As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on January 14, 2011
Registration No. 333-171410
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1
to
FORM F-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
TEXTAINER GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
| Bermuda | 98-0530316 | |
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Century House
16 Par-La-Ville Road
Hamilton HM 08
Bermuda
(441) 296-2500
(Address and Telephone Number of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)
Ernest J. Furtado
Textainer Group Holdings Limited
c/o Textainer Equipment Management (U.S.) Limited
650 California Street, 16th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94108
(415) 434-0551
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Agent for Service)
With Copies to:
John W. Campbell, Esq.
Raymond T. Hum, Esq.
Morrison & Foerster LLP
425 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94105-2482
(415) 268-7000
(415) 268-7522 fax
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.
If only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ¨
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. þ
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.C. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.C. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
| Title of each class of securities to be registered |
Amount to be |
Proposed maximum aggregate price per unit(3) |
Proposed maximum aggregate offering price(3)(4)(5) |
Amount of registration fee(3) | ||||
| Common Shares, par value US$0.01 per share |
— | — | — | — | ||||
| Preference Shares, par value US$0.01 per share |
— | — | — | — | ||||
| Debt Securities |
— | — | — | — | ||||
| Warrants |
— | — | — | — | ||||
| Rights |
— | — | — | — | ||||
| Units(6) |
— | — | — | — | ||||
| TOTAL |
— | — | $550,000,000 | $39,215(7) | ||||
| (1) | Also includes an indeterminate aggregate principal amount and number of securities of each identified class of securities up to a proposed aggregate offering price of $550,000,000, which may be offered by the Registrant from time to time in unspecified numbers and at indeterminate prices, and as may be issued upon conversion, redemption, repurchase, exchange or exercise of any securities registered hereunder, including under any applicable anti-dilution provisions. Except as provided in Rule 426(b) under Securities Act of 1933, in no event will the aggregate offering price of all types of securities issued by the Registrant pursuant to this registration statement exceed $550,000,000. |
| (2) | Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement also covers any additional securities that may be offered or issued in connection with any share split, share dividend or similar transaction. |
| (3) | Pursuant to General Instruction II.C. of Form F-3, the table lists each of the classes of securities being registered and the aggregate proceeds to be raised, but does not specify by each class information as to the amount to be registered, proposed maximum offering price per unit, and proposed maximum aggregate offering price. |
| (4) | The proposed maximum aggregate offering price has been estimated solely to calculate the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933. |
| (5) | Includes consideration to be received by the registrant, if applicable, for registered securities that are issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange of other registered securities. |
| (6) | Consisting of some or all of the securities listed above, in any combination, including common shares, preference shares, debt securities and warrants. |
| (7) | Previously paid. |
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission acting pursuant to said section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. 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 jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JANUARY 14, 2011
PROSPECTUS
$550,000,000
Common Shares
Preference Shares
Debt Securities
Warrants
Rights
Units
t
e
x
Textainer Group Holdings Limited
We may offer to sell, from time to time, in one or more offerings: common shares; preference shares; debt securities; warrants to purchase common shares, preference shares or debt securities; rights to purchase common shares, preference shares, debt securities, warrants or other securities; and units of debt securities, common shares, preference shares, rights or warrants, in any combination. We may also offer any of these securities that may be issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange of debt securities, preference shares, rights or warrants.
The aggregate offering price of the securities issued under this prospectus may not exceed $550,000,000. The prices and other terms of the securities that we will offer will be determined at the time of their offering and will be described in a supplement to this prospectus.
This prospectus provides a general description of the securities we may offer. We will provide the specific terms of the securities offered in one or more supplements to this prospectus. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you in connection with these offerings. You should read carefully this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, as well as any documents incorporated by reference before you invest in any of our securities. This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell any securities unless accompanied by the applicable prospectus supplement.
Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TGH”. We will provide information in the prospectus supplement for the trading market, if any, for any preference shares, debt securities, warrants, rights or units that we may offer.
The securities issued under this prospectus may be offered directly or through underwriters, agents or dealers. The names of any underwriters, agents or dealers will be included in a supplement to this prospectus.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully review the risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page 8 of this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is , 2011.
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| DISCLOSURE OF COMMISSION POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES |
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This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form F-3 that we have filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may from time to time sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $550,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer securities under this shelf registration process, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain more specific information about the terms of that offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in any documents that we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus and the prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement or the related free writing prospectus; provided that if any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date — for example, a document incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus — the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.
This prospectus does not contain all the information provided in the registration statement we have filed with the SEC. For further information about us or the securities offered hereby, you should refer to that registration statement and the exhibits filed as a part of that registration statement, which you can obtain from the SEC as described below under “Where You Can Find More Information.”
THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO SELL ANY SECURITIES UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY THE APPLICABLE PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.
This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or a prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of the document.
As used in this prospectus, unless indicated otherwise or the context otherwise requires, references to: (1) “Textainer,” “the Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer collectively to Textainer Group Holdings Limited, the issuer of the publicly-traded common shares that have been registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and its subsidiaries; (2) “TEU” refers to a “Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit,” which is a unit of measurement used in the container shipping industry to compare shipping containers of various lengths to a standard 20’ dry freight container, thus a 20’ container is one TEU and a 40’ container is two TEU; (3) “CEU” refers to a Cost Equivalent Unit, which is a unit of measurement based on the approximate cost of a container relative to the cost of a standard 20’ dry freight container, so the cost of a standard 20’ dry freight container is one CEU; the cost of a 40’ dry freight container is 1.6 CEU; and the cost of a 40’ high cube dry freight container (9’6” high) is 1.68 CEU; (4) “our owned fleet” means the containers we own; (5) “our managed fleet” means the containers we manage that are owned by other container investors; (6) “our fleet” and “our total fleet” mean our owned fleet plus our managed fleet plus any containers we lease from other lessors; and (7) “container investors” means the owners of the containers in our managed fleet.
Industry data and other statistical information used in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus and any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus are based on independent publications, reports by market research firms or other published independent sources. Some data are also based on our good faith estimates, derived from our review of internal surveys and the independent sources listed above. Although we believe these sources are reliable, we have not independently verified the information.
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus and any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different or additional information. If anyone provides you with different or additional information, you should not rely on it. The information in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus and any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus is accurate as of the dates on the front cover of those documents only. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates and may change again.
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In this prospectus, unless otherwise specified, all monetary amounts are in U.S. dollars. To the extent that any monetary amounts are not denominated in U.S. dollars, they have been translated into U.S. dollars in accordance with our accounting policies as described in our consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
Consent under the Control Act 1972 (and its related regulations) has been given by the Bermuda Monetary Authority for the issue and transfer of our securities other than Equity Securities to and between non-residents of Bermuda for exchange control purposes and for the issue and transfer of our Equity Securities to and between non-residents of Bermuda for exchange control purposes provided our shares are and remain listed on an appointed stock exchange, which includes the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE. This prospectus may be filed with the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda in accordance with Bermuda law. In granting such consent and in accepting this prospectus for filing, neither the Bermuda Monetary Authority nor the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda accepts any responsibility for our financial soundness, the correctness of any of the statements made or opinions expressed in this prospectus.
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INFORMATION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS; CAUTIONARY LANGUAGE
This prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus and any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus contain, or will contain, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, or the PSLRA. In addition, we, or our executive officers on our behalf, may from time to time make forward-looking statements in reports and other documents we file with the SEC or in connection with oral statements made to the press, potential investors or others. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not statements of historical facts and may relate to, but are not limited to, expectations or estimates of future operating results or financial performance, capital expenditures, regulatory compliance, plans for growth and future operations, as well as assumptions relating to the foregoing. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “intend,” “potential,” “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar terminology. Although we do not make forward-looking statements unless we believe we have a reasonable basis for doing so, we cannot guarantee their accuracy, and actual results may differ materially from those we anticipated due to a number of uncertainties, many of which cannot be foreseen. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements for many reasons, including, but not limited to, the risks and uncertainties described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus, in any applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus and in any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
We believe that it is important to communicate our future expectations to potential investors. However, there may be events in the future that we are not able to accurately predict or control and that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in or implied by our forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus, in any applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus and in any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus provide examples of risks, uncertainties and events that may cause our actual results to differ materially from the expectations we describe in our forward-looking statements. Before you invest in our securities, you should be aware that the occurrence of these risks and uncertainties could negatively impact, among other things, our business, cash flows, results of operations, financial condition and share price. Potential investors should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements regarding our present plans or expectations for fleet size, management contracts, container purchases, sources and availability of financing, and growth involve risks and uncertainties relative to return expectations and related allocation of resources, and changing economic or competitive conditions, as well as the negotiation of agreements with container investors, which could cause actual results to differ from present plans or expectations, and such differences could be material. Similarly, forward-looking statements regarding our present expectations for operating results and cash flow involve risks and uncertainties related to factors such as utilization rates, per diem rates, container prices, demand for containers by container shipping lines, supply and other factors described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus, in any applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus and in any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus, which would also cause actual results to differ from present plans. Such differences could be material.
All future written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and we cannot predict those events or how they may affect us. We assume no obligation to, and do not plan to, update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or developments, except as required by U.S. federal securities laws. You should read this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus and any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus with the understanding that we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements and that actual results may differ materially from what we expect. The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus and any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus are excluded from the safe harbor protection provided by the PSLRA.
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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information contained in documents that we file with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to documents that we file with the SEC and that the information in this prospectus is not complete. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC prior to the termination of this offering will also be considered to be part of this prospectus and will automatically update and supersede previously filed information, including information contained in this document.
We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the documents listed below:
| • | our Reports on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on May 13, 2010, August 12, 2010 and November 12, 2010; |
| • | our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, filed with the SEC on March 17, 2010; and |
| • | the description of our securities contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-33725), filed with the SEC on October 5, 2007, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating that description. |
We also incorporate by reference all subsequent Annual Reports on Form 20-F that we file with the SEC and certain Reports on Form 6-K that we furnish to the SEC after the date of this prospectus (if they state that they are incorporated by reference into this prospectus) until we file a post-effective amendment indicating that the offering of the securities made by this prospectus has been terminated. In all cases, you should rely on the later information over different information included in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement.
We will provide each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference into this prospectus but not delivered with this prospectus upon written or oral request at no cost to the requester. Requests should be directed to Textainer Group Holdings Limited, c/o Textainer Equipment Management (U.S.) Limited, 650 California Street, 16th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94108, Attention: Investor Relations, Telephone Number: (415) 434-0551.
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ABOUT TEXTAINER GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED
Operating since 1979, we are the world’s largest lessor of intermodal containers based on fleet size, with a total fleet of 1.5 million containers, representing about 2.3 million TEU, in our owned and managed fleet as of September 30, 2010. We lease containers to more than 400 shipping lines and other lessees, including each of the world’s top 20 container lines, as measured by the total TEU capacity of their container vessels. We believe we are one of the most reliable lessors of containers, in terms of consistently being able to supply containers in locations where our customers need them. We have provided an average of more than 96,000 TEU of new containers per year for the past 10 years, and have been one of the largest purchasers of new containers among container lessors over the same period. We are one of the largest sellers of used containers among container lessors, having sold more than 100,000 during the last year to more than 1,000 customers. We provide our services worldwide via a network of regional and area offices and independent depots. Trencor, a company publicly traded on the JSE Limited in Johannesburg, South Africa, and its affiliates currently have beneficiary interest in a majority of our issued and outstanding common shares.
We operate our business in four core segments:
| • | Container Ownership. As of September 30, 2010, we owned containers accounting for approximately 48% of our fleet. |
| • | Container Management. As of September 30, 2010, we managed containers on behalf of 16 affiliated and unaffiliated container owners, providing acquisition, management and disposal services. As of September 30, 2010, these managed containers account for approximately 52% of our fleet. |
| • | Container Resale. We generally sell containers from our fleet when they reach the end of their useful lives in marine service or when we believe it is financially attractive for us to do so, considering the location, sale price, cost of repair and possible repositioning expenses. We also purchase and lease or resell containers from shipping line customers, container traders and other sellers of containers. |
| • | Military Management. We lease containers to the U.S. military pursuant to the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command contract and earn a fee for supplying and managing its fleet of leased containers. We are the main supplier of leased intermodal containers to the U.S. military. |
The table below summarizes the composition of our fleet, in TEU, by type of containers, as of September 30, 2010:
| Standard Dry Freight |
Specialized | Total | Percent of Total Fleet |
|||||||||||||
| Managed |
1,155,254 | 26,626 | 1,181,880 | 52.1 | % | |||||||||||
| Owned |
1,049,685 | 38,228 | 1,087,913 | 47.9 | % | |||||||||||
| Total fleet |
2,204,939 | 64,854 | 2,269,793 | 100.0 | % | |||||||||||
Our owned and managed lease fleet as of September 30, 2010 based on TEU on hire as a percentage of total TEU on hire was as follows:
| Percent of Total On- Hire Fleet |
||||
| Term leases |
72.16 | % | ||
| Master leases |
20.84 | % | ||
| Direct financing and sales-type leases |
3.70 | % | ||
| Spot leases |
3.30 | % | ||
| Total |
100.00 | % | ||
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Our internet website address is www.textainer.com. The information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not incorporated into and is not intended to be a part of this prospectus.
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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets forth our historical ratio of earnings to fixed changes for the periods indicated.
| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 |
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(1) |
6.29 | 5.22 | 4.11 | 4.20 | 4.49 | 4.55 | ||||||||||||||||||
| (1) | For purposes of computing this ratio: (a) earnings consist of income before taxes plus fixed charges and (b) fixed charges consist of interest expense, amortization of deferred debt issuance costs, realized losses (gains) on interest rate swaps and caps, net, interest expense portion of rental expense and impact of fixed charges on net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest. |
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An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein, including the risks and uncertainties described in the section entitled Item 3, “Key Information — Risk Factors” included in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the SEC on March 17, 2010 or included in any Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC after the date of this prospectus or Quarterly Report on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC after the date of this prospectus. See “Where You Can Find More Information.” When we offer and sell any securities pursuant to a prospectus supplement, we may include additional risk factors that you should carefully consider.
The risks and uncertainties described in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus and any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus are not the only ones that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties that we do not presently know about or that we currently believe are not material may also adversely affect our business. If any of the risks and uncertainties described in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus and any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus actually occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. The value of our securities could decline and you may lose some or all of your investment if one or more of these risks and uncertainties develop into actual events. Keep these risk factors in mind when you read forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus and any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
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Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds of any offering of securities for working capital and other general corporate purposes, which may include the repayment or refinancing of outstanding indebtedness and the financing of future acquisitions. We may have significant discretion in the use of any net proceeds. The net proceeds may be invested temporarily in interest-bearing accounts and short-term interest-bearing securities until they are used for their stated purpose. We may provide additional information on the use of the net proceeds from the sale of the offered securities in an applicable prospectus supplement relating to the offered securities.
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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER
We may issue from time to time, in one or more offerings the following securities:
| • | common shares; |
| • | preference shares; |
| • | debt securities; |
| • | warrants to purchase common shares, preference shares or debt securities; |
| • | rights to purchase common shares, preference shares, debt securities, warrants or other securities; and |
| • | units of debt securities, common shares, preference shares, rights or warrants, in any combination. |
This prospectus contains a summary of the material general terms of the various securities that we may offer. The specific terms of the securities will be described in a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus, which may be in addition to or different from the general terms summarized in this prospectus. Where applicable, the prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus will also describe any material United States federal income tax considerations relating to the securities offered and indicate whether the securities offered are or will be listed on any securities exchange. The summaries contained in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplements, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus may not contain all of the information that you would find useful. Accordingly, you should read the actual documents relating to any securities sold pursuant to this prospectus. See “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” for information about how to obtain copies of those documents.
The terms of any particular offering, the initial offering price and the net proceeds to us will be contained in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, relating to such offering.
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The following description of our share capital summarizes certain provisions of our memorandum of association and our bye-laws. Such summaries do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of our memorandum of association and bye-laws. Copies of our memorandum of association and bye-laws have previously been filed with the SEC as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, to the registration statement on Form F-1 that we filed with the SEC on September 26, 2007 (File No. 333-146304).
General
We are an exempted company incorporated under the laws of Bermuda. We are registered with the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda under registration number EC18896. We were incorporated on December 2, 1993 under the name Textainer Group Holdings Limited. Our registered office is located at Century House, 16 Par-La-Ville Road, Hamilton HM 08 Bermuda.
Share Capital
As of the date of this prospectus, our authorized share capital consists of 140,000,000 common shares, par value US$0.01 per share, and 10,000,000 preference shares, par value US$0.01 per share. As of September 30, 2010, there were 48,204,615 common shares and no preference shares issued and outstanding.
Pursuant to our bye-laws, subject to any resolution of the shareholders to the contrary, our board of directors is authorized to issue any of our authorized but unissued shares. There are no limitations on the right of non-Bermudians or non-residents of Bermuda to hold or vote our shares.
Common Shares
Holders of common shares have no pre-emptive, redemption, conversion or sinking fund rights. Holders of common shares are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of holders of common shares. Unless a different majority is required by law or by our bye-laws, resolutions to be approved by holders of common shares require approval by a simple majority of votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present.
In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of common shares are entitled to share equally and ratably in our assets, if any, remaining after the payment of all of our debts and liabilities, subject to any liquidation preference on any issued and outstanding preference shares.
Preference Shares
Pursuant to the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda, as amended, or the Companies Act, and our bye-laws, our board of directors by resolution may establish one or more series of preference shares having such number of shares, designations, dividend rates, relative voting rights, conversion or exchange rights, redemption rights, liquidation rights and other relative participation, optional or other special rights, qualifications, limitations or restrictions as may be fixed by the board of directors without any further shareholder approval. Such rights, preferences, powers and limitations as may be established could have the effect of discouraging an attempt to obtain control of us.
Dividend Rights
Under the Companies Act, a company may not declare or pay dividends if there are reasonable grounds for believing either that the company is, or would after the payment be, unable to pay its liabilities as they become due or that the realizable value of its assets would thereby be less than the sum of its liabilities and issued share capital (par value) and share premium accounts (share premium being the amount of consideration paid for the subscription of shares in excess of the par value of those shares). Our credit facility contains restrictions on the payment of dividends. We will not be allowed to pay dividends if we are in default under (or such payment would cause a default under) our revolving credit facility, or if such payment would cause us to breach any of our covenants. These covenants include certain financial covenants, which would be directly affected by the payment of dividends, such as (i) a minimum net worth level (which level would decrease by the amount of any dividend paid), (ii) a maximum ratio of consolidated funded debt to consolidated tangible net worth (which amount would decrease by the amount of any dividend paid) and (iii) a minimum
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ratio of certain income (which amount would decrease by the amount of any dividend paid) to current obligations. There are no restrictions on our ability to transfer funds (other than funds denominated in Bermuda dollars) in and out of Bermuda or to pay dividends to U.S. residents who are holders of our common shares.
Modification of Shareholder Rights
If at any time we have more than one class of shares, the rights attaching to any class, unless otherwise provided for by the terms of issue of the relevant class, may be varied by us either: (i) with the consent in writing of the holders of 75% of the issued shares of that class; or (ii) with the sanction of a resolution passed by a majority of the votes cast at a general meeting of the relevant class of shareholders at which a quorum consisting of at least two persons holding or representing one-third of the issued shares of the relevant class is present. Our bye-laws specify that the creation or issue of shares ranking equally with existing shares will not, unless expressly provided by the terms of issue of existing shares, vary the rights attached to existing shares. In addition, the creation or issue of preference shares ranking prior to common shares will not be deemed to vary the rights attached to common shares or, subject to the terms of any other series of preference, to vary the rights attached to any other series of preference shares.
Transfer of Shares
Our board of directors may in its absolute discretion, and without assigning any reason, refuse to register the transfer of a share that is not fully paid. Our board of directors may also refuse to recognize an instrument of transfer of a share unless it is accompanied by the relevant share certificate and such other evidence of the transferor’s right to make the transfer as our board of directors shall reasonably require. Subject to these restrictions, a holder of common shares may transfer the title to all or any of his common shares by completing a form of transfer in the form set out in our bye-laws (or as near thereto as circumstances admit) or in such other common form as the board of directors may accept. The instrument of transfer must be signed by the transferor and transferee, although in the case of a fully paid share our board of directors may accept the instrument signed only by the transferor.
Meetings of Shareholders
Our bye-laws and Bermuda law provide that any resolution required or permitted to be passed by our shareholders must be passed at an annual or special general meeting of our shareholders or by the written consent of our shareholders. A written resolution is passed when it is signed by shareholders who at the date the notice of such written resolution is given represent such majority of votes as would be required if the resolution was voted on at a shareholders’ meeting at which all shareholders entitled to attend and vote thereat were present and voting. Under Bermuda law, a company is required to convene at least one general meeting of shareholders each calendar year. Bermuda law provides that a special general meeting of shareholders may be called by the board of directors of a company and must be called upon the request of shareholders holding not less than 10% of the paid-up capital of the company carrying the right to vote at general meetings. Bermuda law also requires that shareholders be given at least five days’ advance notice of a general meeting, but the accidental omission to give notice to any person does not invalidate the proceedings at a meeting. Our bye-laws provide that our board of directors, the president or the chairman (if any) may convene an annual general meeting or a special general meeting. Under our bye-laws, at least 5 days’ notice of an annual general meeting or a special general meeting must be given to each shareholder entitled to vote at such meeting. This notice requirement is subject to the ability to hold such meetings on shorter notice if such notice is agreed: (i) in the case of an annual general meeting by all of the shareholders entitled to attend and vote at such meeting; or (ii) in the case of a special general meeting by a majority in number of the shareholders entitled to attend and vote at the meeting holding not less than 95% in nominal value of the shares entitled to vote at such meeting. The quorum required for a general meeting of shareholders is two or more persons present in person at the start of the meeting and representing in person or by proxy in excess of 50% of our issued and outstanding voting shares.
Access to Books and Records and Dissemination of Information
Members of the general public have the right to inspect the public documents of a company available at the office of the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda. These documents include the company’s memorandum of association, including its objects and powers, and certain alterations to its memorandum of association. The shareholders have the additional right to inspect the bye-laws of the company, minutes of general meetings of shareholders and the company’s
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audited financial statements, which must be presented at the annual general meeting. The register of members of a company is also open to inspection by shareholders and by members of the general public without charge. The register of members is required to be open for inspection for not less than two hours in any business day (subject to the ability of a company to close the register of shareholders for not more than thirty days in a year). A company is required to maintain its share register in Bermuda but may, subject to the provisions of the Companies Act, establish a branch register outside Bermuda. A company is required to keep at its registered office a register of directors and officers that is open for inspection for not less than two hours in any business day by members of the public without charge. Bermuda law does not, however, provide a general right for shareholders to inspect or obtain copies of any other corporate records.
Election and Removal of Directors
Any shareholder wishing to propose for election as a director someone who is not an existing director or is not proposed by our board of directors must give notice of the intention to propose the person for election. Where a person is to be proposed for election as a director at an annual general meeting by a shareholder, that notice must be given not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days before the anniversary of the last annual general meeting prior to the giving of the notice or, in the event the annual general meeting is called for a date that is not 30 days before or after such anniversary, the notice must be given not later than ten days following the earlier of the date on which notice of the annual general meeting was posted to shareholders or the date on which public disclosure of the date of the annual general meeting was made. Where a director is to be elected at a special general meeting, that notice must be given not later than 10 days following the earlier of the date on which notice of the special general meeting was posted to members or the date on which public disclosure of the special general meeting was made.
A director may be removed (i) for cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes cast at a meeting, or (ii) without cause upon the affirmative vote of 66% of the shares then issued and outstanding and entitled to vote on the resolution; in each case provided that notice of the shareholders meeting convened to remove the director is given to the director. The notice must contain a statement of the intention to remove the director and must be served on the director not less than 14 days before the meeting. The director is entitled to attend the meeting and be heard on the motion for his removal.
Proceedings of Board of Directors
Our bye-laws provide that our business is to be managed and conducted by our board of directors. Bermuda law requires that our directors be individuals, but there is no requirement in our bye-laws or Bermuda law that directors hold any of our shares.
The remuneration of our directors is determined by our board, and there is no requirement that a specified number or percentage of “independent” directors must approve any such determination. Our directors may also be paid all travel, hotel and other expenses properly incurred by them in connection with our business or their duties as directors.
Provided a director discloses a direct or indirect interest in any contract or arrangement with us as required by Bermuda law, such director is entitled to vote in respect of any such contract or arrangement in which he or she is interested unless he or she is disqualified from voting by the chairman of the relevant board meeting. Under Bermuda law, a director (including the spouse or children of the director or any company of which such director, spouse or children own or control more than 20% of the capital or loan debt) cannot borrow from us, (except loans made to directors who are bona fide employees or former employees pursuant to an employees’ share scheme), unless shareholders holding 90% of the total voting rights have consented to the loan.
Waiver of Claims by Shareholders; Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Section 98 of the Companies Act provides generally that a Bermuda company may indemnify its directors, officers and auditors against any liability which by virtue of any rule or law would otherwise be imposed on them in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust, except in cases where such liability arises from fraud or dishonesty of which such director, officer or auditor may be guilty in relation to the company. Section 98 further provides that a Bermuda company may indemnify its directors, officers and auditors against any liability incurred by them in defending any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, in which judgment is awarded in their favor or in which they are acquitted or granted relief by the Supreme Court of Bermuda pursuant to section 281 of the Companies Act.
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We have adopted provisions in our bye-laws that provide that we shall indemnify our officers and directors in respect of their actions and omissions, except in respect of their fraud or dishonesty. Our bye-laws provide that the shareholders waive all claims or rights of action that they might have, individually or on behalf of the company, against any of the company’s directors or officers for any act or failure to act in the performance of such director’s or officer’s duties, except in respect of any fraud or dishonesty of such director or officer. Section 98A of the Companies Act permits us to purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any officer or director in respect of any loss or liability attaching to him in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust, whether or not we may otherwise indemnify such officer or director. We have purchased and maintain a directors’ and officers’ liability policy for such a purpose.
We have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and senior management to give such directors and officers, as well as their immediate family members, additional contractual assurances regarding the scope of indemnification set forth in our bye-laws, and to provide additional procedural protections which may, in some cases, be broader than the specific indemnification provisions contained in our bye-laws. The indemnification agreements may require us, among other things, to indemnify such directors and officers, as well as their immediate family members, against liabilities that may arise by reason of the status or service as directors or officers and to advance expenses as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.
Amendment of Memorandum of Association and Bye-Laws
Bermuda law provides that the memorandum of association of a company may be amended by a resolution passed at a general meeting of shareholders. Our bye-laws provide that no bye-law shall be rescinded, altered or amended, and no new bye-law shall be made, unless it shall have been approved by a resolution of our board of directors, including the affirmative vote of not less than 66% of the directors then in office, and by a resolution of the shareholders, including the affirmative vote of not less than 66% of the voting shares issued and outstanding.
Under Bermuda law, the holders of an aggregate of not less than 20% in par value of a company’s issued share capital, or any class thereof, have the right to apply to the Supreme Court of Bermuda for an annulment of any amendment of the memorandum of association adopted by shareholders at any general meeting, other than an amendment which alters or reduces a company’s share capital as provided in the Companies Act. Where such an application is made, the amendment becomes effective only to the extent that it is confirmed by the Bermuda court. An application for an annulment of an amendment of the memorandum of association must be made within twenty-one days after the date on which the resolution altering the company’s memorandum of association is passed and may be made on behalf of persons entitled to make the application by one or more of their number as they may appoint in writing for the purpose. No application may be made by shareholders voting in favor of the amendment.
Amalgamations and Business Combinations
The amalgamation of a Bermuda company with another company or corporation (other than certain affiliated companies) requires the amalgamation agreement to be approved by the company’s board of directors and by its shareholders.
Unless the company’s bye-laws provide otherwise, the approval of 75% of the shareholders voting at such meeting is required to approve the amalgamation agreement, and the quorum for such meeting must be two persons holding or representing more than one-third of the issued shares of the company. Our bye-laws provide that a merger or an amalgamation (other than with a wholly owned subsidiary or as described below) that has been approved by the board must only be approved by a majority of the votes cast at a general meeting of the shareholders at which the quorum shall be two or more persons present in person and representing in person or by proxy in excess of 50% of all issued and outstanding voting shares. Any merger or amalgamation or other business combination (as defined in our bye-laws) not approved by our board must be approved by the holders or not less than 66% of our issued and outstanding voting shares.
Under Bermuda law, in the event of an amalgamation of a Bermuda company with another company or corporation, a shareholder of the Bermuda company who did not vote in favor of the amalgamation and who is not satisfied that fair value has been offered for such shareholder’s shares may, within one month of notice of the shareholders meeting, apply to the Supreme Court of Bermuda to appraise the fair value of those shares.
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Our bye-laws also contain provisions regarding “business combinations” with “interested shareholders.” Pursuant to our bye-laws, in addition to any other approval that may be required by applicable law, any business combination with an interested shareholder within a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested shareholder must be approved by our board and authorized at an annual or special general meeting by the affirmative vote of at least 66% of our issued and outstanding voting shares that are not owned by the interested shareholder, unless: (i) prior to the time that the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder, our board of directors approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder; or (ii) upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder, the interested shareholder owned at least 85% of our issued and outstanding voting shares at the time the transaction commenced. For purposes of these provisions, “business combinations” include mergers, amalgamations, consolidations and certain sales, leases, exchanges, mortgages, pledges, transfers and other dispositions of assets, issuances and transfers of shares and other transactions resulting in a financial benefit to an interested shareholder. An “interested shareholder” is a person that beneficially owns 15% or more of our issued and outstanding voting shares and any person affiliated or associated with us that owned 15% or more of our issued and outstanding voting shares at any time three years prior to the relevant time.
Shareholder Suits
Class actions and derivative actions are generally not available to shareholders under Bermuda law. The Bermuda courts, however, would ordinarily be expected to permit a shareholder to commence an action in the name of a company to remedy a wrong to the company where the act complained of is alleged to be beyond the corporate power of the company or illegal, or would result in the violation of the company’s memorandum of association or bye-laws. Furthermore, consideration would be given by a Bermuda court to acts that are alleged to constitute a fraud against the minority shareholders or for instance, where an act requires the approval of a greater percentage of the company’s shareholders than that which actually approved it.
When the affairs of a company are being conducted in a manner which is oppressive or prejudicial to the interests of some part of the shareholders, one or more shareholders may apply to the Supreme Court of Bermuda, which may make such order as it sees fit, including an order regulating the conduct of the company’s affairs in the future or ordering the purchase of the shares of any shareholders by other shareholders or by the company.
Our bye-laws contain a provision by virtue of which our shareholders waive any claim or right of action that they have, both individually and on our behalf, against any director or officer in relation to any action or failure to take any action by such director or officer, except in respect of any fraud or dishonesty of such director or officer. However, the operation of this provision as a waiver of the right to sue for violations of federal securities laws may not be enforceable in U.S. courts.
Capitalization of Profits and Reserves
Pursuant to our bye-laws, our board of directors may (i) capitalize any part of the amount of our share premium or other reserve accounts or any amount credited to our profit and loss account or otherwise available for distribution by applying such sum in paying up unissued shares to be allotted as fully paid bonus shares pro-rata (except in connection with the conversion of shares) to the shareholders; or (ii) capitalize any sum standing to the credit of a reserve account or sums otherwise available for dividend or distribution by paying up in full partly paid or nil paid shares of those shareholders who would have been entitled to such sums if they were distributed by way of dividend or distribution.
Untraced Shareholders
Our bye-laws provide that our board of directors may treat as forfeited any dividend or other monies payable in respect of any shares that remain unclaimed for five (5) years from the date when such monies became due for payment. In addition, we are entitled to cease sending dividend warrants and checks by mail or otherwise to a shareholder if such instruments have been returned undelivered to, or left uncashed by, such shareholder on at least two consecutive occasions or, following one such occasion, reasonable inquiries have failed to establish the shareholder’s new address. This entitlement ceases if the shareholder claims a dividend or cashes a dividend warrant or check.
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Compulsory Acquisition of Shares Held by Minority Holders
An acquiring party is generally able to acquire compulsorily the common shares of minority holders in the following ways:
(1) By a procedure under the Companies Act known as a “scheme of arrangement”. A scheme of arrangement could be effected by obtaining the agreement of the company and of holders of common shares, representing in the aggregate a majority in number and at least 75% in value of the common shareholders present and voting at a court ordered meeting held to consider the scheme or arrangement. The scheme of arrangement must then be sanctioned by the Bermuda Supreme Court. If a scheme of arrangement receives all necessary agreements and sanctions, upon the filing of the court order with the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda, all holders of common shares could be compelled to sell their shares under the terms of the scheme of arrangement.
(2) If the acquiring party is a company, it may compulsorily acquire all the shares of the target company, by acquiring pursuant to a tender offer 90% of the shares or class of shares not already owned by, or by a nominee for, the acquiring party (the offeror), or any of its subsidiaries. If an offeror has, within four months after the making of any offer for all the shares or class of shares not owned by, or by a nominee for, the offeror, or any of its subsidiaries, obtained the approval of the holders of 90% or more of all the shares to which the offer relates, the offeror may, at any time within two months beginning with the date on which the approval was obtained, require by notice any nontendering shareholder to transfer its shares on the same terms as the original offer. In those circumstances, nontendering shareholders will be compelled to sell their shares unless the Supreme Court of Bermuda (on application made within a one-month period from the date of the offeror’s notice of its intention to acquire such shares) orders otherwise.
(3) Where one or more parties holds not less than 95% of the shares of a class of shares of a company, such holder(s) may, pursuant to a notice given to the remaining shareholders or class of shareholders, acquire the shares of such remaining shareholders or class of shareholders. When this notice is given, the acquiring party is entitled and bound to acquire the shares of the remaining shareholders on the terms set out in the notice, unless a remaining shareholder, within one month of receiving such notice, applies to the Supreme Court of Bermuda for an appraisal of the value of their shares. This provision only applies where the acquiring party offers the same terms to all holders of shares whose shares are being acquired.
Certain Provisions of Bermuda Law
We have been designated by the Bermuda Monetary Authority as a non-resident for Bermuda exchange control purposes. This designation allows us to engage in transactions in currencies other than the Bermuda dollar, and there are no restrictions on our ability to transfer funds (other than funds denominated in Bermuda dollars) in and out of Bermuda or to pay dividends to U.S. residents who are holders of our common shares.
The Bermuda Monetary Authority has given its consent for the issue and free transferability of all of our securities other than Equity Securities to and between non-residents of Bermuda for exchange control purposes and for the issue and transfer of our Equity Securities to and between non-residents of Bermuda for exchange control purposes provided our shares are and remain listed on an appointed stock exchange, which includes the NYSE. Approvals or permissions given by the Bermuda Monetary Authority do not constitute a guarantee by the Bermuda Monetary Authority as to our performance or our creditworthiness. Accordingly, in giving such consent or permissions, the Bermuda Monetary Authority shall not be liable for the financial soundness, performance or default of our business or for the correctness of any opinions or statements expressed in this prospectus. Certain issues and transfers of common shares involving persons deemed resident in Bermuda for exchange control purposes require the specific consent of the Bermuda Monetary Authority.
This prospectus may be filed with the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda pursuant to Part III of the Companies Act. In accepting this prospectus for filing, the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda shall not be liable for the financial soundness, performance or default of our business or for the correctness of any opinions or statements expressed in this prospectus.
In accordance with Bermuda law, share certificates are only issued in the names of companies, partnerships or individuals. In the case of a shareholder acting in a special capacity (for example as a trustee), certificates may, at the request of the shareholder, record the capacity in which the shareholder is acting. Notwithstanding such recording of any special capacity, we are not bound to investigate or see to the execution of any such trust. We will take no notice of any trust applicable to any of our shares, whether or not we have been notified of such trust.
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Transfer Agent and Registrar
A register of holders of our common shares is maintained by Continental Management Limited in Bermuda and a branch register is maintained in the United States by our transfer agent, Computershare Inc. and its fully owned subsidiary Computershare Trust Company, N.A., having its principal office at 250 Royall Street, Canton, MA 02021.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The following sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the base indenture, to be entered into between us and an entity, identified in the applicable prospectus supplement, as trustee, under which the debt securities are to be issued from time to time. We have filed a form of the base indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. When the debt securities are offered in the future, the applicable offering material will explain the particular terms of those securities and the extent to which the general provisions may apply. The base indenture, as it may be supplemented, amended or modified from time to time, is referred to in this prospectus as the “indenture.” Wherever particular sections or defined terms of the indenture are referred to, it is intended that such sections or defined terms shall be incorporated herein by reference. In this section of the prospectus, the term “the Company” refers only to Textainer Group Holdings Limited and not to any of its subsidiaries.
This summary and any description of the indenture and any debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to all the provisions of the indenture, any indenture supplement and the terms of the debt securities, including, in each case, the definitions therein of certain terms. We will file each of these documents, as applicable, with the SEC and incorporate them by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part on or before the time we issue a series of debt securities. See “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” for information on how to obtain a copy of a document when it is filed. The specific terms of the debt securities as described in a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus will supplement and, if applicable, may modify or replace the general terms described in this section.
The debt securities will represent unsecured general obligations of the Company, unless otherwise provided in the applicable offering material. As indicated in the applicable offering material, the debt securities will be either senior debt or subordinated debt.
General
The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that may be issued thereunder. The applicable prospectus supplement, documents incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus with respect to any debt securities will set forth the following terms of the debt securities offered pursuant thereto:
| • | the title and series of such debt securities; |
| • | any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of such debt securities of such series; |
| • | whether such debt securities will be in global or other form; |
| • | the date or dates and method or methods by which principal and any premium on such debt securities is payable; |
| • | the interest rate or rates (or method by which such rate will be determined), if any; |
| • | the dates on which any such interest will be payable and the method of payment; |
| • | whether and under what circumstances any additional amounts are payable with respect to such debt securities; |
| • | the notice, if any, to holders of such debt securities regarding the determination of interest on a floating rate debt security; |
| • | the basis upon which interest on such debt securities shall be calculated, if other than that of a 360 day year of twelve 30-day months; |
| • | the place or places where the principal of and interest or additional amounts, if any, on such debt securities will be payable; |
| • | any redemption or sinking fund provisions, or the terms of any repurchase at the option of the holder of the debt securities; |
| • | the denominations of such debt securities, if other than $1,000 and integral multiples thereof; |
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| • | any rights of the holders of such debt securities to convert the debt securities into, or exchange the debt securities for, other securities or property; |
| • | the terms, if any, on which payment of principal or any premium, interest or additional amounts on such debt securities will be payable in a currency other than U.S. dollars; |
| • | the terms, if any, by which the amount of payments of principal or any premium, interest or additional amounts on such debt securities may be determined by reference to an index, formula, financial or economic measure or other methods; |
| • | if other than the principal amount hereof, the portion of the principal amount of such debt securities that will be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof or provable in bankruptcy; |
| • | any events of default or covenants in addition to or in lieu of those described herein and remedies therefor; |
| • | whether such debt securities will be subject to defeasance or covenant defeasance; |
| • | the terms, if any, upon which such debt securities are to be issuable upon the exercise of warrants, units or rights; |
| • | any trustees and any authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars or any other agents with respect to such debt securities; |
| • | the terms, if any, on which such debt securities will be subordinate to other debt of the Company; |
| • | whether such debt securities will be secured by collateral and the terms of such security; and |
| • | any other specific terms of such debt securities and any other deletions from or additions to or modifications of the indenture with respect to such debt securities. |
Debt securities may be presented for exchange, conversion or transfer in the manner, at the places and subject to the restrictions set forth in the debt securities and the applicable offering material. Such services will be provided without charge, other than any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith, but subject to the limitations provided in the indenture.
The indenture does not contain any covenant or other specific provision affording protection to holders of the debt securities in the event of a highly leveraged transaction or a change in control of the Company, except to the limited extent described below under “— Consolidation, Merger, Amalgamation and Sale of Assets.”
Modification and Waiver
The indenture provides that supplements to the indenture and the applicable supplemental indentures may be made by the Company and the trustee for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of debt securities of a series under the indenture or the debt securities of such series, with the consent of the holders of a majority (or such greater amount as is provided for a particular series of debt securities) in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities issued under such indenture that are affected by the supplemental indenture, voting as a single class; provided that no such supplemental indenture may, without the consent of the holder of each such debt security affected thereby, among other things:
(a) change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any premium, interest or additional amounts on, such debt securities, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest or any additional amounts thereon, or reduce any premium payable on redemption thereof or otherwise, or reduce the amount of the principal of debt securities issued with original issue discount that would be due and payable upon an acceleration of the maturity thereof or the amount thereof provable in bankruptcy, or change the redemption provisions or adversely affect the right of repayment at the option of the holder, or change the place of payment or currency in which the principal of, or any premium, interest or additional amounts with respect to any debt security is payable, or impair or affect the right of any holder of debt securities to institute suit for the payment after such payment is due (except a rescission and annulment of acceleration with respect to a series of debt securities by the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of such series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);
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(b) reduce the percentage of outstanding debt securities of any series, the consent of the holders of which is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose holders is required for any waiver or reduce the quorum required for voting;
(c) modify any of the provisions of the sections of such indenture relating to supplemental indentures with the consent of the holders, waivers of past defaults or securities redeemed in part, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of such indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of each holder affected thereby; or
(d) make any change that adversely affects the right to convert or exchange any security into or for common shares or other securities, cash or other property in accordance with the terms of the applicable debt security.
The indenture provides that a supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of the indenture that has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of debt securities, or that 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 under the indenture of the holders of debt securities of any other series.
The indenture provides that the Company and the trustee may, without the consent of the holders of any series of debt securities issued thereunder, enter into additional supplemental indentures for one of the following purposes:
(a) to evidence the succession of another corporation to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company in such indenture and in the debt securities issued thereunder;
(b) to add to the covenants of the Company or to surrender any right or power conferred on the Company pursuant to the indenture;
(c) to establish the form and terms of debt securities issued thereunder;
(d) to evidence and provide for a successor trustee under such indenture with respect to one or more series of debt securities issued thereunder or to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts under such indenture by more than one trustee;
(e) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision in the indenture that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision of the indenture or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under such indenture; provided that no such action pursuant to this clause (e) shall adversely affect the interests of the holders of any series of debt securities issued thereunder in any material respect;
(f) to add to, delete from or revise the conditions, limitations and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of securities under the indenture;
(g) to add any additional events of default with respect to all or any series of debt securities;
(h) to supplement any of the provisions of the indenture as may be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of debt securities, provided that such action does not adversely affect the interests of any holder of an outstanding debt security of such series or any other security in any material respect;
(i) to make provisions with respect to the conversion or exchange rights of holders of debt securities of any series;
(j) to pledge to the trustee as security for the debt securities of any series any property or assets;
(k) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of the indenture, provided that any such change or elimination become effective only when there is no security of any series outstanding created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision;
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(l) to provide for certificated securities in addition to or in place of global securities;
(m) to qualify such indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended;
(n) with respect to the debt securities of any series, to conform the text of the indenture or the debt securities of such series to any provision of the description thereof in the Company’s offering memorandum or prospectus relating to the initial offering of such debt securities, to the extent that such provision, in the good faith judgment of the Company, was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the indenture or such securities; or
(o) to make any other change that does not adversely affect the rights of holders of any series of debt securities issued thereunder in any material respect.
Events of Default
Unless otherwise provided in any applicable prospectus supplement, documents incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, the following will be events of default under the indenture with respect to each series of debt securities issued thereunder:
(a) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on, or any additional amount in respect of, any series of debt securities;
(b) default in the payment of principal or any premium on any series of the debt securities outstanding under the indenture when due;
(c) default in the payment, if any, of any sinking fund installment when and as due by the terms of any debt security of such series, subject to any cure period that may be specified in any debt security of such series;
(d) failure by the Company for 60 days after receipt by registered or certified mail of written notice from the trustee upon instruction from holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of such series to comply with any of the other agreements in the indenture and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” under the indenture; provided, that if such failure cannot be remedied within such 60-day period, such period shall be automatically extended by another 60 days so long as (i) such failure is subject to cure and (ii) the Company is using commercially reasonable efforts to cure such failure; and provided, further, that a failure to comply with any such other agreement in the indenture that results from a change in generally accepted accounting principles shall not be deemed to be an event of default;
(e) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company; and
(f) any other event of default provided in a supplemental indenture with respect to a particular series of debt securities, provided that any event of default that results from a change in generally accepted accounting principles shall not be deemed to be an event of default.
In case an event of default specified in clause (a) or (b) above shall occur and be continuing with respect to any series of debt securities, holders of at least 25%, and in case an event of default specified in any clause other than clause (a), (b) or (e) above shall occur and be continuing with respect to any series of debt securities, holders of at least a majority, in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding may declare the principal (or, in the case of discounted debt securities, the amount specified in the terms thereof) of such series to be due and payable. If an event of default described in (e) above shall occur and be continuing then the principal amount (or, in the case of discounted debt securities, the amount specified in the terms thereof) of all the debt securities outstanding shall be and become due and payable immediately, without notice or other action by any holder or the trustee, to the full extent permitted by law. Any past or existing default or event of default with respect to particular series of debt securities under such indenture may be waived by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series, except in each case a continuing default (1) in the payment of the principal of, any premium or interest on, or any additional amounts with respect to, any debt security of such series, or (2) in respect of a covenant or provision which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of each holder affected thereby.
The indenture provides that the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of any default with respect to any series of debt securities (except in payment of principal of or interest or premium on, or sinking fund payment in respect of, the debt securities) if the trustee considers it in the interest of holders to do so.
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The indenture contains a provision entitling the trustee to be indemnified by the holders before proceeding to exercise any trust or power under the indenture at the request of such holders. The indenture provides that the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of any series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred upon the trustee with respect to the debt securities of such series; provided, however, that the trustee may decline to follow any such direction if, among other reasons, the trustee determines in good faith that the actions or proceedings as directed may not lawfully be taken or would be unduly prejudicial to the holders of the debt securities of such series not joining in such direction. The right of a holder to institute a proceeding with respect to a series of debt securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent including, without limitation, that in case of an event of default specified in clause (a), (b) or (e) of the first paragraph above under “— Events of Default,” holders of at least 25%, or in case of an event of default other than specified in clause (a), (b) or (e) of the first paragraph above under “— Events of Default”, holders of at least a majority, in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding make a written request upon the trustee to exercise its powers under such indenture, indemnify the trustee and afford the trustee reasonable opportunity to act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holder has an absolute right to receipt of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest when due on the debt securities, to require conversion of debt securities if such indenture provides for convertibility at the option of the holder and to institute suit for the enforcement thereof.
Consolidation, Merger, Amalgamation and Sale of Assets
The indenture provides that the Company may not directly or indirectly consolidate or amalgamate with or merge with or into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets and properties and the assets and properties of its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to another person in one or more related transactions unless the successor person is a person organized under the laws of Bermuda or any U.S. domestic jurisdiction and assumes the Company’s obligations on the debt securities issued thereunder, and under the indenture, and after giving effect thereto no event of default, and no event that, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default, shall have occurred and be continuing, and that certain other conditions are met.
Certain Covenants
Payment of Principal, any Premium, Interest or Additional Amounts. The Company will duly and punctually pay the principal of, and premium and interest on or any additional amounts payable with respect to, any debt securities of any series in accordance with their terms.
Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Company will be required to maintain an office or agency in each place of payment for each series of debt securities for notice and demand purposes and for the purposes of presenting or surrendering debt securities for payment, registration of transfer, or exchange.
Reports. So long as any debt securities of a particular series are outstanding under the indenture, the Company will file with the trustee, within 30 days after the Company has filed the same with the SEC, unless such reports are available on the SEC’s EDGAR filing system (or any successor thereto), copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company may be required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of said Sections, then it shall file with the trustee and the SEC, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the SEC, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations.
Additional Covenants. Any additional covenants of the Company with respect to any series of debt securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, documents incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus relating thereto.
Conversion Rights
The terms and conditions, if any, upon which the debt securities are convertible into common shares or preference shares will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, documents incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus relating thereto. Such terms will include the conversion price (or manner of calculation thereof), the
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conversion period, provisions as to whether conversion will be at the option of the holders or the Company, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion price and provisions affecting conversion in the event of redemption of such debt securities and any restrictions on conversion.
Redemption; Repurchase at the Option of the Holder; Sinking Fund
The terms and conditions, if any, upon which (a) the debt securities are redeemable at the option of the Company, (b) the holder of debt securities may cause the Company to repurchase such debt securities or (c) the debt securities are subject to any sinking fund will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, documents incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus relating thereto.
Repurchases on the Open Market
The Company or any affiliate of the Company may at any time or from time to time repurchase any debt security in the open market or otherwise. Such debt 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.
Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
The indenture provides, with respect to each series of debt securities issued thereunder, that the Company may satisfy and discharge its obligations under such debt securities of a series and such indenture with respect to debt securities of such series if:
(a) all debt securities of such series previously authenticated and delivered, with certain exceptions, have been accepted by the trustee for cancellation; or
(b) (i) the debt securities of such series have become due and payable, or mature within one year, or all of them are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the trustee for giving the notice of redemption and the Company irrevocably deposits in trust with the trustee, as trust funds solely for the benefit of the holders of such debt securities, for that purpose, money or governmental obligations or a combination thereof sufficient (in the opinion of a nationally recognized independent registered public accounting firm expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the trustee) to pay the entire indebtedness on the debt securities of such series to maturity or redemption, as the case may be, and pays all other sums payable by it under such indenture; and
(ii) the Company delivers to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, in each case stating that all conditions precedent provided for in such indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of such indenture with respect to the debt securities of such series have been complied with.
Notwithstanding such satisfaction and discharge, the obligations of the Company to compensate and indemnify the trustee, to pay additional amounts, if any, in respect of debt securities in certain circumstances and to convert or exchange debt securities pursuant to the terms thereof and the obligations of the Company and the trustee to hold funds in trust and to apply such funds pursuant to the terms of the indenture, with respect to issuing temporary debt securities, with respect to the registration, transfer and exchange of debt securities, with respect to the replacement of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities and with respect to the maintenance of an office or agency for payment, shall in each case survive such satisfaction and discharge.
Unless inapplicable to debt securities of a series pursuant to the terms thereof, the indenture provides that (i) the Company will be deemed to have paid and will be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the debt securities issued thereunder of any series, and the provisions of such indenture will, except as noted below, no longer be in effect with respect to the debt securities of such series (“defeasance”) and (ii) (1) the Company may omit to comply with the covenant under “— Consolidation, Merger, Amalgamation and Sale of Assets” and any other additional covenants established pursuant to the terms of such series, and such omission shall be deemed not to be an event of default under clause (d) or (f) of the first paragraph of “— Events of Default” and (2) the occurrence of any event described in clause (f) of the first paragraph of “— Events of Default” shall not be deemed to be an event of default, in each case with respect to the outstanding debt securities of such series ((1) and (2) of this clause (ii), “covenant defeasance”); provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied with respect to such series:
(a) the Company has irrevocably deposited in trust with the trustee as trust funds solely for the benefit of the holders of the debt securities of such series, for payment of the principal of and interest of the debt securities of such series, money or government obligations or a combination thereof sufficient (in the opinion of a nationally recognized independent registered public accounting firm expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the trustee) without consideration of any reinvestment to pay and discharge the principal of and accrued interest on the outstanding debt securities of such series to maturity or earlier redemption (irrevocably provided for under arrangements satisfactory to the trustee), as the case may be;
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(b) such defeasance or covenant defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, such indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;
(c) no event of default or event which with notice or lapse of time would become an event of default with respect to such debt securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;
(d) the Company shall have delivered to such trustee an opinion of counsel as described in the indenture to the effect that the holders of the debt securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the Company’s exercise of its option under this provision of such indenture and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred;
(e) the Company has delivered to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, in each case stating that all conditions precedent provided for in such indenture relating to the defeasance contemplated have been complied with;
(f) if the debt securities are to be redeemed prior to their maturity, notice of such redemption shall have been duly given or in another manner satisfactory to the trustee; and
(g) any such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall comply with any additional or substitute terms provided for by the terms of such debt securities of such series.
Notwithstanding a defeasance or covenant defeasance, the Company’s obligations with respect to the following in respect of debt securities of such series will survive with respect to such securities until otherwise terminated or discharged under the terms of the indenture or no debt securities of such series are outstanding:
(a) the rights of holders of outstanding debt securities of such series to receive payments in respect of the principal of, interest on or premium or additional amounts, if any, payable in respect of, such debt securities when such payments are due from the trust referred in clause (a) in the preceding paragraph;
(b) the issuance of temporary debt securities, the registration, transfer and exchange of debt securities, the replacement of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and holding payments in trust;
(c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the trustee, and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith; and
(d) the defeasance or covenant defeasance provisions of the indenture.
Applicable Law
The indenture provides that the debt securities and the indenture will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
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General
We may issue warrants to purchase debt securities, common shares, preference shares or any combination of these securities. We may issue the warrants independently or together with any underlying securities, and the warrants may be attached or separate from the underlying securities. We may also issue a series of warrants under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. 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 for or with holders or beneficial owners of warrants.
The following description is a summary of selected provisions relating to the warrants that we may issue. The summary is not complete. When warrants are offered in the future, a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or a free writing prospectus, as applicable, will explain the particular terms of those securities and the extent to which these general provisions may apply. The specific terms of the warrants as described in a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus will supplement and, if applicable, may modify or replace the general terms described in this section.
This summary and any description of warrants in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to all the provisions of any specific warrant document or agreement. We will file each of these documents, as applicable, with the SEC and incorporate them by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part on or before the time we issue a series of warrants. See “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” above for information on how to obtain a copy of a warrant document when it is filed.
When we refer to a series of warrants, we mean all warrants issued as part of the same series under the applicable warrant agreement.
Terms
The applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, may describe the terms of any warrants that we may offer, including but not limited to the following:
| • | the title of the warrants; |
| • | the total number of warrants; |
| • | the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued; |
| • | the price or prices at which the warrants may be exercised; |
| • | the currency or currencies that investors may use to pay for the warrants; |
| • | the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and the date on which the right will expire; |
| • | whether the warrants will be issued in registered form or bearer form; |
| • | information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; |
| • | if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of warrants that may be exercised at any one time; |
| • | if applicable, the designation and terms of the underlying securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each underlying security; |
| • | if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related underlying securities will be separately transferable; |
| • | if applicable, a discussion of material United States federal income tax considerations; |
| • | if applicable, the terms of redemption of the warrants; |
| • | the identity of the warrant agent, if any; |
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| • | the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of the warrants; and |
| • | any other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures, and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants. |
Warrant Agreements
We may issue the warrants in one or more series under one or more warrant agreements, each to be entered into between us and a bank, trust company, or other financial institution as warrant agent. We may add, replace, or terminate warrant agents from time to time. We may also choose to act as our own warrant agent or may choose one of our subsidiaries to do so.
The warrant agent under a warrant agreement will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants issued under that agreement. Any holder of warrants may, without the consent of any other person, enforce by appropriate legal action, on its own behalf, its right to exercise those warrants in accordance with their terms.
Form, Exchange and Transfer
We may issue the warrants in registered form or bearer form. Warrants issued in registered form, i.e., book-entry form, will be represented by a global security registered in the name of a depository, which will be the holder of all the warrants represented by the global security. Those investors who own beneficial interests in a global warrant will do so through participants in the depository’s system, and the rights of these indirect owners will be governed solely by the applicable procedures of the depository and its participants. In addition, we may issue warrants in non-global form, i.e., bearer form. If any warrants are issued in non-global form, warrant certificates may be exchanged for new warrant certificates of different denominations, and holders may exchange, transfer, or exercise their warrants at the warrant agent’s office or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus.
Prior to the exercise of their warrants, holders of warrants exercisable for debt securities will not have any of the rights of holders of the debt securities purchasable upon such exercise and will not be entitled to payments of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the debt securities purchasable upon such exercise. Prior to the exercise of their warrants, holders of warrants exercisable for shares of preference shares or common shares will not have any rights of holders of the preference shares or common shares purchasable upon such exercise and will not be entitled to dividend payments, if any, or voting rights of the preference shares or common shares purchasable upon such exercise.
Exercise of Warrants
A warrant will entitle the holder to purchase for cash an amount of securities at an exercise price that will be stated in, or that will be determinable as described in, the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus. Warrants may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date set forth in the applicable offering material. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void. Warrants may be redeemed as set forth in the applicable offering material.
Warrants may be exercised as set forth in the applicable offering material. Upon receipt of payment and the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable offering material, we will forward, as soon as practicable, the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If less than all of the warrants represented by such warrant certificate are exercised, a new warrant certificate will be issued for the remaining warrants.
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General
We may issue rights to purchase our debt securities, common shares, preference shares or other securities. These rights may be issued independently or together with any other security offered hereby and may or may not be transferable by the shareholder receiving the rights in such offering. In connection with any offering of such rights, we may enter into a standby arrangement with one or more underwriters or other purchasers pursuant to which the underwriters or other purchasers may be required to purchase any securities remaining unsubscribed for after such offering.
Each series of rights will be issued under a separate rights agreement which we will enter into with a bank or trust company, as rights agent, all which will be set forth in the relevant offering material. The rights agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the certificates relating to the rights and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holders of rights certificates or beneficial owners of rights.
The following description is a summary of selected provisions relating to rights that we may offer. The summary is not complete. When rights are offered in the future, a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or a free writing prospectus, as applicable, will explain the particular terms of those securities and the extent to which these general provisions may apply. The specific terms of the rights as described in a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or other offering material will supplement and, if applicable, may modify or replace the general terms described in this section.
This summary and any description of rights in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the rights agreement and the rights certificates. We will file each of these documents, as applicable, with the SEC and incorporate them by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part on or before the time we issue a series of rights. See “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” for information on how to obtain a copy of a document when it is filed.
The applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus may describe:
| • | In the case of a distribution of rights to our shareholders, the date of determining the shareholders entitled to the rights distribution; |
| • | In the case of a distribution of rights to our shareholders, the number of rights issued or to be issued to each shareholder; |
| • | the exercise price payable for each share of debt securities, common shares, preference shares or other securities upon the exercise of the rights; |
| • | the number and terms of the shares of debt securities, common shares, preference shares or other securities which may be purchased per each right; |
| • | the extent to which the rights are transferable; |
| • | the date on which the holder’s ability to exercise the rights shall commence, and the date on which the rights shall expire; |
| • | the extent to which the rights may include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities; |
| • | if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting or purchase arrangement entered into by us in connection with the offering of such rights; and |
| • | any other terms of the rights, including, but not limited to, the terms, procedures, conditions and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the rights. |
The provisions described in this section, as well as those described under “Description of Debt Securities” and “Description of Share Capital,” will apply, as applicable, to any rights we offer.
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General
We may issue units composed of any combination of our debt securities, common shares, preference shares and warrants. We will issue each unit so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. As a result, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.
The following description is a summary of selected provisions relating to units that we may offer. The summary is not complete. When units are offered in the future, a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus as applicable, will explain the particular terms of those securities and the extent to which these general provisions may apply. The specific terms of the units as described in a prospectus supplement or information incorporated by reference will supplement and, if applicable, may modify or replace the general terms described in this section.
This summary and any description of units in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the unit agreement, collateral arrangements and depositary arrangements, if applicable. We will file these documents with the SEC for incorporation by reference into this prospectus, as applicable. See “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” for information on how to obtain a copy of a document when it is filed.
The applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus may describe:
| • | the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately; |
| • | any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer, or exchange of the units or of the securities composing the units; |
| • | whether the units will be issued in fully registered or global form; and |
| • | any other terms of the units. |
The applicable provisions described in this section, as well as those described under “Description of Debt Securities,” “Description of Share Capital” and “Description of Warrants,” will apply to each unit and to each security included in each unit, respectively.
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We may sell the securities through underwriters or dealers, through agents, directly to one or more purchasers, through a rights offering, or otherwise. We will describe the terms of the offering of the securities in a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, including:
| • | the name or names of any underwriters, if any; |
| • | the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds we will receive from the sale; |
| • | any underwriting discounts and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation; |
| • | any initial public offering price; |
| • | any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and |
| • | any securities exchange or market on which the securities may be listed. |
Only underwriters we name in the prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus are underwriters of the securities offered thereby. The distribution of securities may be effected, from time to time, in one or more transactions, including:
| • | block transactions (which may involve crosses) and transactions on the New York Stock Exchange or any other organized market where the securities may be traded; |
| • | purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its own account pursuant to a prospectus supplement; |
| • | ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which a broker-dealer solicits purchasers; |
| • | sales “at the market” to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise; and |
| • | sales in other ways not involving market makers or established trading markets, including direct sales to purchasers. |
The securities may be sold at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices relating to the prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The consideration may be cash or another form negotiated by the parties. Agents, underwriters or broker-dealers may be paid compensation for offering and selling the securities. That compensation may be in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions to be received from us or from the purchasers of the securities. Dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and compensation received by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. If such dealers or agents were deemed to be underwriters, they may be subject to statutory liabilities under the Securities Act.
We may also make direct sales through rights distributed to our existing shareholders on a pro rata basis, which may or may not be transferable. In any distribution of rights to our shareholders, if all of the underlying securities are not subscribed for, we may then sell the unsubscribed securities directly to third parties or may engage the services of one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, including standby underwriters, to sell the unsubscribed securities to third parties.
Some or all of the securities that we offer though this prospectus may be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom we sell our securities for public offering and sale may make a market in those securities, but they will not be obligated to do so and they may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. Accordingly, we cannot assure you of the liquidity of, or continued trading markets for, any securities that we offer.
Agents may, from time to time, solicit offers to purchase the securities. If required, we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement, document incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, as applicable, any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities and set forth any compensation payable to the agent. Unless otherwise indicated, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment. Any agent selling the securities covered by this prospectus may be deemed to be an underwriter, as that term is defined in the Securities Act, of the securities.
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If underwriters are used in an offering, securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold, from time to time, in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or under delayed delivery contracts or other contractual commitments. Securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. If an underwriter or underwriters are used in the sale of securities, an underwriting agreement will be executed with the underwriter or underwriters at the time an agreement for the sale is reached. The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the managing underwriter or underwriters, as well as any other underwriter or underwriters, with respect to a particular underwritten offering of securities, and will set forth the terms of the transactions, including compensation of the underwriters and dealers and the public offering price, if applicable. The prospectus, and the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus will be used by the underwriters to resell the securities.
If a dealer is used in the sale of the securities, we or an underwriter 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. To the extent required, we will set forth in the prospectus supplement, document incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, as applicable, the name of the dealer and the terms of the transactions.
We may directly solicit offers to purchase the securities and may make sales of securities directly to institutional investors or others. These persons may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resale of the securities. To the extent required, the prospectus supplement, document incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, as applicable, will describe the terms of any such sales, including the terms of any bidding or auction process, if used.
Agents, underwriters and dealers may be entitled under agreements which may be entered into with us to indemnification by us against specified liabilities, including liabilities incurred under the Securities Act, or to contribution by us to payments they may be required to make in respect of such liabilities. If required, the prospectus supplement, document incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, as applicable, will describe the terms and conditions of such indemnification or contribution. Some of the agents, underwriters or dealers, or their affiliates may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us, our subsidiaries or affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
Under the securities laws of some states, the securities offered by this prospectus may be sold in those states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.
Any person participating in the distribution of common shares registered under the registration statement that includes this prospectus will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and the applicable SEC rules and regulations, including, among others, Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of our common shares by any such person. Furthermore, Regulation M may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of our common shares to engage in market-making activities with respect to our common shares. These restrictions may affect the marketability of our common shares and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to our common shares.
Certain persons participating in an offering may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the offered securities. If any such activities will occur, they will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
To the extent required, this prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution.
All securities we offer other than common shares will be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters may make a market in these securities, but will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We cannot guarantee the liquidity of the trading markets for any securities.
In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), the aggregate maximum discount, commission or agency fees or other items constituting underwriting compensation to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer will not exceed 8% of any offering pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, as the case may be.
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Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, certain legal matters with respect to the laws of Bermuda will be passed upon for us by Conyers Dill & Pearman Limited, Hamilton, Bermuda. Certain matters of New York law will be passed upon for us by Morrison & Foerster LLP.
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The consolidated financial statements and schedules of Textainer Group Holdings Limited as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2009, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009 have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
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ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
We are a Bermuda exempted company. As a result, the rights of holders of our common shares will be governed by Bermuda law and our memorandum of association and bye-laws. The rights of shareholders under Bermuda law may differ from the rights of shareholders of companies incorporated in other jurisdictions. Most of our directors and some of the named experts referred to in this prospectus are not residents of the U.S., and a substantial portion of our assets is located outside the U.S. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process on those persons in the U.S. and to enforce in the U.S. judgments obtained in U.S. courts against us or those persons based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. securities laws. We have been advised by our special Bermuda counsel, Conyers Dill & Pearman Limited, that uncertainty exists as to whether courts in Bermuda will enforce judgments obtained in other jurisdictions (including the U.S.) against us or our directors or officers under the securities laws of those jurisdictions or entertain actions in Bermuda against us or our directors or officers under the securities laws of other jurisdictions.
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DISCLOSURE OF COMMISSION POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form F-3 that we have filed with the SEC using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may from time to time sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $550,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer securities under this shelf registration process, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain more specific information about the terms of that offering. This prospectus does not contain all the information provided in the registration statement we have filed with the SEC. For further information about us or the securities offered hereby, you should refer to that registration statement and the exhibits filed as a part of that registration statement.
We are subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, and file reports, including Annual Reports on Form 20-F and Reports on Form 6-K, with the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. The public may read our SEC filings, including the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and the exhibits filed as a part of that registration statement, over the Internet at http://www.sec.gov. The public may also read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, you can obtain information about us at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
| Item 8. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers. |
Indemnification by Textainer Group Holdings Limited and Bermuda Subsidiaries
Section 98 of the Companies Act provides generally that a Bermuda company may indemnify its directors, officers and auditors against any liability which by virtue of any rule of law would otherwise be imposed on them in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust, except in cases where such liability arises from fraud or dishonesty of which such director, officer or auditor may be guilty in relation to the company. Section 98 further provides that a Bermuda company may indemnify its directors, officers and auditors against any liability incurred by them in defending any proceeding, whether civil or criminal, in which judgment is awarded in their favor or in which they are acquitted or granted relief by the Supreme Court of Bermuda pursuant to section 281 of the Companies Act.
We have adopted provisions in our bye-laws and the bye-laws of our Bermuda subsidiaries that provide that we shall indemnify our officers and directors in respect of their actions and omissions, except in respect of their fraud or dishonesty. Our bye-laws provide that the shareholders waive all claims or rights of action that they might have, individually or in right of the company, against any of the company’s directors or officers for any act or failure to act in the performance of such director’s or officer’s duties, except in respect of any fraud or dishonesty of such director or officer. Section 98 of the Companies Act permits us to purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any officer or director in respect of any loss or liability attaching to him in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust, whether or not we may otherwise indemnify such officer or director. We have purchased and maintain a directors’ and officers’ liability policy for such a purpose.
Indemnification by Textainer Equipment Management (U.S.) Limited
Our wholly-owned subsidiary, Textainer Equipment Management (U.S.) Limited, is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. All of our executive officers are also executive officers of Textainer Equipment Management (U.S.) Limited, and two of our executive officers serve as its sole directors.
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any persons who are, or are threatened to be made, parties to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of such corporation), by reason of the fact that such person was an officer, director, employee or agent of such corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such person as an officer, director, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided that such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporation’s best interests and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was illegal. A Delaware corporation may indemnify any persons who are, or are threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation by reason of the fact that such person was a director, officer, employee or agent of such corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit, provided such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporation’s best interests except that no indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if the officer or director is adjudged to be liable to the corporation. Where an officer or director is successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action referred to above, the corporation must indemnify him or her against the expenses which such officer or director has actually and reasonably incurred.
Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law permits a corporation to provide in its certificate of incorporation that a director of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duties as a director, except for liability for any:
| • | transaction from which the director derives an improper personal benefit; |
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| • | act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; |
| • | unlawful payment of dividends or redemption of shares; or |
| • | breach of a director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its shareholders. |
The certificate of incorporation and bylaws of Textainer Equipment Management (U.S.) Limited provide for the indemnification of its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law. Expenses incurred by any officer or director of Textainer Equipment Management (U.S.) Limited in defending any such action, suit or proceeding in advance of its final disposition shall be paid by Textainer Equipment Management (U.S.) Limited upon delivery to it, if required under Delaware General Corporation Law, of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such director or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified by us.
Indemnification Agreements
We have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and senior management to give such directors and officers, as well as their immediate family members, additional contractual assurances regarding the scope of indemnification set forth in our bye-laws and the organizational documents of our subsidiaries, and to provide additional procedural protections which may, in some cases, be broader than the specific indemnification provisions contained in those documents. The indemnification agreements may require us, among other things, to indemnify such directors and officers, as well as their immediate family members, against liabilities that may arise by reason of the status or service as directors or officers and to advance expenses as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.
| Item 9. | Exhibits. |
| Exhibit |
Description of Document | |
| 1.1* | Form of Underwriting Agreement with respect to Debt Securities | |
| 1.2* | Form of Underwriting Agreement with respect to Common Shares | |
| 1.3* | Form of Underwriting Agreement with respect to Preference Shares | |
| 1.4* | Form of Underwriting Agreement with respect to Warrants | |
| 1.5* | Form of Underwriting Agreement with respect to Units | |
| 4.1 | Form of Common Share Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed with the SEC on September 26, 2007 (File No. 333-146304)) | |
| 4.2* | Form of Preference Share Certificate | |
| 4.3* | Form of Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights with respect to Preference Shares | |
| 4.4 | Form of Indenture (including Form of Debt Securities) with respect to Debt Securities | |
| 4.5* | Form of Warrant Agreement (including Form of Warrant Certificate) with respect to Warrants to purchase Debt Securities | |
| 4.6* | Form of Warrant Agreement (including Form of Warrant Certificate) with respect to Warrants to purchase Common Shares | |
| 4.7* | Form of Warrant Agreement (including Form of Warrant Certificate) with respect to Warrants to purchase Preference Shares | |
| 4.8* | Form of Warrant Agreement (including Form of Warrant Certificate) with respect to Warrants to purchase Units | |
| 4.9* | Form of Unit Agreement (including Form of Unit Certificate) | |
| 4.10* | Form of Rights Agreement (including Form of Rights Certificate) | |
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| Exhibit |
Description of Document | |
| 5.1† | Opinion of Conyers Dill & Pearman Limited | |
| 5.2† | Opinion of Morrison & Foerster LLP | |
| 12.1† | Statement regarding Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges | |
| 23.1 | Consent of KPMG LLP | |
| 23.2† | Consent of Conyers Dill & Pearman Limited (included in Exhibit 5.1) | |
| 23.3† | Consent of Morrison & Foerster LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2) | |
| 24.1† | Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page to the initial filing of the Registration Statement on December 23, 2010) | |
| 25.1** | Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of Debt Trustee (to be filed prior to any issuance of Debt Securities) | |
| * | To be filed as an amendment or as an exhibit to a document filed under the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement. |
| † | Previously filed. |
| ** | To be filed in accordance with the requirements of Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. |
| Item 10. | Undertakings. |
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
| (a)(1) | To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: |
| (i) | To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; |
| (ii) | To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement. |
| (iii) | To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; |
Provided however, that:
| A. | Paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-8, and 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; and |
| B. | Paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form F-3 and 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. |
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| (2) | That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
| (3) | To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. |
| (4) | To file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A. of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Act need not be furnished, provided that the registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (a)(4) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to registration statements on Form F-3, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Act or Rule 3-19 of this chapter if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic 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 Form F-3. |
| (5) | That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser: |
| (i) | If the registrant is relying on Rule 430B: |
| (a) | Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and |
| (b) | Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; or |
| (ii) | If the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a |
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| purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use. |
| (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) | 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 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
| (c) | To supplement the prospectus, after the expiration of the subscription period, to set forth the results of the subscription offer, the transactions by the underwriters during the subscription period, the amount of unsubscribed securities to be purchased by the underwriters, and the terms of any subsequent reoffering thereof. If any public offering by the underwriters is to be made on terms differing from those set forth on the cover page of the prospectus, a post-effective amendment will be filed to set forth the terms of such offering. |
| (d) | (1) To use its best efforts to distribute prior to the opening of bids, to prospective bidders, underwriters, and dealers, a reasonable number of copies of a prospectus which at that time meets the requirements of section 10(a) of the Act, and relating to the securities offered at competitive bidding, as contained in the registration statement, together with any supplements thereto, and (2) to file an amendment to the registration statement reflecting the results of bidding, the terms of the reoffering and related matters to the extent required by the applicable form, not later than the first use, authorized by the issuer after the opening of bids, of a prospectus relating to the securities offered at competitive bidding, unless no further public offering of such securities by the issuer and no reoffering of such securities by the purchasers is proposed to be made. |
| (e) | 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 Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
| (f) | To file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act. |
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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 F-3 and has duly caused this Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form F-3 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of San Francisco, State of California, on January 14, 2011.
| TEXTAINER GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED | ||
| By: | /s/ JOHN A. MACCARONE | |
| Name: | John A. Maccarone | |
| Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |
| By: | /s/ ERNEST J. FURTADO | |
| Name: | Ernest J. Furtado | |
| Title: | First Vice President, Senior Vice President, | |
| Chief Financial Officer & Secretary | ||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form F-3 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Signature |
Title |
Date | ||
| /S/ JOHN A. MACCARONE John A. Maccarone |
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) | January 14, 2011 | ||
| /S/ ERNEST J. FURTADO Ernest J. Furtado |
First Vice President, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Secretary (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | January 14, 2011 | ||
| * Neil I. Jowell |
Chairman |
January 14, 2011 | ||
| * Dudley R. Cottingham |
Director |
January 14, 2011 | ||
| * James E. Hoelter |
Director |
January 14, 2011 | ||
| * Cecil Jowell |
Director |
January 14, 2011 | ||
| * Isam K. Kabbani |
Director |
January 14, 2011 | ||
| * James E. McQueen |
Director |
January 14, 2011 | ||
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| Signature |
Title |
Date | ||
| * David M. Nurek |
Director |
January 14, 2011 | ||
| * James A. Owens |
Director |
January 14, 2011 | ||
| * Hyman Shwiel |
Director |
January 14, 2011 | ||
| * Hendrik R. van der Merwe |
Director |
January 14, 2011 | ||
| /S/ ERNEST J. FURTADO Ernest J. Furtado |
Authorized Representative in the United States | January 14, 2011 | ||
| *By: | /S/ JOHN A. MACCARONE | |||
| Name: | John A. Maccarone | |||
| Title: | Attorney-in-fact | |||
| /S/ ERNEST J. FURTADO | ||||
| Name: | Ernest J. Furtado | |||
| Title: | Attorney-in-fact | |||
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EXHIBIT INDEX
| Exhibit |
Description of Document | |
| 1.1* | Form of Underwriting Agreement with respect to Debt Securities | |
| 1.2* | Form of Underwriting Agreement with respect to Common Shares | |
| 1.3* | Form of Underwriting Agreement with respect to Preference Shares | |
| 1.4* | Form of Underwriting Agreement with respect to Warrants | |
| 1.5* | Form of Underwriting Agreement with respect to Units | |
| 4.1 | Form of Common Share Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed with the SEC on September 26, 2007 (File No. 333-146304)) | |
| 4.2* | Form of Preference Share Certificate | |
| 4.3* | Form of Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights with respect to Preference Shares | |
| 4.4 | Form of Indenture (including Form of Debt Securities) with respect to Debt Securities | |
| 4.5* | Form of Warrant Agreement (including Form of Warrant Certificate) with respect to Warrants to purchase Debt Securities | |
| 4.6* | Form of Warrant Agreement (including Form of Warrant Certificate) with respect to Warrants to purchase Common Shares | |
| 4.7* | Form of Warrant Agreement (including Form of Warrant Certificate) with respect to Warrants to purchase Preference Shares | |
| 4.8* | Form of Warrant Agreement (including Form of Warrant Certificate) with respect to Warrants to purchase Units | |
| 4.9* | Form of Unit Agreement (including Form of Unit Certificate) | |
| 4.10* | Form of Rights Agreement (including Form of Rights Certificate) | |
| 5.1† | Opinion of Conyers Dill & Pearman Limited | |
| 5.2† | Opinion of Morrison & Foerster LLP | |
| 12.1† | Statement regarding Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges | |
| 23.1 | Consent of KPMG LLP | |
| 23.2† | Consent of Conyers Dill & Pearman Limited (included in Exhibit 5.1) | |
| 23.3† | Consent of Morrison & Foerster LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2) | |
| 24.1† | Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page to the initial filing of the Registration Statement on December 23, 2010) | |
| 25.1** | Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of Debt Trustee (to be filed prior to any issuance of Debt Securities) | |
| * | To be filed as an amendment or as an exhibit to a document filed under the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement. |
| † | Previously filed. |
| ** | To be filed in accordance with the requirements of Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. |