PAVM PAVmed Inc

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

In the discussion that follows, we have summarized selected provisions of our certificate of incorporation, bylaws and the Delaware General Corporation Law, or the “DGCL,” relating to our capital stock. This summary is not complete, is subject to the relevant provisions of Delaware law and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws. You should read the provisions of our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws as currently in effect for provisions that may be important to you.

Authorized Capital Stock

We are authorized to issue 150,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001, and 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001. On March 23, 2018, we filed a certificate of designation of preferences, rights and limitations for a series of preferred stock designated as Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, or the “Series B Preferred Stock.”

As of September 8, 2020, 50,101,954 shares of our common stock and 1,203,488 shares of Series B Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding. In addition, as of September 8, 2020:

As of September 8, 2020, we also had 2,128,406 shares reserved for issuance, but not subject to outstanding awards, under our long-term incentive equity plan, and 513,012 shares reserved for issuance under our employee stock purchase plan.

Common Stock

Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on matters on which our stockholders vote. There are no cumulative voting rights. Subject to any preferential dividend rights of any outstanding shares of preferred stock, holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends, if declared by our board of directors, out of funds that we may legally use to pay dividends. If we liquidate or dissolve, holders of common stock are entitled to share ratably in our assets once our debts and any liquidation preference owed to any then-outstanding preferred stockholders is paid. Our certificate of incorporation does not provide the common stock with any redemption, conversion or preemptive rights, and there are no sinking fund provisions with respect to our common stock. All shares of common stock that are outstanding are fully-paid and non-assessable.

Preferred Stock

Our certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of blank check preferred stock. Accordingly, our board of directors is empowered, without stockholder approval, to issue shares of preferred stock with dividend, liquidation, redemption, voting or other rights which could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of shares of our common stock. In addition, shares of preferred stock could be utilized as a method of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change in control of us.

Series B Preferred Stock

The Series B Preferred stock is senior to our common stock with respect to dividends and, as described below, assets distributed in liquidation. The Series B Preferred Stock has no voting rights. The stated value of the Series B Preferred Stock is $3.00 per share. All shares of Series B Preferred Stock that are outstanding are fully-paid and non-assessable.

The Series B Preferred Stock provides for dividends at a rate of 8% per annum of the stated value per share of the Series B Preferred Stock. Dividends are payable in arrears on January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1, 2021. Dividends accrue and cumulate whether or not declared by our board of directors. All accumulated and unpaid dividends compound quarterly at the rate of 8% of the stated value per annum. Dividends through October 1, 2021 are payable in additional shares of Series B Preferred Stock. Dividends after October 1, 2021 are payable at our election in any combination of shares of Series B Preferred Stock, cash or shares of our common stock.

In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company or Deemed Liquidation Event (as defined in the certificate of designations for the Series B Preferred Stock), the holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock then outstanding shall be entitled to be paid out of our assets available for distribution to our stockholders, before any payment shall be made to the holders of our common stock by reason of their ownership thereof, an amount per share equal to the greater of (i) the stated value of the Series B Preferred Stock, plus any dividends accrued but unpaid thereon, or (ii) such amount per share as would have been payable had all shares of Series B Preferred Stock been converted into our common stock immediately prior to such liquidation, dissolution, winding up or Deemed Liquidation Event.

At the holders’ election, a share of Series B Preferred Stock is convertible into a number of shares of our common stock determined by dividing the stated value of such share by the conversion price. The conversion price is $3.00, subject to adjustment for stock dividends, stock splits or similar events affecting our common stock.

Dividends

We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock to date. Any future decisions regarding dividends will be made by our board of directors. We do not anticipate paying dividends in the foreseeable future but expect to retain earnings to finance the growth of our business. Our board of directors has complete discretion on whether to pay dividends. Even if our board of directors decides to pay dividends, the form, frequency and amount will depend upon our future operations and earnings, capital requirements and surplus, general financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors the board of directors may deem relevant.

Anti-Takeover Provisions

Provisions of the DGCL and our certificate of incorporation and bylaws could make it more difficult to acquire us by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise, or to remove incumbent officers and directors. These provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage certain types of coercive takeover practices and takeover bids that our board of directors may consider inadequate and to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure us outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging takeover or acquisition proposals because, among other things, negotiation of these proposals could result in improved terms for our stockholders.

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

Classified Board. Our board of directors is divided into three classes, with staggered three-year terms. The number of directors in each class is as nearly equal as possible. Directors elected to succeed those directors whose terms expire are elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election. The existence of a classified board may extend the time required to make any change in control of the board when compared to a corporation with an unclassified board. It may take two annual meetings for our stockholders to effect a change in control of the board, because in general less than a majority of the members of the board will be elected at a given annual meeting. Because our board is classified and our certificate of incorporation does not otherwise provide, under Delaware law, our directors may only be removed for cause.

Vacancies in the Board of Directors. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that, subject to limitations, any vacancy occurring in our board of directors for any reason may be filled by a majority of the remaining members of our board of directors then in office, even if such majority is less than a quorum. Each director elected to fill a vacancy resulting from the death, resignation or removal of a director shall hold office until the expiration of the term of the director whose death, resignation or removal created the vacancy.

Advance Notice of Nominations and Shareholder Proposals. Our stockholders are required to provide advance notice and additional disclosures in order to nominate individuals for election to our board of directors or to propose matters that can be acted upon at a stockholders’ meeting, which may discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of our company.

Special Meetings of Stockholders. Under our bylaws, special meetings of stockholders may be called by the directors, or the president or the chairman, and shall be called by the secretary at the request in writing of stockholders owning a majority in amount of the entire capital stock of the corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote.

No Cumulative Voting. The DGCL provides that stockholders are denied the right to cumulate votes in the election of directors unless our certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Our certificate of incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting.

Limitation on Directors’ Liability and Indemnification

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that no director of ours will be personally liable to us or any of our stockholders for monetary damages arising from the director’s breach of fiduciary duty as a director. However, this does not apply (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) for liability under Section 174 of the DGCL, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

Our certificate of incorporation provides that all directors shall be entitled to be indemnified by the company to the fullest extent permitted by law and our bylaws contain comparable provisions. Our certificate of incorporation also provides that we shall pay the expenses incurred by our directors in defending any action for which indemnification may be available, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified. We have entered into, and intend to continue to enter into, separate indemnification agreements with our directors, in addition to the indemnification provided for in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws. We also maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.

These provisions could have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against our directors and may discourage or deter our stockholders or management from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their duty of care, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise have benefited us and our stockholders.

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

Listing

Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “PAVM.”

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or any other security offered hereby. Warrants may be issued in one or more series and may be issued independently or together with other securities and may be attached to or separate from any offered securities. We may issue the warrants directly or under warrant agreements to be entered into between a warrant agent and us. Any warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not have any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants.

The following outlines some of the general terms and provisions of the warrants that we may issue. A prospectus supplement will describe the particular terms of any warrants offered from time to time, and may supplement or change the terms outlined below. We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, a form of the warrant or form of the warrant agreement and warrant certificate that sets forth the terms of the particular warrants we are offering. The summary of such terms contained in this prospectus and in the applicable prospectus supplement is qualified in its entirety by reference to such warrant or warrant agreement and warrant certificate. We urge you to read the warrant or warrant agreement and warrant certificate and the additional description of the terms of the warrants included in the prospectus supplement.

As of the date of this prospectus, we have two series of warrants outstanding: warrants to purchase our common stock issued in our initial public offering and in private placements prior thereto, which we refer to as the “Series W Warrants,” and Series Z warrants to purchase our common stock, which we refer to as the “Series Z Warrants.”

General

The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of warrants will describe the terms of the warrants, including the following:

In the case of warrants issued under a warrant agreement, we and the warrant agent generally may amend or supplement the warrant agreement for a series of warrants without the consent of the holders of the warrants issued thereunder to effect changes that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the warrants and that do not materially and adversely affect the interests of the holders of the warrants.

Holders may exercise warrants as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants being offered. In general, holders may exercise warrants at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the expiration time, unexercised warrants will be void.

Until a holder exercises the warrants to purchase any securities underlying the warrants, the holder will not have any rights as a holder of the underlying securities by virtue of ownership of warrants.

Series W Warrants

The Series W Warrants are issued under a warrant agreement, dated April 28, 2016, between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us. In the discussion that follows, we have summarized selected provisions of the warrant agreement. This summary is not complete. This discussion is subject to the provisions the warrant agreement and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the warrant agreement. You should read the warrant agreement as currently in effect for provisions that may be important to you.

General

We currently have 381,818 Series W Warrants outstanding. Each Series W Warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one share of our common stock at a price of $5.00 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below. Each warrant is currently exercisable and expires on January 29, 2022 at 5:00 p.m., New York City time.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Series W Warrants will be exercisable for cash unless we have an effective and current registration statement covering the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating to such shares of common stock. If a registration statement covering the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Series W Warrants is not effective when the warrants become exercisable, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when we shall have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise the Series W Warrants on a cashless basis in the same manner as if we called the warrants for redemption and required all holders to exercise their warrants on a “cashless basis.” In such event, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of shares of common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of common stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the “fair market value” (defined below) by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” for this purpose will mean the average reported last sale price of the shares of common stock for the 10 trading days ending on the trading day prior to the date of exercise.

Redemption

We may redeem the outstanding Series W Warrants (other than those outstanding prior to this offering held by certain of our senior managers, our founders and members thereof), at our option, in whole or in part, at a price of $0.01 per warrant:

The right to exercise will be forfeited unless the Series W Warrants are exercised prior to the date specified in the notice of redemption. On and after the redemption date, a record holder of a Series W Warrant will have no further rights except to receive the redemption price for such holder’s warrant upon surrender of such warrant.

If we call the Series W Warrants for redemption as described above, we will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise warrants to do so on a “cashless basis.” In such event, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of shares of common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of common stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the “fair market value” (defined below) by (y) the fair market value. In this case, the “fair market value” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the shares of common stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants.

Exercise

The exercise price and number of shares of common stock issuable on exercise of the Series W Warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a share dividend, extraordinary dividend or our recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, the Series W Warrants will not be adjusted for issuances of shares of common stock at a price below their respective exercise prices.

The Series W Warrants may be exercised upon surrender of the warrant certificate on or prior to the expiration date at the offices of the warrant agent, with the exercise form on the reverse side of the warrant certificate completed and executed as indicated, accompanied by full payment of the exercise price, by certified or official bank check payable to us, for the number of warrants being exercised. The warrant holders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of shares of common stock and any voting rights until they exercise their warrants and receive shares of common stock.

Except as described above, no Series W Warrants will be exercisable and we will not be obligated to issue shares of common stock unless at the time a holder seeks to exercise such warrant, a prospectus relating to the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Series W Warrants is current and the shares of common stock have been registered or qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the holder of the warrants. Under the terms of the warrant agreement, we have agreed to use our commercially reasonable best efforts to meet these conditions and to maintain a current prospectus relating to the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants until the expiration of the warrants.

No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the Series W Warrants. If, upon exercise of the warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will, upon exercise, round up to the nearest whole number the number of shares of common stock to be issued to the warrant holder.

Listing, Warrant Agent and Warrant Agreement

Our Series W Warrants are traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “PAVMW.”

The warrant agent and registrar for our Series W Warrants is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company located at 1 State Street, 30th Floor, New York, NY 10004.

The Series W Warrants are issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between the warrant agent and us. The warrant agreement provides that the terms of the Series W Warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision, but requires the approval, by written consent or vote, of the holders of a majority of the then outstanding warrants in order to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we may lower the exercise price or extend the duration of the Series W Warrants without the consent of the holders.

Series Z Warrants

The Series Z Warrants are issued under an amended and restated warrant agreement, dated June 8, 2018, between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and us. In the discussion that follows, we have summarized selected provisions of the amended and restated warrant agreement. This summary is not complete. This discussion is subject to the provisions the amended and restated warrant agreement and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the amended and restated warrant agreement. You should read the amended and restated warrant agreement as currently in effect for provisions that may be important to you.

General

We currently have 16,815,039 Series Z Warrants outstanding. Each Series Z Warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one share of our common stock at a price of $1.60 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below. Each warrant is currently exercisable and expires on April 30, 2024 at 5:00 p.m., New York City time.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Series Z Warrants will be exercisable for cash unless we have an effective and current registration statement covering the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants and a current prospectus relating to such shares of common stock. If a registration statement covering the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Series Z Warrants is not effective when the warrants become exercisable, warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when we shall have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise the Series Z Warrants on a cashless basis in the same manner as if we called the warrants for redemption and required all holders to exercise their warrants on a “cashless basis.” In such event, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of shares of common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of common stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the “fair market value” (defined below) by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” for this purpose will mean the average daily volume weighted average price for our common stock for the 10 trading days ending on the trading day prior to the date of exercise.

Redemption

We may redeem the outstanding Series Z Warrants (other than those outstanding prior to this offering held by certain of our senior managers, our founders and members thereof), at our option, in whole or in part, at a price of $0.01 per warrant:

The right to exercise will be forfeited unless the Series Z Warrants are exercised prior to the date specified in the notice of redemption. On and after the redemption date, a record holder of a Series Z Warrant will have no further rights except to receive the redemption price for such holder’s warrant upon surrender of such warrant.

If we call the Series Z Warrants for redemption as described above, we will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise warrants to do so on a “cashless basis.” In such event, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the warrants for that number of shares of common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of common stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the “fair market value” (defined below) by (y) the fair market value. In this case, the “fair market value” shall mean the average daily volume weighted average price the shares of common stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants.

Exercise

The exercise price and number of shares of common stock issuable on exercise of the Series Z Warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a share dividend, extraordinary dividend or our recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, the Series Z Warrants will not be adjusted for issuances of shares of common stock at a price below their respective exercise prices.

If a Fundamental Transaction (as defined in the amended and restated warrant agreement for the Series Z Warrants) is completed, then, upon any subsequent exercise of a Series Z Warrant, the holders of the Series Z Warrants shall have the right to receive, for each share of our common stock that would have been issuable upon exercise of a Series Z Warrant immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction, at the option of each holder (without regard to the beneficial ownership limitation described below), the number of shares of common stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of us, if we are the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration receivable as a result of such Fundamental Transaction by a holder of the number of shares of our common stock for which the Series Z Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to the beneficial ownership limitation described below).

The Series Z Warrants may be exercised upon surrender of the warrant certificate on or prior to the expiration date at the offices of the warrant agent, with the exercise form on the reverse side of the warrant certificate completed and executed as indicated. Within two trading days following the exercise, the holder will pay in full the exercise price, by certified or official bank check payable to us, for the number of warrants being exercised. The warrant holders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of shares of common stock and any voting rights until they exercise their warrants.

Except as described above, no Series Z Warrants will be exercisable and we will not be obligated to issue shares of common stock unless at the time a holder seeks to exercise such warrant, a prospectus relating to the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Series Z Warrants is current and the shares of common stock have been registered or qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the holder of the warrants. Under the terms of the amended and restated warrant agreement, we have agreed to use our commercially reasonable best efforts to meet these conditions and to maintain a current prospectus relating to the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants until the expiration of the warrants.

No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the Series Z Warrants. If, upon exercise of the warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will, upon exercise, round up to the nearest whole number the number of shares of common stock to be issued to the warrant holder.

We will not effect any exercise of a Series Z Warrant, and a holder shall not have the right to exercise any portion of a Series Z Warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such issuance after exercise as set forth on the applicable subscription form, the holder (together with the holder’s affiliates, and any other persons acting as a group together with the holder or any of the holder’s affiliates), would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% or 9.99% (at the election of the holder) of our common stock outstanding.

Listing, Warrant Agent and Amended and Restated Warrant Agreement

Our Series Z Warrants are traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbols “PAVMZ.”

The warrant agent and registrar for our Series Z Warrants is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company located at 1 State Street, 30th Floor, New York, NY 10004.

The Series Z Warrants are issued in registered form under an amended and restated warrant agreement between the warrant agent and us. The amended and restated warrant agreement provides that the terms of the Series Z Warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision, but requires the approval, by written consent or vote, of the holders of two-thirds of the then outstanding warrants in order to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we may lower the exercise price or extend the duration of the Series Z Warrants without the consent of the holders.

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

We may offer any combination of senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. We may issue the debt securities under one or more indentures or without the use of an indenture to the extent such issuance without an indenture is exempt under the terms of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. If we issue the debt securities under one or more indentures, the senior debt securities will be issued under one form of indenture and the subordinated debt securities will be issued under another form of indenture, in each case, between us, as issuer, and the trustee or trustees identified in a prospectus supplement. The form for each type of indenture is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Further information regarding the trustee or trustees may be provided in the prospectus supplement.

The following outlines some of the general terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may issue. A prospectus supplement will describe the particular terms of any debt securities offered from time to time, and may supplement or change the terms outlined below. If we issue the debt securities under an indenture, we will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, a form of the indenture supplement that sets forth the terms of the particular debt securities we are offering. If we issue the debt securities without an indenture, we will so file or incorporate by reference a form of the instrument evidencing the debt securities that sets forth such terms. The summary of such debt securities contained in this prospectus and in the applicable prospectus supplement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the indentures and the applicable indenture supplement, or to the other applicable instrument evidencing the debt securities. We urge you to read the indentures and the applicable indenture supplement, or the other applicable instrument evidencing the debt securities, and the additional description of the debt securities in the prospectus supplement.

General

Within the total dollar amount of this shelf registration statement, we may issue an unlimited principal amount of debt securities in separate series. We may specify a maximum aggregate principal amount for the debt securities of any series. However, the indentures, or other applicable instruments, might not limit the amount of other debt that we may incur or whether that debt is senior to the debt securities offered by this prospectus, and might not contain financial or similar restrictive covenants. The indentures, or other applicable instruments, might not contain any provision to protect holders of debt securities against a sudden or dramatic decline in our ability to pay our debt.

Senior debt securities will be unsubordinated obligations and will rank equal with all our other unsubordinated debt. Subordinated debt securities will be paid only if all payments due under our senior indebtedness, including any outstanding senior debt securities, have been made.

The prospectus supplement will describe the debt securities and the price or prices at which we will offer the debt securities. The description also will include:

We may sell the debt securities at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount. We will describe U.S. federal income tax considerations, if any, applicable to debt securities sold at an original issue discount in the prospectus supplement. An “original issue discount security” is any debt security sold for less than its face value, and which provides that the holder cannot receive the full face value if maturity is accelerated. The prospectus supplement relating to any original issue discount securities will describe the particular provisions relating to acceleration of the maturity upon the occurrence of an event of default. In addition, we will describe U.S. federal income tax or other considerations applicable to any debt securities that are denominated in a currency or unit other than U.S. dollars in the prospectus supplement. If we issue debt securities at a discount from their stated principal amount, then, for purposes of calculating the aggregate offering price of the offered securities issued under this prospectus, we will include only the offering price of the debt securities and not the principal amount of the debt securities.

The prospectus supplement will describe, if applicable, the terms on which you may convert debt securities into or exchange them for common stock, preferred stock, other debt securities and/or other securities or property. The conversion or exchange may be mandatory or may be at our option or at your option. The prospectus supplement will describe how the number of shares of preferred stock and common stock or amount of debt securities or other securities or property to be received upon conversion or exchange would be calculated.

The Indentures

The following outlines some of the general terms and provisions of the indentures for the senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities. Forms of the indentures are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The summary of the indentures contained in this prospectus is qualified in its entirety by reference to such forms, which we urge you to read in full.

Subordinated Debt Securities

The indebtedness underlying any subordinated debt securities will be payable only if all payments due under our senior indebtedness, as defined in the applicable indenture and any indenture supplement, including any outstanding senior debt securities, have been made. If we distribute our assets to creditors upon any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar proceedings, we must first pay all amounts due or to become due on all senior indebtedness before we pay the principal of, or any premium or interest on, the subordinated debt securities. In the event the subordinated debt securities are accelerated because of an event of default, we may not make any payment on the subordinated debt securities until we have paid all senior indebtedness or the acceleration is rescinded. If the payment of subordinated debt securities accelerates because of an event of default, we must promptly notify holders of senior indebtedness of the acceleration.

If we experience a bankruptcy, dissolution or reorganization, holders of senior indebtedness may receive more, ratably, and holders of subordinated debt securities may receive less, ratably, than our other creditors. The indenture for subordinated debt securities may not limit our ability to incur additional senior indebtedness.

Form, Exchange and Transfer

We will issue debt securities only in fully registered form, without coupons, and only in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof, unless the prospectus supplement provides otherwise. The holder of a debt security may elect, subject to the terms of the indentures and the limitations applicable to global securities, to exchange them for other debt securities of the same series of any authorized denomination and of similar terms and aggregate principal amount.

Holders of debt securities may present them for exchange as provided above or for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or with the form of transfer duly executed, at the office of the transfer agent we designate for that purpose. We will not impose a service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of debt securities, but we may require a payment sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with the transfer or exchange. We will name the transfer agent in the prospectus supplement. We may designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, but we must maintain a transfer agent in each place where we will make payment on debt securities.

If we redeem the debt securities, we will not be required to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any debt security during a specified period prior to mailing a notice of redemption. We are not required to register the transfer of or exchange of any debt security selected for redemption, except the unredeemed portion of the debt security being redeemed.

Global Securities

The debt securities may be represented, in whole or in part, by one or more global securities that will have an aggregate principal amount equal to that of all debt securities of that series. Each global security will be registered in the name of a depositary identified in the prospectus supplement. We will deposit the global security with the depositary or a custodian, and the global security will bear a legend regarding the restrictions on exchanges and registration of transfer.

No global security may be exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities registered, and no transfer of a global security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any person other than the depositary or any nominee or successor of the depositary unless:

The depositary will determine how all securities issued in exchange for a global security will be registered.

As long as the depositary or its nominee is the registered holder of a global security, we will consider the depositary or the nominee to be the sole owner and holder of the global security and the underlying debt securities. Except as stated above, owners of beneficial interests in a global security will not be entitled to have the global security or any debt security registered in their names, will not receive physical delivery of certificated debt securities and will not be considered to be the owners or holders of the global security or underlying debt securities. We will make all payments of principal, premium and interest on a global security to the depositary or its nominee. The laws of some jurisdictions require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. These laws may prevent you from transferring your beneficial interests in a global security.

Only institutions that have accounts with the depositary or its nominee and persons that hold beneficial interests through the depositary or its nominee may own beneficial interests in a global security. The depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of debt securities represented by the global security to the accounts of its participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be shown only on, and the transfer of those ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary or any such participant.

The policies and procedures of the depositary may govern payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to beneficial interests in a global security. We and the trustee will assume no responsibility or liability for any aspect of the depositary’s or any participant’s records relating to, or for payments made on account of, beneficial interests in a global security.

Payment and Paying Agents

We will pay principal and any premium or interest on a debt security to the person in whose name the debt security is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest.

We will pay principal and any premium or interest on the debt securities at the office of our designated paying agent. Unless the prospectus supplement indicates otherwise, the corporate trust office of the trustee will be the paying agent for the debt securities.

Any other paying agents we designate for the debt securities of a particular series will be named in the prospectus supplement. We may designate additional paying agents, rescind the designation of any paying agent or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts, but we must maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities.

The paying agent will return to us all money we pay to it for the payment of the principal, premium or interest on any debt security that remains unclaimed for a specified period. Thereafter, the holder may look only to us for payment, as an unsecured general creditor.

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

Under the terms of the indentures, so long as any securities remain outstanding, we may not consolidate or enter into a share exchange with or merge into any other person, in a transaction in which we are not the surviving corporation, or sell, convey, transfer or lease our properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any person, unless:

Events of Default

Each of the following will constitute an event of default under each indenture:

If an event of default occurs and continues, both the trustee and holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding securities of that series may declare the principal amount of the debt securities of that series to be immediately due and payable. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding securities of that series may rescind and annul the acceleration if all events of default, other than the nonpayment of accelerated principal, have been cured or waived.

Except for its duties in case of an event of default, the trustee will not be obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers at the request or direction of any of the holders, unless the holders have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity. If they provide this indemnification and subject to conditions specified in the applicable indenture, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding securities of any series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series.

No holder of a debt security of any series may institute any proceeding with respect to the indentures, or for the appointment of a receiver or a trustee, or for any other remedy, unless:

Modification and Waiver

We and the trustee may change an indenture without the consent of any holders with respect to specific matters, including:

In addition, under the indentures, the rights of holders of a series of notes may be changed by us and the trustee with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series that is affected. However, we and the trustee may only make the following changes with the consent of the holder of any outstanding debt securities affected:

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive any past default under the indenture with respect to debt securities of that series, except a default in the payment of principal, premium or interest on any debt security of that series or in respect of a covenant or provision of the indenture that cannot be amended without each holder’s consent.

Except in limited circumstances, we may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the holders of outstanding debt securities of any series entitled to give or take any direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action under the indentures. In limited circumstances, the trustee may set a record date. To be effective, the action must be taken by holders of the requisite principal amount of such debt securities within a specified period following the record date.

Defeasance

To the extent stated in the prospectus supplement, we may elect to apply the provisions in the indentures relating to defeasance and discharge of indebtedness, or to defeasance of restrictive covenants, to the debt securities of any series. The indentures provide that, upon satisfaction of the requirements described below, we may terminate all of our obligations under the debt securities of any series and the applicable indenture, known as legal defeasance, other than our obligation:

In addition, we may terminate our obligation to comply with any restrictive covenants under the debt securities of any series or the applicable indenture, known as covenant defeasance.

We may exercise our legal defeasance option even if we have previously exercised our covenant defeasance option. If we exercise either defeasance option, payment of the notes may not be accelerated because of the occurrence of events of default.

To exercise either defeasance option as to debt securities of any series, we must irrevocably deposit in trust with the trustee money and/or obligations backed by the full faith and credit of the United States that will provide money in an amount sufficient in the written opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and each installment of interest on the debt securities. We may only establish this trust if, among other things:

Title

We may treat the person in whose name a debt security is registered as the absolute owner, whether or not such debt security may be overdue, for the purpose of making payment and for all other purposes.

Governing Law

The indentures and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

DESCRIPTION OF THE UNITS

We may issue units comprised of one or more of the other classes of securities offered hereby in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security.

The units may be, but are not required to be, issued under unit agreements to be entered into between us and a unit agent, as detailed in the prospectus supplement relating to the units being offered. We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, a form of the unit agreement and unit certificate, if any, that sets forth the terms of the particular units we are offering. The summary of such terms contained in this prospectus and in the applicable prospectus supplement is qualified in its entirety by reference to such unit agreement and unit certificate. We urge you to read the unit agreement and unit certificate, if any, and the additional description of the terms of the units included in the prospectus supplement.

The prospectus supplement will describe the units and the price or prices at which we will offer the units. The description will include:

The descriptions of the units in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement are summaries of the material provisions of the applicable agreements.