04

 

(c)(2)	11.04

 

(c)(3)	N.A.

 

(d)	N.A.

 

(e)	11.05

 

315(a)	7.01(b)

 

(b)	7.05; 11.02

 

(c)	7.01(a)

 

(d)	7.01(c)

 

(e)	6.11

 

316(a)(last sentence)	11.06

 

(a)(1)(A)	6.05

 

(a)(1)(B)	6.04

 

(a)(2)	N.A.

 

(b)	6.07

 

317(a)(1)	6.08

 

(a)(2)	6.09

 

(b)d	2.04

 

318(a)	11.01

 

N.A. means Not Applicable.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

This Table of Contents is not a part of the Indenture

Article One DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section 1.01	Definitions.	- 1 -
Section 1.02	Other Definitions.	- 3 -
Section 1.03	Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.	- 4 -
Section 1.04	Rules of Construction.	- 4 -
Article Two THE SECURITIES
Section 2.01	Form and Dating.	- 4 -
Section 2.02	Execution and Authentication.	- 6 -
Section 2.03	Registrar and Paying Agent.	- 7 -
Section 2.04	Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.	- 7 -
Section 2.05	Securityholder Lists.	- 7 -
Section 2.06	Transfer and Exchange.	- 7 -
Section 2.07	Replacement Securities.	- 8 -
Section 2.08	Outstanding Securities.	- 8 -
Section 2.09	Temporary Securities.	- 8 -
Section 2.10	Cancellation.	- 9 -
Section 2.11	Defaulted Interest.	- 9 -
Section 2.12	Treasury Securities.	- 9 -
Section 2.13	CUSIP/ISIN Numbers.	- 9 -
Section 2.14	Deposit of Moneys.	- 9 -
Section 2.15	Book-Entry Provisions for Global Security.	- 9 -
Section 2.16	No Duty to Monitor.	- 11 -
Article Three REDEMPTION; Repurchase
Section 3.01	Notices to Trustee.	- 11 -
Section 3.02	Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.	- 11 -
Section 3.03	Notice of Redemption.	- 12 -
Section 3.04	Effect of Notice of Redemption.	- 13 -
Section 3.05	Deposit of Redemption Price.	- 13 -
Section 3.06	Securities Redeemed in Part.	- 13 -
Section 3.07	Repurchases in the Open Market.	- 13 -

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Article Four COVENANTS
Section 4.01	Payment of Securities.	- 13 -
Section 4.02	Maintenance of Office or Agency.	- 13 -
Section 4.03	Compliance Certificate.	- 13 -
Section 4.04	Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws.	- 14 -
Section 4.05	SEC Reports.	- 14 -
Article Five SUCCESSOR CORPORATION
Section 5.01	When Company May Merge, etc.	- 14 -
Article Six DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 6.01	Events of Default.	- 15 -
Section 6.02	Acceleration.	- 15 -
Section 6.03	Other Remedies.	- 16 -
Section 6.04	Waiver of Existing Defaults.	- 16 -
Section 6.05	Control by Majority.	- 17 -
Section 6.06	Limitation on Suits.	- 17 -
Section 6.07	Rights of Holders to Receive Payment.	- 17 -
Section 6.08	Collection Suit by Trustee.	- 17 -
Section 6.09	Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.	- 17 -
Section 6.10	Priorities.	- 18 -
Section 6.11	Undertaking for Costs.	- 18 -
Article Seven TRUSTEE
Section 7.01	Duties of Trustee.	- 18 -
Section 7.02	Rights of Trustee.	- 19 -
Section 7.03	Individual Rights of Trustee.	- 20 -
Section 7.04	Trustee’s Disclaimer.	- 21 -
Section 7.05	Notice of Defaults.	- 21 -
Section 7.06	Reports by Trustee to Holders.	- 21 -
Section 7.07	Compensation and Indemnity.	- 21 -
Section 7.08	Replacement of Trustee.	- 22 -
Section 7.09	Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.	- 22 -
Section 7.10	Eligibility; Disqualification.	- 22 -
Section 7.11	Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.	- 22 -

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Article Eight DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE
Section 8.01	Defeasance upon Deposit of Moneys or Government Obligations; Satisfaction and Discharge.	- 23 -
Section 8.02	Survival of the Company’s Obligations.	- 25 -
Section 8.03	Application of Trust Money.	- 25 -
Section 8.04	Repayment to the Company.	- 25 -
Section 8.05	Reinstatement.	- 25 -
Article Nine AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS
Section 9.01	Without Consent of Holders.	- 26 -
Section 9.02	With Consent of Holders.	- 26 -
Section 9.03	Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.	- 27 -
Section 9.04	Revocation and Effect of Consents.	- 27 -
Section 9.05	Notation on or Exchange of Securities.	- 28 -
Section 9.06	Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.	- 28 -
Article Ten SECURITIES IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES
Section 10.01	Applicability of Article.	- 28 -
Article Eleven MISCELLANEOUS
Section 11.01	Trust Indenture Act Controls.	- 28 -
Section 11.02	Notices.	- 29 -
Section 11.03	Communications by Holders with Other Holders.	- 29 -
Section 11.04	Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.	- 30 -
Section 11.05	Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.	- 30 -
Section 11.06	Rules by Trustee and Agents.	- 30 -
Section 11.07	Legal Holidays.	- 30 -
Section 11.08	Governing Law.	- 30 -
Section 11.09	No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.	- 31 -
Section 11.10	No Recourse Against Others.	- 31 -
Section 11.11	Successors and Assigns.	- 31 -
Section 11.12	Duplicate Originals.	- 31 -
Section 11.13	Severability.	- 31 -
Section 11.14	PATRIOT ACT.	- 31 -
Section 11.15	Waiver of Jury Trial.	- 31 -

SIGNATURES

EXHIBIT A – Form of Security

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INDENTURE dated as of , (the “Base Indenture”), by and between Zevia PBC, a Delaware public benefit corporation (the “Company”) and , as trustee (the “Trustee”).

Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Company’s debt securities issued under this Base Indenture:

Article One

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Section 1.01 Definitions.

“Affiliate” means, when used with reference to a specified person, any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Person specified.

“Agent” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-Registrar or agent for service of notices and demands.

“Authorizing Resolution” means a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors or by an Officer or committee of Officers pursuant to delegation by the Board of Directors authorizing a Series of Securities.

“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

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

“Business Day” means any calendar day that is not a Saturday or Sunday and that is not a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York (or any other place of payment) are authorized or required by law or executive order to close.

“capital stock” means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of or in such Person’s capital stock or other equity interests.

“Company” means the party named as such in this Indenture until a successor replaces it pursuant to the Indenture and thereafter means the successor.

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

“Default” means any event, act or condition that is, or after notice or the passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

“Definitive Security” means a certificated Security registered in the name of the Securityholder thereof.

“Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any Series which the Company shall determine will be issued in whole or in part as a Global Security, DTC, another clearing agency, or any successor registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act, and any other applicable U.S. or foreign statute or regulation, which, in each case, shall be designated by the Company pursuant to Section 2.01.

“Dollars” and “$” means United States Dollars.

“DTC” means The Depository Trust Company.

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

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“Foreign Currency” means any currency, currency unit or composite currency, including, without limitation, the euro, issued by the government of one or more countries other than the United States of America or by any recognized confederation or association of such governments.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, as in effect from time to time.

“Global Security” means, with respect to any Series of Securities, a Security executed by the Company and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance with the Indenture, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.

“Government Obligations” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of the United States or the other government or governments in the confederation which issued the Foreign Currency in which the principal of or any interest on the Security of the applicable Series shall be payable, in each case for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States or such other government or governments, in each case the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States or such other government or governments, which, in either case are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer or issuers thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such Government Obligations or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depositary receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of the Government Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.

“Holder” or “Securityholder” means the Person in whose name a Security is registered on the Registrar’s books.

“Indenture” means this Base Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time, including pursuant to any Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture pertaining to any Series, and including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture, the provisions of the TIA that are deemed to be a part of and govern this Base Indenture and any such Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture, respectively.

“Issue Date” means, with respect to any Series of Securities, the date on which the Securities of such Series are originally issued under this Indenture.

“NYUCC” means the New York Uniform Commercial Code, as in effect from time to time.

“Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Accounting Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, the Controller or the Secretary of the Company.

“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by an Officer of the Company.

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, which may be may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any Person of which the Company is a Subsidiary.

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

“principal” of a debt security means the principal of the security plus, when appropriate, the premium, if any, on the security.

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“Property” of any Person means all types of real, personal, tangible, intangible or mixed property owned by such Person, whether or not included in the most recent consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries under GAAP.

“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency performing the duties now assigned to it under the TIA.

“Securities” means any securities that are issued under this Base Indenture.

“Series” means a series of Securities established under this Base Indenture.

“Subsidiary” of any Person means any corporation or other entity of which at least majority of the outstanding capital stock or other equity interests having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the directors, managers or trustees of such corporation or other entity, irrespective of whether or not at the time capital stock or other equity securities of any other class or classes of such corporation or other entity shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency, is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned, or controlled by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries.

“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

“Trust Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, senior associate, associate, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who, in each case, shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

“Trustee” means the party named as such in this Base Indenture until a successor replaces it pursuant to this Base Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder; provided, however, that if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean only the Trustee with respect to Securities of that Series.

“United States” means the United States of America.

Section 1.02 Other Definitions.

 

Term	Defined in Section
Agent Members	2.15
Base Indenture	Preamble
Covenant Defeasance	8.01
Custodian	6.01
Event of Default	6.01
Legal Defeasance	8.01
Legal Holiday	11.07
Paying Agent	2.03
Registrar	2.03
Security Register	2.03
Successor	5.01

 

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Section 1.03 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.

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

“Commission” means the SEC.

“indenture securities” means the Securities of a particular Series.

“indenture security holder” means a Securityholder.

“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.

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

“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company or any other obligor on the Securities of a Series.

All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule have the meanings so assigned to them.

Section 1.04 Rules of Construction.

Unless the context otherwise requires:

Article Two THE SECURITIES

Section 2.01 Form and Dating.

The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be issued under this Base Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued from time to time in one or more Series. Each Series shall be created by an Authorizing Resolution, an Officer’s Certificate or a supplemental indenture that establishes the terms of the Series, which may include the following:

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All Securities of one Series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, a Series may be reopened for issuances of additional Securities of such Series pursuant to an Authorizing Resolution, an Officer’s Certificate or in any indenture supplemental hereto.

The creation and issuance of a Series and the authentication and delivery thereof are not subject to any conditions precedent.

Section 2.02 Execution and Authentication.

One Officer shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual, electronic or facsimile signature.

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

A Security shall not be valid until the Trustee signs the certificate of authentication on the Security by manual, electronic or facsimile signature. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Base Indenture.

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Trustee shall authenticate Securities for original issue upon receipt of, and shall be fully protected in relying upon:

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The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Securities under this Section if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken or if the Trustee in good faith shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to existing Holders.

Section 2.03 Registrar and Paying Agent.

The Company shall maintain an office or agency where Securities may be presented for registration of transfer or where Securities of a Series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange (“Registrar”), an office or agency where Securities may be presented for payment (“Paying Agent”) and an office or agency where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Registrar shall keep a register of the Securities and of their transfer and exchange (the “Security Register”). The Company may have one or more co-Registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent. The Company may at any time rescind the designation of any Registrar or Paying Agent or approve a change in the office through which the Registrar or Paying Agent acts.

The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Agent not a party to this Base Indenture. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such Agent. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any such Agent and the Trustee shall have the right to inspect the Securities Register at all reasonable times to obtain copies thereof, and the Trustee shall have the right to rely upon such register as to the names and addresses of the Holders and the principal amounts and certificate numbers thereof. If the Company fails to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent or fails to give the foregoing notice, the Trustee shall act as such.

The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent.

Section 2.04 Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

Each Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Securityholders and the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Securities, and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money and hold it as a separate trust fund. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon doing so the Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money. Upon an Event of Default under Section 6.01(4) or (5) the Trustee shall automatically be the Paying Agent.

Section 2.05 Securityholder Lists.

The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Securityholders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least five Business Days before each semiannual interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Securityholders.

Section 2.06 Transfer and Exchange.

Where a Security is presented to the Registrar or a co-Registrar with a request to register a transfer, the Registrar shall register the transfer as requested if the requirements of Section 8-401(a) of the NYUCC are met and the other provisions of this Section 2.06 and, to the extent applicable, Section 2.15, are satisfied. Where Securities are presented to the Registrar or a co-Registrar with a request to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of other denominations, the Registrar shall make the exchange as requested if the same requirements are met. To permit transfers and exchanges, the Trustee shall authenticate Securities at the Registrar’s request. The

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Registrar need not transfer or exchange any Security selected for redemption or repurchase, or transfer or exchange any Security for a period of 15 days before a selection of Securities to be redeemed or repurchased. Any exchange or transfer shall be without charge, except that the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto except in the case of exchanges pursuant to Section 2.09, Section 3.06, or Section 9.05 not involving any transfer. In connection with the foregoing, the Registrar may require a Holder to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents.

Any Holder of a Global Security shall, by acceptance of such Global Security, agree that transfers of beneficial interests in such Global Security may be effected only through a book entry system maintained by the Holder of such Global Security (or its agent), and that ownership of a beneficial interest in the Security shall be required to be reflected in a book entry.

Section 2.07 Replacement Securities.

If the Holder of a Security claims that the Security has been lost, destroyed, mutilated or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue and execute a replacement security and, upon written request of any Officer of the Company, the Trustee shall authenticate such replacement Security, provided, in the case of a lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Security, that the requirements of Section 8-405 of the NYUCC are met. If any such lost, destroyed, mutilated or wrongfully taken Security shall have matured or shall be about to mature, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Security therefor, pay such Security without requiring (except in the case of a mutilated Security) the surrender thereof. An indemnity bond must be sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee to protect the Trustee and in the judgment of the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee and any Agent from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Security is replaced, including the acquisition of such Security by a bona fide purchaser. The Company and the Trustee may charge for their expenses in replacing a Security.

Section 2.08 Outstanding Securities.

Securities outstanding at any time are all Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those cancelled by it and those described in this Section. A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or one of its Affiliates holds the Security.

If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a “protected purchaser” (as such term is defined in the NYUCC).

If the Paying Agent holds on a redemption date, purchase date or maturity date money sufficient to pay Securities payable on that date, then on and after that date such Securities cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

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

Section 2.09 Temporary Securities.

Until Definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may execute and the Trustee shall (upon receipt of an order from the Company) authenticate temporary Securities. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of Definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and, upon surrender for cancellation of the temporary Security, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Definitive Securities in exchange for temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as Definitive Securities authenticated and delivered hereunder.

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Section 2.10 Cancellation.

The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange, redemption, purchase or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel and dispose of such cancelled or tendered Securities, or retain in accordance with its standard retention policy, all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, redemption, purchase, payment or cancellation. Unless the Authorizing Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture so provides, the Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that it has previously paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Section 2.11 Defaulted Interest.

If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Securities of any Series, it shall pay the defaulted interest plus any interest payable on the defaulted interest to the persons who are Securityholders of such Series on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix such special record date and a payment date. At least 15 days before such special record date, the Company shall send to each Securityholder of the relevant Series (with a copy to the Trustee) a notice that states the record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid. On or before the date such notice is sent, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the amount of defaulted interest to be so paid. The Company may pay defaulted interest in any other lawful manner if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

Section 2.12 Treasury Securities.

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities of a Series have concurred in any direction, waiver, consent or notice, Securities owned by the Company or any of its Affiliates shall be considered as though they are not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Securities which a Trust Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so considered.

Section 2.13 CUSIP/ISIN Numbers.

The Company in issuing the Securities of any Series may use a “CUSIP” and/or “ISIN” or other similar number, and if so, the Trustee shall use the CUSIP and/or ISIN or other similar number in notices of redemption or exchange as a convenience to Holders of such Securities; provided that no representation is hereby deemed to be made by the Trustee as to the correctness or accuracy of any such CUSIP and/or ISIN or other similar number printed in the notice or on such Securities, and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on such Securities. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of any change in any CUSIP and/or ISIN or other similar number.

Section 2.14 Deposit of Moneys.

Prior to 1:00 p.m. New York City time on each interest payment date and maturity date with respect to each Series of Securities, the Company shall have deposited with the Paying Agent in immediately available funds money in the applicable currency sufficient to make cash payments due on such interest payment date or maturity date, as the case may be, in a timely manner which permits the Paying Agent to remit payment to the Holders of such Series on such interest payment date or maturity date, as the case may be.

Section 2.15 Book-Entry Provisions for Global Security.

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Members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by the Depositary, or the Trustee as its custodian, or under the Global Security, and the Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of the Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of a Holder of any Security.

“THIS GLOBAL SECURITY IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS SECURITY) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE HOLDERS OF BENEFICIAL INTERESTS HEREIN, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE ANY SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06 OF THE BASE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY BE TRANSFERRED AS A WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO THE DEPOSITARY, ITS SUCCESSORS OR THEIR RESPECTIVE NOMINEES.”

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Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation (“DTC”), to Issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange, or payment, any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.”

Section 2.16 No Duty to Monitor.

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

Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.

Article Three

REDEMPTION; Repurchase

Section 3.01 Notices to Trustee.

Securities of a Series that are redeemable prior to maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and, unless the Authorizing Resolution or supplemental indenture provides otherwise, in accordance with this Article Three.

If the Company wants to redeem Securities pursuant to any provisions of such Securities permitting the Company to redeem such Securities at its option, it shall notify the Trustee in writing of the redemption date and the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed. Any such notice may be cancelled at any time prior to notice of such redemption being sent to Holders. Any such cancelled notice shall be void and of no effect.

If the Company wants to credit any Securities previously redeemed, retired or acquired against any redemption pursuant to any provisions of such Securities, it shall notify the Trustee of the amount of the credit and it shall deliver any Securities not previously delivered to the Trustee for cancellation with such notice.

The Company shall give each notice provided for in this Section 3.01 at least two days before the notice of any such redemption is to be delivered to Holders (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee).

Section 3.02 Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.

If fewer than all of the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed, the Trustee (or Depositary, as applicable) shall select the Securities to be redeemed pro rata, by lot, or such other method the Trustee (or Depositary, as applicable) considers fair and appropriate and in a manner that complies with applicable requirements of the Depositary. The Trustee (or Depositary, as applicable) shall make the selection from Securities outstanding not previously called for redemption and shall promptly notify the Company of the serial numbers or other identifying attributes of the Securities so selected. The Trustee (or Depositary, as applicable) may select for redemption portions of the principal of Securities that have denominations larger than the minimum denomination for the Series. Securities and portions of them it selects shall be in amounts equal to a permissible denomination for the Series. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities called for redemption.

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Unless otherwise provided in the Authorizing Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture relating to a Series, if any Security selected for partial redemption is converted into or exchanged for common stock or other securities, cash or other Property in part before termination of the conversion or exchange right with respect to the portion of the Security so selected, the converted portion of such Security shall be deemed (so far as may be) to be the portion selected for redemption. Securities which have been converted or exchanged during a selection of Securities to be redeemed shall be treated by the Trustee as outstanding for the purpose of such selection.

Section 3.03 Notice of Redemption.

At least 10 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall send a notice of redemption by first-class mail, postage prepaid (or in the case of Global Securities, deliver electronically in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary), to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed (with a copy to the Trustee).

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

At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense; provided, however, that the Company shall deliver to the Trustee at least five days prior to the date on which notice of redemption is to be sent or such shorter period as may be satisfactory to the Trustee, an Officer’s Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph and the form of such notice.

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Section 3.04 Effect of Notice of Redemption.

Once notice of redemption is sent, Securities called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price as set forth in the notice of redemption. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. Notices of redemption may be subject to one or more conditions. In the event that any such conditions are not satisfied the Company may amend or revoke such notice of redemption by sending notice to Securityholders (with a copy to the Trustee) in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary.

Section 3.05 Deposit of Redemption Price.

On or before the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent immediately available funds in the applicable currency sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Securities to be redeemed on that date.

Section 3.06 Securities Redeemed in Part.

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

Section 3.07 Repurchases in the Open Market.

The Company or any Affiliate of the Company may at any time or from time to time repurchase any of the Securities in the open market or otherwise, whether from one Noteholder or several Noteholders, or whether in one repurchase or a series of repurchases. Such Securities may, at the option of the Company or the relevant Affiliate of the Company, be held, resold or surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Article Four

COVENANTS

Section 4.01 Payment of Securities.

The Company shall pay the principal of and interest on a Series on the dates, in the currency and in the manner provided in the Securities of the Series. An installment of principal or interest shall be considered paid on the date it is due if the Paying Agent holds on that date money in the applicable currency designated for and sufficient to pay the installment.

The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate borne by the Series; it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate.

Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency.

The Company shall maintain the office or agency required under Section 2.03. The Company shall give prior written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the address of the Trustee, provided that the Trustee shall not be the agent for service of legal process on the Company.

Section 4.03 Compliance Certificate.

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company an Officer’s Certificate stating whether or not the signer knows of any continuing Event of Default by the Company in performing any of its obligations under this Indenture. If the signer does know of such an Event of Default, the certificate shall describe such Event of Default.

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Section 4.04 Waiver of Stay, Extension or Usury Laws.

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

Section 4.05 SEC Reports.

The Company covenants to comply with Section 314 of the TIA. Delivery of such information and documents to the Trustee under this Section 4.05 is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute actual or constructive knowledge of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).

Article Five

SUCCESSOR CORPORATION

Section 5.01 When Company May Merge, etc.

The Company will not consolidate or merge with or into, or sell, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (including by way of liquidation or dissolution) to, any Person (in each case other than in a transaction in which the Company is the survivor of a consolidation or merger, or the transferee in a sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition) unless:

The foregoing provisions shall not apply to a transaction the purpose of which is to change the state of incorporation of the Company.

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee prior to the consummation of the proposed transaction an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the proposed transaction and any supplemental indenture comply with this Indenture.

Upon any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the Successor will be substituted for the Company under the Indenture. The Successor may then exercise every power and right of the Company under this Indenture, and except in the case of a lease, the Company will be released from all of its liabilities and obligations in respect of the Securities and the Indenture. If the Company leases all or substantially all of its assets the Company will not be released from its obligations to pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities.

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Article Six

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 6.01 Events of Default.

An “Event of Default” on a Series occurs if, voluntarily or involuntarily, whether by operation of law or otherwise, any of the following occurs:

A Default described in subclause (3) above will not be deemed an Event of Default until the Trustee notifies the Company, or the Holders of at least 25 percent in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of the applicable Series notify the Company and the Trustee, of the Default and the Company does not cure the Default within 90 days after receipt of the notice. The notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that the notice is a “Notice of Default.” If such a Default is cured within such time period, such Default ceases to exist, without any action by the Trustee or any other Person.

The term “Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, custodian or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

Section 6.02 Acceleration.

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default with respect to the Company resulting from subclause (4) or (5) of Section 6.01), shall have occurred and be continuing under the Indenture, the Trustee by notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25 percent in principal amount of the Securities of the applicable Series then outstanding by notice to the Company and the Trustee, may declare all Securities of such Series to be

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due and payable immediately. Upon such declaration of acceleration, the amounts due and payable on the Securities of such Series will be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default with respect to the Company specified in subclause (4) or (5) of Section 6.01 occurs, all unpaid principal and accrued interest of the Securities of such Series will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration, notice or other act on the part of the Trustee and the Company or any Holder.

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to any Series has been made, 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 the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if:

No such rescission shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent Event of Default, or shall impair any right or power consequent thereon.

Section 6.03 Other Remedies.

If an Event of Default on a Series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy by proceeding at law or in equity to collect the payment of principal of or interest on the Series or to enforce the performance of any provision in the Securities or this Indenture applicable to the Series.

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Securities or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Securityholder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies are cumulative.

Section 6.04 Waiver of Existing Defaults.

Subject to the last sentence of the first paragraph of Section 9.02, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities of all Series affected by a waiver, on behalf of all the Holders of all such Series by notice to the Trustee have the waive an existing Default on all such Series and its consequences (other than a Default in respect of a covenant or a provision of the Indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of all Holders of the applicable Series). When a Default is waived, it is cured and stops continuing, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

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Section 6.05 Control by Majority.

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of a Series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it with respect to such Series. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction (i) that conflicts with law or this Indenture, (ii) that, subject to Section 7.01, the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Securityholders, (iii) that would involve the Trustee in personal liability, if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that adequate indemnity against such liability is not reasonably assured to it, or (iv) if the Trustee shall not have been provided with indemnity satisfactory to it.

Section 6.06 Limitation on Suits.

A Securityholder of a Series may not pursue any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the Indenture, such Series, or Securities in respect of any such Series, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Series unless:

A Securityholder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of Securities of the same Series or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of Securities of the same Series (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances by such Holder are unduly prejudicial to another Holder).

Section 6.07 Rights of Holders to Receive Payment.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, if applicable by the terms of any such Security, the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on any Security, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Security, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, is absolute and unconditional and shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of the Holder.

Section 6.08 Collection Suit by Trustee.

If an Event of Default in payment of interest or principal specified in Section 6.01(1) or (2) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of principal and interest remaining unpaid.

Section 6.09 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

The Trustee may file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements, and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Securityholders allowed in any judicial

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proceedings relative to the Company or its creditors or Property, and unless prohibited by applicable law or regulation, may vote on behalf of the Holders in any election of a Custodian, and shall be entitled and empowered to collect and receive any moneys or other Property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Securityholder to make such payments to the Trustee. Nothing herein shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or vote for or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder except as aforesaid for the election of the Custodian.

Section 6.10 Priorities.

If the Trustee collects any money or Property pursuant to this Article with respect to Securities of any Series, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

 

First:		to the Trustee for amounts due under Section 7.07;
Second:		to Securityholders of the Series for amounts due and unpaid on the Series for principal and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Series for principal and interest, respectively; and
Third:		to the Company or as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.

 

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Securityholders pursuant to this Section 6.10.

Section 6.11 Undertaking for Costs.

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having the due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07 or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the Series.

Article Seven

TRUSTEE

Section 7.01 Duties of Trustee.

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Section 7.02 Rights of Trustee.

Subject to Section 7.01:

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Section 7.03 Individual Rights of Trustee.

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or its affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. The Trustee, however, must comply with Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

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Section 7.04 Trustee’s Disclaimer.

The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture, the Securities or of any prospectus used to sell the Securities of any Series; it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities; it shall not be accountable for any money paid to the Company, or upon the Company’s direction, if made under and in accordance with any provision of this Indenture; it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee; and it shall not be responsible for any statement of the Company in this Indenture or in the Securities other than its certificate of authentication.

Section 7.05 Notice of Defaults.

If a Default occurs hereunder with respect to a Series of Securities, the Trustee shall give the Holders of Securities of such Series notice of all Defaults known to the Trustee which have occurred with respect to such Securities, such notice to be transmitted within 90 days after the occurrence thereof, unless such Defaults shall have been cured before the giving of such notice; provided, however, that except in the case of a Default in the payment of principal or redemption price of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Securities, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as its board of directors, executive committee, or trust committee of directors or trustees and/or Trust Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of Securities of such Series.

Section 7.06 Reports by Trustee to Holders.

Within 60 days after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following the date of this Base Indenture, the Trustee shall send to each Securityholder a brief report dated as of such May 15 that complies with TIA § 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA §§ 313(a)(1) through (8) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date no report in relation thereto need be transmitted). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA § 313(b).

A copy of each report at the time of its sending to Securityholders shall be delivered to the Company and filed by the Trustee with the SEC and each national securities exchange on which the Securities are listed. The Company agrees to notify the Trustee of each national securities exchange on which the Securities are listed.

Section 7.07 Compensation and Indemnity.

The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its services subject to any written agreement between the Trustee and the Company (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the 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 the Trustee, its officers, directors, employees and agents and hold it harmless against any loss, liability or expense incurred or made by or on behalf of it in connection with the administration of this Indenture or the trust hereunder and its duties hereunder including the costs and expenses of defending itself against or investigating any claim in the premises. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim of which it has received written notice and for which it may seek indemnity. The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s, or its Officer’s, directors’, or employees’ gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final non-appealable order of competent jurisdiction.

Unless otherwise provided in any supplemental indenture or Authorizing Resolution relating to any Series, to ensure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities of all Series on all money or Property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of or interest on particular Securities. When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01 or in connection with Article Six hereof, the expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for services in connection therewith are to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law. This Section 7.07 shall survive the discharge of the Indenture or resignation of Trustee.

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Section 7.08 Replacement of Trustee.

The Trustee may resign with respect to Securities of any or all Series by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities (or of the relevant Series) may remove the Trustee by so notifying the removed Trustee in writing and may appoint a successor trustee with the Company’s consent. The Trustee for one or more Series of Securities may be removed by the Company, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to such Series. The Trustee may also be removed by the Company for purposes of the Base Indenture. Such resignation or removal shall not take effect until the appointment by the Securityholders of the relevant Series or the Company as hereinafter provided of a successor trustee and the acceptance of such appointment by such successor trustee. The Company may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee, and any Securityholder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee if:

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of the relevant Series. If a successor trustee does not take office within 30 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee at the expense of the Company, the Company or any Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee.

A successor trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Immediately after that, the retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges hereunder, transfer all Property held by it as Trustee to the successor trustee, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. A successor trustee shall send notice of its succession to each Securityholder.

Section 7.09 Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

If the Trustee consolidates with, merges with or into or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor trustee.

Section 7.10 Eligibility; Disqualification.

This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1). The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $10,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 310(b).

Section 7.11 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

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

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Article Eight

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

Section 8.01 Defeasance upon Deposit of Moneys or Government Obligations; Satisfaction and Discharge.

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In the event all or any portion of the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed through such irrevocable trust, the Company must make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee, at the time of such deposit, for the giving of the notice of such redemption or redemptions by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.

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Section 8.02 Survival of the Company’s Obligations.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to any Series under Section 8.01(e), the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 7.07, and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.01(e)(1), the obligations of the Trustee under Section 8.03 and Section 8.04 shall survive.

Section 8.03 Application of Trust Money.

The Trustee shall hold in trust money or Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to Section 8.01. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from Government Obligations in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities of the defeased or discharged Series.

Section 8.04 Repayment to the Company.

The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall promptly pay to the Company upon request any excess money or securities held by them at any time. The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of New York or send to each such Holder notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication or sending, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company. After payment to the Company, Securityholders entitled to the money must look solely to the Company for payment unless applicable abandoned property law designates another Person and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such money shall cease.

Section 8.05 Reinstatement.

If the Trustee is unable to apply any money or Government Obligations in accordance with Section 8.01(b) or (c) by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities relating to the Series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.01(b) or (c), as applicable, until such time as the Trustee is permitted to apply all such money or Government Obligations in accordance with Section 8.01(b) or (c), as applicable; provided, however, that (a) if the Company has made any payment of interest on or principal of any Securities of the Series because of the reinstatement of its obligations hereunder, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or Government Obligations held by the Trustee and (b) unless otherwise required by any legal proceeding or any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority, the Trustee shall return all such money or Government Obligations to the Company promptly after receiving a written request therefor at any time, if such reinstatement of the Company’s obligations has occurred and continues to be in effect.

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Article Nine

AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS

Section 9.01 Without Consent of Holders.

The Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities of a Series without notice to or consent of any Securityholder of such Series:

After an amendment under this Section 9.01 becomes effective, the Company shall send notice of such amendment to the Securityholders (with a copy to the Trustee).

Section 9.02 With Consent of Holders.

The Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities of a Series without notice to any Securityholder of such Series but with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each Series affected by the amendment or supplement (voting as one class) (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities of such Series). The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each Series affected by a waiver (voting as one class) may waive any existing Default under, or compliance with, any provision of the Securities of each such Series or of this Indenture relating to each such Series without notice to any Securityholder (including any waiver granted in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for,

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Securities of such Series). Without the consent of each Holder of a Security affected thereby, however, an amendment, supplement or waiver, including a waiver pursuant to Section 6.04, may not:

Any amendment, supplement or waiver which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of the Indenture which shall have been included expressly and solely for the benefit of one or more particular Series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of such Series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights of the Holders of any other Series.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplement, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

Section 9.03 Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.

If applicable, every amendment to or supplement of this Indenture or any Securities shall comply with the TIA as then in effect.

Section 9.04 Revocation and Effect of Consents.

A consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver by a Holder shall bind the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. Unless otherwise provided in the consent or the consent solicitation statement or other document describing the terms of the consent, any Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to its Security or portion of a Security. Any revocation of a consent by the Holder of a Security or any such subsequent Holder shall be effective only if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date on which the Trustee receives an Officer’s Certificate from the Company certifying that the requisite number of consents have been received.

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Securities of any Series entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver. If a record date is fixed, and if Holders otherwise have a right to revoke their consent under the consent or the consent solicitation statement or other document describing the terms of the consent, then notwithstanding the second to last sentence of the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date.

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An amendment, supplement or waiver with respect to a Series becomes effective upon the (i) receipt by the Company or the Trustee of the requisite consents, (ii) satisfaction of any conditions to effectiveness as set forth in the Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto containing such amendment, supplement or waiver and (iii) execution of such amendment, supplement or waiver (or the related supplemental indenture) by the Company and the Trustee. After an amendment, supplement or waiver with respect to a Series becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder of such Series, unless it makes a change described in any of clauses (1) through (4) of Section 9.02, in which case, the amendment, supplement or waiver shall bind a Holder of a Security who is affected thereby only if it has consented to such amendment, supplement or waiver and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security.

Section 9.05 Notation on or Exchange of Securities.

If an amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Security, the Company may require the Holder of the Security to deliver it to the Trustee, at which time the Trustee shall place an appropriate notation on the Security about the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Company or the Trustee so determines, the Company in exchange for the Security shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Security that reflects the changed terms.

Section 9.06 Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.

Subject to Section 7.02(b), the Trustee shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article if the amendment, supplement or waiver does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may but need not sign it. In signing or refusing to sign such amendment or supplemental indenture, the Trustee shall be provided with and shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that such amendment, supplement or waiver is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.

Article Ten

SECURITIES IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES

Section 10.01 Applicability of Article.

Whenever this Indenture provides for (i) any action by, or the determination of any of the rights of, Holders of Securities of any Series in which not all of such Securities are denominated in the same currency, or (ii) any distribution to Holders of Securities, in the absence of any provision to the contrary pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities of any particular Series, any amount in respect of any Security denominated in a Foreign Currency shall be treated for any such action or distribution as that amount of Dollars that could be obtained for such amount on such reasonable basis of exchange and as of the record date with respect to Securities of such Series (if any) for such action, determination of rights or distribution (or, if there shall be no applicable record date, such other date reasonably proximate to the date of such action, determination of rights or distribution) as the Company may specify in a written notice to the Trustee or, in the absence of such written notice, as the paying agent or agency or organization, if any, responsible for overseeing such composite currency may determine. The Trustee shall have no duty to calculate or verify the calculations made pursuant to this Section 10.01.

Article Eleven

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 11.01 Trust Indenture Act Controls.

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

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Section 11.02 Notices.

Any order, consent, notice or communication shall be sufficiently given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, or delivered by commercial courier service, addressed as follows:

 

if to the Company:
	Zevia PBC
	15821 Ventura Blvd., Suite 135
	Encino, CA 91436
	Attention: Chief Financial Officer
if to the Trustee:

 

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 sent to a Securityholder shall be sent electronically or mailed to him by first class mail, postage prepaid, or delivered by commercial courier service, at his address as it appears on the registration books of the Registrar, or, in the case of Global Securities sent electronically in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary, and shall be sufficiently given to him if so sent within the time prescribed.

Failure to send a notice or communication to a Securityholder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Securityholders. If a notice or communication is sent in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it except that notice to the Trustee shall only be effective upon receipt thereof by the Trustee.

If the Company sends notice or communications to the Securityholders, it shall send a copy to the Trustee at the same time.

In addition to the foregoing, the Trustee may accept and act upon notice, instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by unsecured e-mail, facsimile transmission or other similar unsecured electronic methods. If the party elects to give the Trustee e-mail or facsimile instructions (or instructions by a similar electronic method) and the Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such instructions, the Trustee’s understanding of such instructions shall be deemed controlling. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reliance upon and compliance with such instructions notwithstanding such instructions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The party providing electronic instructions agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Security, where this Indenture or any Security provides for notice of any event to a Holder of a Global Security (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary (or its designee) pursuant to the standing instructions from the Depositary or its designee.

Section 11.03 Communications by Holders with Other Holders.

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

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Section 11.04 Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

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

Section 11.05 Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:

Section 11.06 Rules by Trustee and Agents.

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Securityholders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for its functions.

Section 11.07 Legal Holidays.

A “Legal Holiday” is a day that is not a Business Day. If any interest or other payment date of a Security falls on a Legal Holiday, the required payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest will be due on the next succeeding Business Day as if made on the date that the payment was due, and no interest will accrue on that payment for the period from and after that interest or other payment date, as the case may be, to the date of that payment on the next succeeding Business Day. If this Indenture provides for a time period that ends or requires performance of any non-payment obligation by a day that is not a Business Day, then such time period shall instead be deemed to end on, and such obligation shall instead be performed by, the next succeeding Business Day.

Section 11.08 Governing Law.

The laws of the State of New York shall govern this Indenture and the Securities of each Series.

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Section 11.09 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

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

Section 11.10 No Recourse Against Others.

All liability described in Paragraph 12 of the Securities of any director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company is, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, waived and released.

Section 11.11 Successors and Assigns.

All covenants and agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successors and assigns. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns.

Section 11.12 Duplicate Originals.

The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or other electronic transmission (including, without limitation, electronic imaging means (including “.pdf”)) shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes. Any signature to this Indenture or any notice or other document delivered in connection herewith may be delivered by any electronic signature complying with the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York Electronic Signature and Records Act or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transaction Act, or other transmission method, and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

Section 11.13 Severability.

In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in the Securities of a Series shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of such Securities.

Section 11.14 PATRIOT ACT.

The Company acknowledges that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions, and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The Company agrees that it will provide the Trustee with such information as it may reasonably request as required in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

Section 11.15 Waiver of Jury Trial.

EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

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SIGNATURES

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the date first above written.

 

ZEVIA PBC
By:
Name:
Title:
_______________, as Trustee
By:
Name:
Title:

 

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EXHIBIT A

 

No.			CUSIP/ISIN No.:

 

[Title of Security]

Zevia PBC
a Delaware public benefit corporation

 

promises to pay to		or registered assigns the principal

 

sum of		[Dollars]* on

 

Interest Payment Dates:		and

 

Record Dates:		and

 

Authenticated:			Dated:

 

Zevia PBC
By:
Name:
Title:

 

[___________________],

as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Securities
referred to in the within mentioned Indenture.

 

By:
Authorized Signatory

 

* Or other currency. Insert corresponding provisions on reverse side of Security in respect of foreign currency denomination or interest payment requirement.

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Zevia PBC

[Title of Security]

Zevia PBC a Delaware public benefit corporation (together with its successors and assigns, the “Company”), issued this Security under an Indenture dated as of _____________________, (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance therewith, the “Base Indenture”), as supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture dated as of _____________________, (the “Supplemental Indenture” and together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), by and among the Company and ______________, as trustee (in such capacity, the “Trustee”), to which reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authorized and delivered. All terms used in this Security that are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them therein. If any terms of this Security conflicts with the terms of the Indenture, the terms of the Indenture shall govern and control.

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ASSIGNMENT FORM

If you the Holder want to assign this Security, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Security to ___________________________________________ (insert assignee’s social security or tax ID number)

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

(Print or type assignee’s name, address, and zip code)

and irrevocably appoint _________________________________________________________________________ agent to transfer this Security on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Date:
			Your signature
			(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security)

 

Signature Guarantee:

 

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February 26, 2025

Zevia PBC
15821 Ventura Blvd, Suite 145
Encino, CA 91436

Re: Zevia PBC
Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Zevia PBC, a Delaware public benefit corporation (the “Company”) in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to the registration under the Securities Act and the proposed issuance and sale from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, together or separately and in one or more series (if applicable) of:

The Debt Securities, Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Warrants, and Units are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.” The Debt Securities are to be issued under an indenture to be entered into between the Company and a financial institution to be named at the time such indenture is executed (the “Trust Company”), as indenture trustee (the “Base Indenture”).

In arriving at the opinions expressed below, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction as being true and complete copies of the originals, of the form of the Base Indenture, the form of Debt Securities and such other documents,

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corporate records, certificates of officers of the Company and of public officials and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or advisable to enable us to render these opinions. In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies. As to any facts material to these opinions, we have relied to the extent we deemed appropriate and without independent investigation upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and others.

We have assumed without independent investigation that:

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Based on the foregoing and in reliance thereon, and subject to the assumptions, exceptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

such Debt Securities will be legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms.

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such shares of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

such shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

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such Warrants will be legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

the Units will be legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

The opinions expressed above are subject to the following exceptions, qualifications, limitations and assumptions:

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You have informed us that you intend to issue Securities from time to time on a delayed or continuous basis, and we understand that prior to issuing any Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement (i) you will advise us in writing of the terms thereof, and (ii) you will afford us an opportunity to (x) review the operative documents pursuant to which such Securities are to be issued or sold (including the applicable offering documents), and (y) file such supplement or amendment to this opinion (if any) as we may reasonably consider necessary or appropriate.

We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and we further consent to the use of our name under the caption “Validity of the Securities” in the Registration Statement and the prospectus that forms a part thereof. In giving these consents, 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 promulgated thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP

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CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated February 26, 2025, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Zevia PBC and its subsidiary, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Zevia PBC for the year ended December 31, 2024. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such Registration Statement.

 

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Los Angeles, California

February 26, 2025

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Calculation of Filing Fee Tables

 

Form S-3

(Form Type)

 

Zevia PBC

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities

 

Security Type		Security Class Title		Fee Calculation or Carry Forward Rule		Amount Registered			Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit			Maximum Aggregate Offering Price		Fee Rate				Amount of Registration Fee
Equity		Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share		Rule 457(o)			(1)		(2)			(3)
Equity		Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share		Rule 457(o)			(1)		(2)			(3)
Other		Warrants		Rule 457(o)			(1)		(2)			(3)
Debt		Debt Securities		Rule 457(o)			(1)		(2)			(3)
Other		Units		Rule 457(o)			(1)		(2)			(3)
Unallocated (Universal) Shelf				Rule 457(o)			(1)		(2)		$	50,000,000		0.00015310			$	7,655.00
Total Offering Amounts											$	50,000,000						-
Total Fee Offsets																		-
Net Fee Due																	$	7,655.00

 

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