As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2023
Registration Statement No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM F-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Golar LNG Limited
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Bermuda | | | N/A |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | | | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
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Attention: Eduardo Maranhäo S.E. Pearman Building, 2nd Floor 9 Par la Ville Road Hamilton HM 11 Bermuda 1 (441) 295-4705 | | | Puglisi & Associates 850 Library Avenue, Suite 204 Newark, Delaware 19711 (302) 738-6680 |
(Address and telephone number of Registrant's principal executive offices) | | | (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service) |
Copies to:
David P. Oelman
Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
845 Texas Avenue, Suite 4700
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 758-2222
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective as determined by market conditions and other factors.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.C. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.C. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933.
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
† The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.
Prospectus
Golar LNG Limited
Through this prospectus, we or any selling securityholder may periodically offer:
| (1) | our common shares, |
| (2) | our preferred shares, |
| (3) | our debt securities, which may be guaranteed by one or more of our subsidiaries, |
| (4) | our warrants, |
| (5) | our purchase contracts, |
| (6) | our rights, and |
| (7) | our units. |
We or any selling securityholder may also offer securities of the types listed above that are convertible or exchangeable into one or more of the securities listed above.
The prices and other terms of the securities that we or any selling securityholder will offer will be determined at the time of their offering and will be described in a supplement to this prospectus. Any prospectus supplement may also add, update, or change information contained in this prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of securities by any selling securityholder.
Our common shares are currently listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “GLNG”. The last reported sales price of our common shares on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on March 30, 2023 was $21.45 per share.
The securities issued under this prospectus may be offered directly or through underwriters, agents or dealers. The names of any underwriters, agents or dealers will be included in a supplement to this prospectus.
An investment in these securities involves risks. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 4 of this prospectus, in the “Risk Factors” section of our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and in any applicable prospectus supplement, other offering materials or documents we incorporate by reference before making your investment decision.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is March 31, 2023
Table of Contents
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Unless otherwise indicated, all references to “dollars” and “$” in this prospectus are to, and amounts presented in, U.S. dollars and financial information presented in this prospectus that is derived from financial statements incorporated by reference is prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or U.S. GAAP. We have a fiscal year end of December 31.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the Commission, using a shelf registration process. Under the shelf registration process, we or any selling securityholder may sell the common shares, preferred shares, debt securities (and related guarantees), warrants, purchase contracts, rights and units described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we or any selling securityholder may offer. Each time we or a selling shareholder offer securities, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and terms of the offered securities. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change the information contained in this prospectus. Before purchasing any securities, you should read carefully both this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find Additional Information—Information Incorporated by Reference.”
This prospectus and any prospectus supplement are part of a registration statement we filed with the Commission and do not contain all the information provided in that registration statement. For further information about us or the securities offered hereby, you should refer to that registration statement, which you can obtain from the Commission as described below under “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We will not make an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and any applicable supplement to this prospectus is accurate as of the date on its respective cover, and that any information incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, unless we indicate otherwise. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
Common shares may be offered or sold in Bermuda only in compliance with the provisions of the Investment Business Act of 2003 and the Exchange Control Act 1972, and related regulations of Bermuda which regulate the sale of securities in Bermuda. In addition, specific permission is required from the Bermuda Monetary Authority, or the BMA, pursuant to the provisions of the Exchange Control Act 1972 and related regulations, for all issuances and transfers of securities of Bermuda companies, other than in cases where the BMA has granted a general permission. The BMA, in its policy dated June 1, 2005, provides that where any equity securities, including our common shares, of a Bermuda company are listed on an appointed stock exchange, general permission is given for the issue and subsequent transfer of any securities of a company from and/or to a non-resident, for as long as any equities securities of such company remain so listed. The Nasdaq Global Select Market is an appointed stock exchange under Bermuda law. Approvals or permissions given by the
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BMA do not constitute a guarantee by the BMA as to our performance or our creditworthiness. Accordingly, in granting such permission, the BMA accepts no responsibility for our financial soundness or the correctness of any of the statements made or expressed in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. Neither this prospectus nor any prospectus supplement needs to be filed with the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda in accordance with Part III of the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda, as amended (the “Companies Act”) pursuant to provisions incorporated therein following the enactment of the Companies and Partnerships (Electronic Registry) Amendment Act 2020. Such provisions state that Part II of the Companies Act shall not apply to any exempted company. We are a Bermuda exempted company.
Notwithstanding the above general permission, the BMA has granted the Company permission, subject to the common shares of the Company being listed on an appointed stock exchange, to issue, grant, create, sell and transfer any of the Company’s shares, stock, bonds, notes (other than promissory notes), debentures, debenture stock, units under a unit trust scheme, shares in an oil royalty, options, warrants, coupons, rights and depository receipts, or collectively, the Securities, to and among persons who are either resident or non-resident of Bermuda for exchange control purposes, whether or not the Securities are listed on an appointed stock exchange. The BMA and the Registrar of Companies accept no responsibility for the financial soundness of any proposal or for the correctness of any of the statements made or opinions expressed in this prospectus.
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This section summarizes some of the information that is contained later in this prospectus or in other documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. As an investor or prospective investor, you should review carefully the risk factors and the more detailed information that appears later in this prospectus or is contained in the documents that we incorporate by reference into this prospectus.
Unless we otherwise specify, when used in this prospectus, the terms “Golar LNG Limited,” “Golar,” “Golar LNG,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Golar LNG Limited or any one or more of its consolidated subsidiaries, or to all such entities.
Our Company
Our operations have evolved from liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) shipping, floating regasification and combined cycle gas fired power plants to our current focus on floating liquefaction operations. We design, own and operate marine infrastructure for the liquefaction of natural gas and the regasification, storage and offloading of LNG. We believe that natural gas has a critical role to play in providing cleaner energy for many years to come. Our pioneering infrastructure assets provide safe, competitive and sustainable ways of liquefying, transporting and turning gas into energy across the world. Our mission is to be recognized as an organization with an outstanding reputation for safe, reliable and cost-effective operations; to employ and develop talented people who can see the impact of what they do; to develop a pipeline of new floating liquefaction natural gas vessel (“FLNG”) infrastructure opportunities and convert the best opportunities into world class projects; and to be a great business partner, where combining skills and resources make a big difference. We have delivered on our objective to simplify and focus our business, crystallize underlying values and de-lever our balance sheet during 2021 and 2022 by divesting our investments in Golar Partners and Hygo Energy Transition Ltd. (“Hygo”) and our legacy LNG carrier and floating storage and regasification units (“FSRU”) asset portfolio. The proceeds received from these divestments allow for significant balance sheet flexibility with focus on maximizing shareholder returns through development of new attractive FLNG growth opportunities.
We are incorporated under the name Golar LNG Limited as an exempted company under the Bermuda Companies Act of 1981 in the Islands of Bermuda on May 10, 2001 and maintain our principal executive headquarters at 2nd Floor, S.E. Pearman Building, 9 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda. Our telephone number at that address is +1 (441) 295-4705. Our principal administrative office is located 6th Floor, at The Zig Zag, 70 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6SQ, United Kingdom and our telephone number at that address is +44 207 063 7900.
The Securities We or any Selling Securityholder May Offer
We or any selling securityholder may use this prospectus to offer our:
| • | common shares, |
| • | preferred shares, |
| • | debt securities, which may be guaranteed by one or more of our subsidiaries, |
| • | warrants, |
| • | purchase contracts, |
| • | rights, or |
| • | units. |
We or any selling securityholder may also offer securities of the types listed above that are convertible or exchangeable into one or more of the securities listed above.
Our debt securities may be guaranteed by one or more of our subsidiaries.
A prospectus supplement will describe the specific types, amounts, prices, and detailed terms of any of these offered securities and may describe certain risks in addition to those set forth below associated with an investment in the securities. Terms used in the prospectus supplement will have the meanings described in this prospectus, unless otherwise specified.
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Matters discussed in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any documents incorporated herein or therein by reference may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts.
We desire to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. This prospectus, any prospectus supplement, any documents incorporated herein or therein and any other written or oral statements made by us or on our behalf may include forward-looking statements, which reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. The words “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “plan,” “potential,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any documents incorporated herein or therein are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, management’s examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. As a result, you are cautioned not to rely on any forward-looking statements.
In addition to these important factors and matters discussed elsewhere herein and in the documents incorporated by reference herein, important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include among other things:
| • | our ability and that of our counterparty to meet our respective obligations under the 20-year lease and operate agreement (the “LOA”) entered into in connection with the Greater Tortue/Ahmeyim Project (the “GTA Project”), including the timing of various project infrastructure deliveries to sites such as the floating production, storage and offloading unit and FLNG Gimi. Delays of contracted deliveries to sites could result in incremental costs to both parties to the LOA, delay commissioning works and the unlocking of FLNG Gimi adjusted EBITDA backlog; |
| • | that an attractive deployment opportunity, or any of the opportunities under discussion for the Mark II FLNG, one of our FLNG designs, will be converted into a suitable contract. Failure to do this in a timely manner or at all could expose us to losses on our investments in long-lead items and engineering services to date. Assuming a satisfactory contract is secured, changes in project capital expenditures, foreign exchange and commodity price volatility could have a material impact on estimated timing of our return on investment; |
| • | our expectation that documentation and execution of an amendment to the liquefaction tolling agreement with the Hilli Episeyo (“FLNG Hilli”) customer to make up the 2022 production shortfall in 2023 will be completed. Failure to achieve this will require cash settlement of the 2022 production shortfall liability as a reduction to our final billing in 2026; |
| • | failure to realize the anticipated benefits of our acquisition of New Fortress Energy Inc.'s (“NFE”) equity interest in the common units of Golar Hilli LLC due to the volatility of commodity prices, our ability to recontract the FLNG Hilli once her current contract ends and other competitive factors in the FLNG industry; |
| • | continuing uncertainty resulting from potential future claims from our counterparties of purported force majeure under contractual arrangements, including but not limited to our construction projects (including the GTA Project) and other contracts to which we are a party; |
| • | failure of shipyards to comply with delivery schedules or performance specifications on a timely basis or at all; |
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| • | failure of our contract counterparties to comply with their agreements with us or other key project stakeholders; |
| • | our ability to meet our obligations under the liquefaction tolling agreement entered into in connection with the FLNG Hilli; |
| • | our inability to expand our FLNG portfolio through our innovative FLNG growth strategy; |
| • | our ability to close potential future transactions in relation to equity interests in our vessels, including the Golar Arctic, FLNG Hilli and Gimi or to monetize our remaining equity holdings in Avenir LNG Limited on a timely basis or at all; |
| • | increases in costs as a result of recent inflation, including but not limited to salaries and wages, insurance, crew provisions, repairs and maintenance; |
| • | continuing volatility in the global financial markets, including but not limited to commodity prices and interest rates; |
| • | changes in our relationship with our equity method investments and the sustainability of any distributions they pay us; |
| • | claims made or losses incurred in connection with our continuing obligations with regard to Hygo, Golar LNG Partners LP (“Golar Partners”), Floating Infrastructure Holdings Finance LLC (“Energos”), Cool Company Ltd (“CoolCo”) and Italy’s SNAM Group (“Snam”); |
| • | the ability of Golar Partners, NFE, Energos, CoolCo and Snam to meet their respective obligations to us, including indemnification obligations; |
| • | changes in our ability to retrofit vessels as FLNGs or FSRUs and our ability to secure financing for such conversions on acceptable terms or at all; |
| • | changes to rules and regulations applicable to LNG carriers, FLNGs or other parts of the LNG supply chain; |
| • | changes in the supply of or demand for LNG or LNG carried by sea and for LNG carriers or FLNGs; |
| • | a material decline or prolonged weakness in charter rates for LNG carriers or tolling rates for FLNGs; |
| • | global economic trends, competition and geopolitical risks, including impacts from rising inflation and the ongoing Ukraine and Russia conflict and the related sanctions and other measures, including the related impacts on the supply chain for our conversions or commissioning works; |
| • | changes in general domestic and international political conditions, particularly where we operate, or where we seek to operate; |
| • | changes in the availability of vessels to purchase and in the time it takes to build new vessels and our ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms or at all; |
| • | actions taken by regulatory authorities that may prohibit the access of LNG carriers and FLNGs to various ports; |
| • | the length and severity of outbreaks of pandemics, including the worldwide outbreak of the coronavirus and its impact on demand for LNG and natural gas, the timing of completion of our conversion projects or commissioning works, the operations of our charterers and customers, our global operations and our business in general; and |
| • | other factors listed from time to time in registration statements, reports or other materials that we have filed with or furnished to the Commission, including our most recent annual report on Form 20-F. |
This prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any documents incorporated herein or therein contain assumptions, expectations, projections, intentions and beliefs about future events. These statements are intended as forward-looking statements. We caution that assumptions, expectations, projections, intentions and beliefs about future events may and often do vary from actual results and the differences can be material.
We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events might not occur, and our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements.
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An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment in our securities, you should carefully consider the risks and the discussion of risks under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022, any applicable prospectus supplement and the documents we have incorporated by reference herein and therein. The occurrence of one or more of those risks could adversely impact our business, results of operations or financial condition.
Prospective U.S. Holders (as defined in the section entitled “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022) of our common shares should consider the material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the ownership of our common shares as discussed in such section. Additionally, each prospective investor in our securities should consider the discussion of any tax considerations included in any applicable prospectus supplement.
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Substantially all of our assets are located outside the United States. In addition, most of our directors and officers are residents of jurisdictions other than the United States and all or a substantial portion of their assets are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon us or our directors and officers. Furthermore, there is substantial doubt that courts in jurisdictions outside the United States (i) would enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained in actions against us or our directors or officers based upon the civil liability provisions of applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws or (ii) would enforce, in original actions, liabilities against us or our directors or officers based on those laws.
In particular, with respect to Bermuda where we are incorporated as an exempted company, there is no treaty in force between the United States and Bermuda providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters. As a result, whether a United States judgment would be enforceable in Bermuda against us or our directors and officers depends on whether the U.S. court that entered the judgment is recognized by the Bermuda court as having jurisdiction over us or our directors and officers, as determined by reference to Bermuda conflict of law rules. A judgment debt from a U.S. court that is final and for a sum certain based on U.S. federal securities laws will not be enforceable in Bermuda unless the judgment debtor had submitted to the jurisdiction of the U.S. court, and the issue of submission and jurisdiction is a matter of Bermuda (not U.S.) law.
In addition, and irrespective of jurisdictional issues, the Bermuda courts will not enforce a U.S. federal securities law that is either penal or contrary to the public policy of Bermuda. An action brought pursuant to a public or penal law, the purpose of which is the enforcement of a sanction, power or right at the instance of the state in its sovereign capacity, may not be entertained by a Bermuda court to the extent it is contrary to Bermuda public policy. Certain remedies available under the laws of U.S. jurisdictions, including certain remedies under U.S. federal securities laws, may not be available under Bermuda law or enforceable in a Bermuda court, to the extent they are contrary to Bermuda public policy. Further, no claim may be brought in Bermuda against us or our directors and officers in the first instance for violations of U.S. federal securities laws because these laws have no extraterritorial jurisdiction under Bermuda law and do not have force of law in Bermuda. A Bermuda court may, however, impose civil liability on us or our directors and officers if the facts alleged in a complaint constitute or give rise to a cause of action under Bermuda law.
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We or any selling securityholder may sell or distribute the securities included in this prospectus through underwriters, through agents, to dealers, in private transactions, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices.
In addition, we or any selling securityholder may sell some or all of our securities included in this prospectus through:
| • | a block trade in which a broker-dealer may resell a portion of the block, as principal, in order to facilitate the transaction; |
| • | purchases by a broker-dealer, as principal, and resale by the broker-dealer for its account; |
| • | ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which a broker solicits purchasers; or |
| • | trading plans entered into by the selling securityholder pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, that are in place at the time of an offering pursuant to this prospectus and any prospectus supplement hereto that provide for periodic sales of their securities on the basis of parameters described in such trading plans. |
In addition, we or the selling securityholders may enter into options or other types of transactions that require us or them to deliver securities to a broker-dealer, who will then resell or transfer the securities under this prospectus. We or the selling securityholders may enter into hedging transactions with respect to our securities. For example, we may:
| • | enter into transactions involving short sales of the common shares by broker-dealers; |
| • | sell common shares short ourselves and deliver the shares to close out short positions; |
| • | enter into option or other types of transactions that require us or any selling shareholder to deliver common shares to a broker-dealer, who will then resell or transfer the common shares under this prospectus; |
| • | loan or pledge the common shares to a broker-dealer, who may sell the loaned shares or, in the event of default, sell the pledged shares; or |
| • | a combination of the foregoing. |
We or any selling securityholder may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or the selling securityholders or borrowed from us, any selling securityholder or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of securities, and may use securities received from us or the selling securityholders in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment). In addition, we or the selling securityholders may otherwise loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities short using this prospectus. Such financial institution or other third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities.
The selling securityholders and any broker-dealers or other persons acting on our behalf or on the behalf of the selling securityholders that participate with us or the selling securityholders in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters and any commissions received or profit realized by them on the resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. As a result, Regulation M, promulgated under the Exchange Act, may apply to sales by the selling securityholders in the market. We or any selling securityholder may agree to indemnify any broker, dealer or agent that participates in transactions involving the sale of our common shares against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
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At the time that any particular offering of securities is made, to the extent required by the Securities Act, a prospectus supplement will be distributed, setting forth the terms of the offering, including the aggregate number of securities being offered, the purchase price of the securities, the initial offering price of the securities, the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, any discounts, commissions and other items constituting compensation from us and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers. Furthermore, we, our executive officers, our directors and any selling securityholder may agree, subject to certain exemptions, that for a certain period from the date of the prospectus supplement under which the securities are offered, we and they will not, without the prior written consent of an underwriter, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of any of certain of our securities or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for certain of our securities. However, an underwriter, in its sole discretion, may release any of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements at any time without notice. We expect an underwriter to exclude from these lock-up agreements, securities exercised and/or sold pursuant to trading plans entered into by the selling securityholders pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act, that are in place at the time of an offering pursuant to this prospectus and any prospectus supplement hereto that provide for periodic sales of their securities on the basis of parameters described in such trading plans.
Underwriters or agents could make sales in privately negotiated transactions and/or any other method permitted by law, including sales deemed to be at-the-market offerings as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, which includes sales made directly on or through the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the existing trading market for our common shares, or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange. At-the-market offerings, if any, may be conducted by underwriters acting as principal or our agent, who may also be third party sellers of our securities as discussed above.
We will bear costs relating to all of the securities being registered under this registration statement.
As a result of requirements of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, the maximum commission or discount to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker/dealer may not be greater than 8% of the gross proceeds received by us or any selling securityholder for the sale of any securities being registered pursuant to Rule 415.
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The following is a description of the material terms of our Memorandum of Association and amended Bye-laws.
Purpose
The Memorandum of Association of the Company was previously filed on November 27, 2002 as Exhibit 1.1 to our registration statement on Form 20-F (File No. 000-50113), as amended by the Certificate of Deposit of Memorandum of Increase of Share Capital previously filed on April 30, 2015 as Exhibit 1.6 to our Annual Report on Form 20-F (File No. 000-50113) (the “Memorandum of Association”) and is incorporated by reference herein.
The purposes and powers of the Company are set forth in our Memorandum of Association and in the First Schedule and Second Schedule of the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda, as amended, or the Companies Act. These purposes include, among other things, exploring, drilling, moving, transporting and refining petroleum and hydro-carbon products, including oil and oil products; acquiring, owning, chartering, selling, managing and operating ships and aircraft; the entering into of any guarantee, contract of indemnity or suretyship and to assure, support, secure, with or without the consideration or benefit, the performance of any obligations of any person or persons; and the borrowing and raising of money in any currency or currencies to secure or discharge any debt or obligation in any manner.
Our Bye-Laws
The amended Bye-laws of the Company, as adopted on September 24, 2020, were filed with the Commission on November 30, 2020 as Exhibit 4.1 to our report on Form 6-K, and are hereby incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
Our shareholders have no pre-emptive, subscription, redemption, conversion or sinking fund rights. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of our shareholders. Shareholders have no cumulative voting rights. Shareholders are entitled to dividends if and when they are declared by our Board of Directors, subject to compliance with the provisions of the Companies Act and any preferred dividend right of holders of any preferred shares. The election of directors by shareholders requires a simple majority of votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present, as do all other matters requiring shareholder approval, unless a different majority is required by law or our Bye-laws. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, shareholders will be entitled under Bermuda law to receive, ratably, our net assets available after the payment of all our debts and liabilities and any preference amount owed to any preference shareholders. The rights of shareholders, including the right to elect directors, are subject to the rights of any series of preferred shares we may issue in the future. Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraph, the material terms of any series of preferred shares that we may offer through a prospectus supplement will be described in that prospectus supplement. See “Preferred Shares.”
Under our Bye-laws, annual meetings of shareholders will be held at a time and place selected by our Board of Directors each calendar year. Special meetings of shareholders may be called by our Board of Directors at any time and, pursuant to Bermuda law, special meetings must be called at the request of shareholders holding at least 10% of our paid-up share capital carrying the right to vote at general meetings. Under our Bye-laws, seven days notice of an annual meeting or any special meeting must be given to each shareholder entitled to vote at that meeting. Under Bermuda law, accidental failure to give notice will not invalidate proceedings at a meeting. Our Board of Directors may set a record date at any time before or after any date on which such notice is dispatched.
Special rights attaching to any class of our shares may be altered or abrogated with the consent in writing of not less than 75% of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the holders of such shares voting in person or by proxy.
Our Bye-laws do not prohibit a director from being a party to, or otherwise having an interest in, any transaction or arrangement with the Company or in which the Company is otherwise interested provided that such a director discloses, at the first opportunity at a meeting of directors or by writing to the directors, the existence and nature of such interest. Such director can thereafter count in the quorum and vote in respect of such matters in their consideration by the Board of Directors. Our Bye-laws provide our Board of Directors with
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the authority to exercise all of the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge all or any part of our property and assets as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation. Our directors are not required to retire because of their age, and our directors are not required to be holders of our common shares. Directors serve for one-year terms, and shall serve until re-elected or until their successors are appointed at the next annual general meeting.
Bermuda law permits the Bye-laws of a Bermuda company to contain provisions exempting (except in relation to an allegation of fraud or dishonesty proved against them) from personal liability a director, alternate director, officer, member of a committee authorized under its Bye-laws, resident representative or their respective heirs, executors or administrators to the company from any loss arising or liability attaching to him by virtue of any rule of law in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which the officer or person may be guilty in relation to the Company or any subsidiary thereof. Bermuda law also grants companies the power generally to indemnify directors, alternate directors and officers of the Company and any members authorized under its Bye-laws, resident representatives or their respective heirs, executors or administrators if any such person was or is a party or threatened to be made a party to a threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, alternate director or officer of the Company or member of a committee authorized under its Bye-laws, resident representative or their respective heirs, executors or administrators or was serving in a similar capacity for another entity at the company’s request.
Our Bye-laws provide that no director, alternate director, officer, person or member of a committee authorized under our Bye-law 100, if any, resident representative, or his heirs, executors or administrators, which we refer to collectively as an indemnitee, is liable for the acts, receipts, neglects or defaults of any other such person or any person involved in our formation, or for any loss or expense incurred by us through the insufficiency or deficiency of title to any property acquired by us, or for the insufficiency or deficiency of any security in or upon which any of our monies shall be invested, or for any loss or damage arising from the bankruptcy, insolvency or tortuous act of any person with whom any monies, securities or effects shall be deposited, or for any loss occasioned by any error of judgment, omission, default or oversight on his part, or for any other loss, damage or misfortune whatever which shall happen in relation to the execution of his duties, or supposed duties, to us or otherwise in relation thereto. Each indemnitee will be indemnified and held harmless out of our funds to the fullest extent permitted by Bermuda law against all liabilities, loss, damage or expense (including but not limited to liabilities under contract, tort and statute or any applicable foreign law or regulation and all reasonable legal and other costs and expenses properly payable) incurred or suffered by him as such director, alternate director, officer, committee member or resident representative in his reasonable belief that he has been so appointed or elected notwithstanding any defect in such appointment or election. In addition, each indemnitee shall be indemnified against all liabilities incurred in defending any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, in which judgment is given in such indemnitee’s favor, or in which he is acquitted. We are authorized to purchase insurance to cover any liability an indemnitee may incur under the indemnification provisions of our Bye-laws.
Authorized Capitalization
Under our Memorandum of Association, our authorized capital consists of $150,000,000, comprising 150,000,000 common shares having a par value of $1.00 each, of which 107,430,294 are issued and outstanding as of the date of this prospectus.
Common Shares
Each outstanding common share entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders. Holders of common shares are entitled to receive ratably all dividends, if any, declared by our Board of Directors out of funds legally available for dividends. Upon our dissolution or liquidation or the sale of all or substantially all of our assets, after payment in full of all amounts required to be paid to creditors having liquidation preferences, if any, the holders of our common shares will be entitled to receive pro rata our remaining assets available for distribution. Holders of common shares do not have conversion, redemption or preemptive rights to subscribe to any of our securities.
Preferred Shares
Bye-law 3 of our Bye-laws provides that any share in the Company may be issued with or have attached thereto such preferred, deferred, qualified or other special rights or such restrictions, whether in regard to dividend, voting, return of capital or otherwise, as the Company may by Ordinary Resolution determine. Bye-law
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49 (b) of our Bye-laws provides that the Company may from time to time by Ordinary Resolution divide its shares into several classes and attach thereto respectively any preferential, deferred, qualified or special rights, privileges or conditions. An Ordinary Resolution is defined in Bye-law 1 of our Bye-laws as a resolution passed by a simple majority of votes cast at a general meeting of the Company. On the approval by our shareholders of an Ordinary Resolution to divide our shares to create a class of preferred shares, our Board of Directors may be authorized to provide for the issuance of preferred shares in one or more series with designations as may be stated in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such preferred shares. Our Board of Directors will authorize the issuance of preferred shares only for a proper purpose and in our best interests. At the time that any series of our preferred shares is authorized, our Board of Directors will fix the dividend rights, any conversion rights, any voting rights, redemption provisions, liquidation preferences and any other rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of that series, as well as the number of shares constituting that series and their designation. Our Board of Directors could, with the sanction of an Ordinary Resolution of our shareholders, cause us to issue preferred shares, which have voting, conversion and other rights that could adversely affect the holders of our common shares or make it more difficult to effect a change in control. Our preferred shares, depending on the specific terms pursuant to which they are issued, could have the effect of diluting the share ownership of shareholders, including persons seeking to obtain control of us, thereby hindering a possible takeover attempt. In addition, our preferred shares could be issued with voting, conversion and other rights and preferences, which would adversely affect the voting power and other rights of holders of our common shares.
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Debt Securities
We may offer and issue debt securities from time to time in one or more series, under one or more indentures, each dated as of a date on or prior to the issuance of the debt securities to which it relates, and pursuant to an applicable prospectus supplement. We may issue senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities pursuant to separate indentures, a senior indenture and a subordinated indenture, respectively, in each case between us and the trustee named in the indenture. These indentures will be filed either as exhibits to an amendment to this registration statement or as an exhibit to a report under the Exchange Act that will be incorporated by reference into this registration statement or a prospectus supplement. We refer to any applicable prospectus supplement, amendment to this registration and Exchange Act reports as “subsequent filings.” The senior indenture and the subordinated indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time, are each referred to individually as an “indenture” and collectively as the “indentures.” Each indenture will be subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. Each indenture will contain the specific terms of any series of debt securities or provide that those terms must be set forth in or determined pursuant to, an authorizing resolution, as defined in the applicable prospectus supplement or a supplemental indenture, if any, relating to such series.
Certain of our subsidiaries may guarantee the debt securities we offer. Those guarantees may or may not be secured by liens, mortgages, and security interests in the assets of those subsidiaries. The terms and conditions of any such subsidiary guarantees, and a description of any such liens, mortgages or security interests, will be set forth in the applicable subsequent filings.
The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities. The particular terms and provisions of the debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement, and the extent to which the general terms and provisions described below may apply to the offered debt securities, will be described in the applicable subsequent filings. The statements below are not complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the applicable indenture. The specific terms of any debt securities that we may offer, including any modifications of, or additions to, the general terms described below as well as any applicable material U.S. federal income tax considerations concerning the ownership of such debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement and indenture and, as applicable, supplemental indenture. Accordingly, for a complete description of the terms of a particular issue of debt securities, the general description of the debt securities set forth below should be read in conjunction with the applicable prospectus supplement and indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.
General
We expect that neither indenture will limit the amount of debt securities which may be issued and that each indenture will provide that debt securities may be issued in one or more series.
The subsequent filings related to a series of offered debt securities will describe the following terms of the series:
| • | the designation, aggregate principal amount and authorized denominations; |
| • | the issue price, expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount; |
| • | the maturity date; |
| • | the interest rate per annum, if any; |
| • | if the offered debt securities provide for interest payments, the date from which interest will accrue, the dates on which interest will be payable, the date on which payment of interest will commence and the regular record dates for interest payment dates; |
| • | whether the debt securities will be our senior or subordinated securities; |
| • | whether the debt securities will be our secured or unsecured obligations; |
| • | the applicability of and terms of any guarantees; |
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| • | any period or periods during which, and the price or prices at which, we will have the option to or be required to redeem or repurchase the debt securities of the series and the other material terms and provisions applicable to such redemption or repurchase; |
| • | any optional or mandatory sinking fund provisions; |
| • | any conversion or exchangeability provisions; |
| • | if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which debt securities of the series will be issuable; |
| • | if other than the full principal amount, the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities of the series which will be payable upon acceleration or provable in bankruptcy; |
| • | any events of default not set forth in this prospectus; |
| • | the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which principal, premium, if any, and interest will be payable, if other than the currency of the United States of America; |
| • | if principal, premium or interest is payable, at our election or at the election of any holder, in a currency other than that in which the debt securities of the series are stated to be payable, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, the election may be made; |
| • | whether interest will be payable in cash or additional securities at our or the holder’s option and the terms and conditions upon which the election may be made; |
| • | if denominated in a currency or currencies other than the currency of the United States of America, the equivalent price in the currency of the United States of America for purposes of determining the voting rights of holders of those debt securities under the applicable indenture; |
| • | if the amount of payments of principal, premium or interest may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method based on a coin or currency other than that in which the debt securities of the series are stated to be payable, the manner in which the amounts will be determined; |
| • | any covenants or other material terms relating to the debt securities, which may not be inconsistent with the applicable indenture; |
| • | whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of global securities or certificates in registered or bearer form; |
| • | any listing on any securities exchange or quotation system; |
| • | additional provisions, if any, related to defeasance and discharge of the debt securities; and |
| • | any other special features of the debt securities. |
Subsequent filings may include additional terms not listed above. Unless otherwise indicated in subsequent filings with the Commission relating to the indenture, principal, premium, if any, and interest will be payable and the debt securities will be transferable at the corporate trust office of the applicable trustee. Unless other arrangements are made or set forth in subsequent filings or a supplemental indenture, principal, premium, if any, and interest will be paid by checks mailed to the registered holders at their registered addresses.
Unless otherwise indicated in subsequent filings with the Commission, the debt securities will be issued only in fully registered form without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiple thereof. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of the debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with these debt securities.
Some or all of the debt securities may be issued as discounted debt securities, bearing no interest or interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is below market rates, to be sold at a substantial discount below the stated principal amount. The U.S. federal income tax considerations and other special considerations applicable to any discounted securities will be described in subsequent filings with the Commission relating to those securities.
We refer you to the applicable subsequent filings for the particular terms and provisions of the debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement.
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Senior Debt Securities
We may issue senior debt securities under a senior debt indenture. These senior debt securities would rank on an equal basis with all our other unsubordinated debt.
Subordinated Debt Securities
We may issue subordinated debt securities under a subordinated debt indenture. These subordinated debt securities would rank subordinate and junior in priority of payment to certain of our other indebtedness to the extent described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Covenants
Any series of offered debt securities may have covenants in addition to or differing from those included in the applicable indenture which will be described in subsequent filings prepared in connection with the offering of such securities, limiting or restricting, among other things:
| • | our ability to incur either secured or unsecured debt, or both; |
| • | our ability to make certain payments, dividends, redemptions or repurchases; |
| • | our ability to create dividend and other payment restrictions affecting our subsidiaries; |
| • | our ability to make investments; |
| • | mergers and consolidations by us; |
| • | sales of assets by us; |
| • | our ability to enter into transactions with affiliates; and |
| • | our ability to incur liens. |
Modification of the Indentures
We expect that each indenture and the rights of the respective holders generally may be modified by us only with the consent of holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series under the respective indenture affected by the modification, taken together as a class. But we expect that no modification that:
| (1) | changes the amount of securities whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver; |
| (2) | reduces the rate of or changes the interest payment time on any security or alters its redemption provisions (other than any alteration to any such section which would not materially adversely affect the legal rights of any holder under the indenture) or the price at which we are required to offer to purchase the securities; |
| (3) | reduces the principal or changes the maturity of any security or reduces the amount of, or postpones the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation; |
| (4) | waives a default or event of default in the payment of the principal of or interest, if any, on any security (except a rescission of acceleration of the securities of any series by the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding securities of that series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration); |
| (5) | makes the principal of or interest, if any, on any security payable in any currency other than that stated in the security; |
| (6) | makes any change with respect to holders’ rights to receive principal and interest, the terms pursuant to which defaults can be waived, certain modifications affecting shareholders or certain currency-related issues; or |
| (7) | waives a redemption payment with respect to any security or changes any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of any securities, |
will be effective against any holder without his consent.
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Additionally, certain changes under each indenture will not require the consent of any holders. These types of changes are generally limited to clarifications of ambiguities, omissions, defects and inconsistencies in each indenture and amendments, supplements and other changes that would not adversely affect the holders of outstanding debt securities under each indenture, such as adding security, covenants, additional events of default or successor trustees.
Events of Default
We expect that each indenture will define an event of default for the debt securities of any series as being any one of the following events:
| • | default in any payment of interest when due which continues for 30 days; |
| • | default in any payment of principal or premium when due; |
| • | default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when due; |
| • | default in the performance of any covenant in the debt securities or the applicable indenture which continues for 60 days after we receive notice of the default; |
| • | default under a bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness for borrowed money by us or our subsidiaries (to the extent we are directly responsible or liable therefor) having a principal amount in excess of a minimum amount set forth in the applicable subsequent filings, whether such indebtedness now exists or is hereafter created, which default shall have resulted in such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, without such acceleration having been rescinded or annulled or cured within 30 days after we receive notice of the default; and |
| • | events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization. |
An event of default of one series of debt securities will not necessarily constitute an event of default with respect to any other series of debt securities.
There may be such other or different events of default as described in an applicable subsequent filing with respect to any class or series of offered debt securities.
We expect that under each indenture, in case an event of default occurs and continues for the debt securities of any series, the applicable trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities then outstanding of that series may declare the principal and accrued but unpaid interest of the debt securities of that series to be due and payable. Further, any event of default for the debt securities of any series which has been cured is expected to be permitted to be waived by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series then outstanding.
We expect that each indenture will require us to file annually, after debt securities are issued under that indenture, with the applicable trustee a written statement signed by two of our officers as to the absence of material defaults under the terms of that indenture. We also expect that each indenture will provide that the applicable trustee may withhold notice to the holders of any default if it considers it in the interest of the holders to do so, except notice of a default in payment of principal, premium or interest.
Subject to the duties of the trustee in case an event of default occurs and continues, we expect that each indenture will provide that the trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under that indenture at the request, order or direction of holders unless the holders have offered to the trustee reasonable indemnity. Subject to these provisions for indemnification and the rights of the trustee, each indenture is expected to provide that the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of any series then outstanding have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee as long as the exercise of that right does not conflict with any law or the indenture.
Defeasance and Discharge
The terms of each indenture are expected to provide us with the option to be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the debt securities issued thereunder upon the deposit with the trustee, in trust, of money or U.S. government obligations, or both, which through the payment of interest and principal will provide money
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in an amount sufficient to pay any installment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on, and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of, the debt securities on the stated maturity of the payments in accordance with the terms of the debt securities and the indenture governing the debt securities.
We expect that this right may only be exercised if, among other things, we have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling to the effect that such a discharge will not cause the holders of such debt securities to recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes or there has been a change in law to that effect. This discharge would not apply to our obligations to register the transfer or exchange of debt securities, to replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities, to maintain paying agencies and hold moneys for payment in trust.
Defeasance of Certain Covenants
We expect that the terms of each indenture will provide us with the right to omit complying with specified covenants and specified events of default described in a subsequent filing upon the deposit with the trustee, in trust, of money or U.S. government obligations, or both, which through the payment of interest and principal will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay any installment of principal, premium and interest on, and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of, the debt securities on the stated maturity of the payments in accordance with the terms of the debt securities and the indenture governing the debt securities.
We expect that to exercise this right we will be required to deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the deposit and related covenant defeasance will not cause the holders of such debt securities to recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
A subsequent filing may further describe the provisions, if any, of any particular series of offered debt securities permitting a discharge defeasance.
Subsidiary Guarantees
Certain of our subsidiaries may guarantee the debt securities we offer. In that case, the terms and conditions of the subsidiary guarantees will be set forth in the applicable subsequent filings. Unless we indicate differently in the applicable subsequent filings, if any of our subsidiaries guarantee any of our debt securities that are subordinated to any of our senior indebtedness, then the subsidiary guarantees will be subordinated to the senior indebtedness of such subsidiary to the same extent as our debt securities are subordinated to our senior indebtedness.
Form of Debt Securities
Each debt security will be represented either by a certificate issued in definitive form to a particular investor or by one or more global securities representing the entire issuance of securities. Both certificated securities in definitive form and global securities may be issued either in registered form, where our obligation runs to the holder of the security named on the face of the security, in bearer form, where our obligation runs to the bearer of the security.
Definitive securities name you or your nominee as the owner of the security, other than definitive bearer securities, which name the bearer as owner, and in order to transfer or exchange these securities or to receive payments other than interest or other interim payments, you or your nominee must physically deliver the securities to the trustee, registrar, paying agent or other agent, as applicable.
Global securities name a depositary or its nominee as the owner of the debt securities represented by these global securities, other than global bearer securities, which name the bearer as owner. The depositary maintains a computerized system that will reflect each investor’s beneficial ownership of the securities through an account maintained by the investor with its broker/dealer, bank, trust company or other representative, as we explain more fully below.
Global Securities
Registered Global Securities. We may issue the debt securities in the form of one or more fully registered global securities that will be deposited with a depositary or its nominee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of that depositary or nominee. In those cases, one or more registered
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global securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal or face amount of the securities to be represented by registered global securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole for securities in definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be transferred except as a whole by and among the depositary for the registered global security, the nominees of the depositary or any successors of the depositary or those nominees. If not described below, any specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any debt securities to be represented by a registered global security will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those debt securities. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements:
Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be limited to persons, called participants, that have accounts with the depositary or persons that may hold interests through participants. Upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants’ accounts with the respective principal or face amounts of the securities beneficially owned by the participants. Any dealers, underwriters or selling agents participating in the distribution of the securities will designate the accounts to be credited. Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary, with respect to interests of participants, and on the records of participants, with respect to interests of persons holding through participants. The laws of some jurisdictions may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of these securities in definitive form. These laws may impair your ability to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in registered global securities. So long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a registered global security, that depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the securities represented by the registered global security for all purposes under the indenture.
Except as described below, owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security will not be entitled to have the securities represented by the registered global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders of the securities under the indenture. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a registered global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for that registered global security and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which the person owns its interest in that registered global security, to exercise any rights of a holder under the indenture. We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders of a registered global security or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a registered global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under the indenture, the depositary for the registered global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take that action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through them to give or take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.
Principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on debt securities represented by a registered global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the registered global security. None of us, the trustee or any other agent of us or agent of the trustee will have any responsibility or liability to owners of beneficial interests for any aspect of the records relating to payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the registered global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial ownership interests. We expect that the depositary for any of the securities represented by a registered global security, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, interest or other distribution of underlying securities or other property to holders on that registered global security, will immediately credit participants’ accounts in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in that registered global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security held through participants will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name”, and will be the responsibility of those participants.
We expect that each of the indentures will provide that if the depositary for any of these securities represented by a registered global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and a successor depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will be required to issue securities in definitive form in exchange for the registered global security that had been held by the depositary. In addition,
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the indentures are expected to allow us to decide, at any time and in our sole discretion, that the global securities shall be exchangeable for certificated debt securities. Any securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a registered global security will be registered in the name or names that the depositary gives to the relevant trustee or other relevant agent of ours or theirs. It is expected that the depositary’s instructions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the registered global security that had been held by the depositary.
If we issue registered global securities, we expect that the Depository Trust Company, or DTC, will act as depository and the securities will be registered in the name of Cede & Co., as DTC’s nominee.
Bearer Global Securities. Debt securities may also be issued in the form of one or more bearer global securities that will be deposited with a common depositary for the Euroclear System and Clearstream Banking, société anonyme or with a nominee for the depositary identified in the prospectus supplement relating to those securities. The specific terms and procedures, including the specific terms of the depositary arrangement, with respect to any securities to be represented by a bearer global security will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those securities.
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities are expected to be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
Warrants
We may issue warrants to purchase our debt or equity securities or securities of third parties or other rights, including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies, securities or indices, or any combination of the foregoing. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any other securities and may be attached to, or separate from, such securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. The terms of any warrants to be issued and a description of the material provisions of the applicable warrant agreement will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms of any warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered:
| • | the title of such warrants; |
| • | the aggregate number of such warrants; |
| • | the price or prices at which such warrants will be issued; |
| • | the currency or currencies, in which the price of such warrants will be payable; |
| • | the securities or other rights, including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies, securities or indices, or any combination of the foregoing, purchasable upon exercise of such warrants; |
| • | the price at which and the currency or currencies, in which the securities or other rights purchasable upon exercise of such warrants may be purchased; |
| • | the date on which the right to exercise such warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire; |
| • | if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants which may be exercised at any one time; |
| • | if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which such warrants are issued and the number of such warrants issued with each such security; |
| • | if applicable, the date on and after which such warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable; |
| • | information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; |
| • | if applicable, a discussion of any material U.S. federal income tax considerations; and |
| • | any other terms of such warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such warrants. |
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Purchase Contracts
We may issue purchase contracts for the purchase or sale of:
| • | debt or equity securities issued by us or securities of third parties, a basket of such securities, an index or indices of such securities or any combination of the above as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement; |
| • | currencies; or |
| • | commodities. |
Each purchase contract will entitle the holder thereof to purchase or sell, and obligate us to sell or purchase, on specified dates, such securities, currencies or commodities at a specified purchase price, which may be based on a formula, all as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may, however, satisfy our obligations, if any, with respect to any purchase contract by delivering the cash value of such purchase contract or the cash value of the property otherwise deliverable or, in the case of purchase contracts on underlying currencies, by delivering the underlying currencies, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will also specify the methods by which the holders may purchase or sell such securities, currencies or commodities and any acceleration, cancellation or termination provisions or other provisions relating to the settlement of a purchase contract.
The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders thereof or vice versa, which payments may be deferred to the extent set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, and those payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The purchase contracts may require the holders thereof to secure their obligations in a specified manner to be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Alternatively, purchase contracts may require holders to satisfy their obligations thereunder when the purchase contracts are issued. Our obligation to settle such pre-paid purchase contracts on the relevant settlement date may constitute indebtedness. Accordingly, pre-paid purchase contracts will be issued under either the senior indenture or the subordinated indenture.
Rights
We may issue rights to purchase our equity securities. These rights may be issued independently or together with any other security offered by this prospectus and may or may not be transferable by the shareholder receiving the rights in the rights offering. In connection with any rights offering, we may enter into a standby underwriting agreement with one or more underwriters pursuant to which the underwriter will purchase any securities that remain unsubscribed for upon completion of the rights offering.
The applicable prospectus supplement relating to any rights will describe the terms of the offered rights, including, where applicable, the following:
| • | the exercise price for the rights; |
| • | the number of rights issued to each shareholder; |
| • | the extent to which the rights are transferable; |
| • | any other terms of the rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the rights; |
| • | the date on which the right to exercise the rights will commence and the date on which the rights will expire; |
| • | the amount of rights outstanding; |
| • | the extent to which the rights include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities; and |
| • | the material terms of any standby underwriting arrangement entered into by us in connection with the rights offering. |
The description in the applicable prospectus supplement of any rights we offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable rights certificate or rights agreement, which will be filed with the Commission if we offer rights. For more information on how you can obtain copies
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of any rights certificate or rights agreement if we offer rights, see “Where You Can Find Additional Information” of this prospectus. We urge you to read the applicable rights certificate, the applicable rights agreement and any applicable prospectus supplement in their entirety.
Units
As specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may issue units consisting of one or more rights, purchase contracts, warrants, debt securities, preferred shares, common shares or any combination of such securities. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe:
| • | the terms of the units and of the rights, purchase contracts, warrants, debt securities, preferred shares and common shares comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances the securities comprising the units may be traded separately; |
| • | a description of the terms of any unit agreement governing the units; and |
| • | a description of the provisions for the payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units. |
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The following are the estimated expenses of the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered under the Registration Statement of which this prospectus forms a part, all of which will be paid by us.
SEC registration fee | | | $ * |
FINRA filing fees | | | $ ** |
Blue sky fees and expenses | | | $ ** |
Printing and engraving expenses | | | $ ** |
Legal fees and expenses | | | $ ** |
Rating agency fees | | | $ ** |
Accounting fees and expenses | | | $ ** |
Indenture trustee fees and expenses | | | $ ** |
Miscellaneous | | | $ ** |
Total | | | $ ** |
| * | The Registrant is registering an indeterminate amount of securities under the registration statement and in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the registrant is deferring payment of any registration fee until the time the securities are sold under the registration statement pursuant to a prospectus supplement. |
| ** | To be provided by a prospectus supplement or as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. |
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The material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the ownership of our common shares are set forth in “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation” in our 2022 Annual Report, which is incorporated herein by reference, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act and, if applicable, in any accompanying prospectus supplement or relevant free writing prospectus.
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The validity of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by MJM Limited, Hamilton, Bermuda, as to matters of Bermuda law and by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., Houston, Texas with respect to matters of United States and New York law.
The consolidated financial statements of Golar LNG Limited appearing in Golar LNG Limited’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022, and the effectiveness of Golar LNG Limited’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are, and audited consolidated financial statements to be included in subsequently filed documents will be, incorporated herein in reliance upon the reports of Ernst & Young LLP pertaining to such consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of the respective dates (to the extent covered by consents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission), given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
Ernst & Young LLP is located at 1 More London Place, London SE1 2AF, United Kingdom.
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As required by the Securities Act, we filed a registration statement relating to the securities offered by this prospectus with the Commission. This prospectus is a part of that registration statement, which includes additional information.
Government Filings
We file annual and special reports with the Commission. The Commission maintains a website at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the Commission. Further information about our company is available on our website at http://www.golarlng.com. The information on our website does not constitute a part of this prospectus.
Information Incorporated by Reference
The Commission allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with it. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those filed documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the Commission 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 the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the Commission under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act:
| • | Annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the Commission on March 31, 2023, which contains audited consolidated financial statements for the most recent fiscal year for which those statements have been filed. |
We are also incorporating by reference all subsequent annual reports on Form 20-F that we file with the Commission and certain current reports on Form 6-K that we furnish to the Commission 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 any prospectus supplement.
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. We have not, and any underwriters have not, authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement as well as the information we previously filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference, is accurate as of the dates on the front cover of those documents only. Our business, financial condition and results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
Copies of all documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, other than exhibits to those documents unless such exhibits are specially incorporated by reference in this prospectus, will be provided at no cost to each person, including any beneficial owner, who receives a copy of this prospectus on the written or oral request of that person made to:
Golar LNG Limited
S.E. Pearman Building, 2nd Floor
9 Par la Ville Road
Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda
Tel: 1 (441) 295-4705
Email: golarlng@golar.com
Attn: Investor Relations
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Information Provided by the Company
We will furnish holders of our common shares with annual reports containing audited financial statements and a report by our independent registered public accounting firm. The audited financial statements will be prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. As a “foreign private issuer,” we are exempt from the rules under the Securities Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements to shareholders. While we intend to furnish proxy statements to shareholders in accordance with the rules of the Nasdaq Global Select Market, those proxy statements are not expected to conform to Schedule 14A of the proxy rules promulgated under the Exchange Act. In addition, as a “foreign private issuer,” we are exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act relating to short swing profit reporting and liability.
Commission Position on Indemnification for Securities Act Liabilities
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been informed that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
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Part II
Information Not Required in the Prospectus
| Item 8. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers. |
Section 98 of the Companies Act 1981 of Bermuda, as amended, or the Companies Act, permits the Bye-Laws of a Bermuda company to contain a provision exempting from personal liability of a director or officer to the company for any loss arising or liability attaching to him by virtue of any rule of law in respect of any negligence default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which the officer or person may be guilty.
Section 98 of the Companies Act grants companies the power (except in relation to an allegation of fraud or dishonesty proved against them) to indemnify directors and officers of the company if any such person was or is a party or threatened to be made a party to a threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director and officer of the company or was serving in a similar capacity for another entity at the company’s request.
Section 98A of the Companies Act permits a company to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any officer for any liability asserted against him or her and liability and expenses incurred in his or her capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent arising out of his or her status as such in respect of any loss arising or liability attaching to him or her by virtue of any rule of law in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which the officer may be guilty in relation to the company or any subsidiary thereof. We currently maintain directors’ and officers’ insurance for our directors and officers.
Bye-laws number 138 through 146 of Golar LNG Limited, or the Company, provide as follows:
| 138. | No Director, Alternate Director, Officer, member of a committee authorised under Bye-law 109, Resident Representative of the Company or their respective heirs, executors or administrators shall be liable for the acts, receipts, neglects, or defaults of any other such person or any person involved in the formation of the Company, or for any loss or expense incurred by the Company through the insufficiency or deficiency of title to any property acquired by the Company, or for the insufficiency of deficiency of any security in or upon which any of the monies of the Company shall be invested, or for any loss or damage arising from the bankruptcy, insolvency, or tortious act of any person with whom any monies, securities, or effects shall be deposited, or for any loss occasioned by any error of judgment, omission, default, or oversight on his part, or for any other loss, damage or misfortune whatever which shall happen in relation to the execution of his duties, or supposed duties, to the Company or otherwise in relation thereto. |
| 139. | Every Director, Alternate Director, Officer, member of a committee constituted under Bye-Law 109, Resident Representative of the Company or their respective heirs, executors or administrators shall be indemnified and held harmless out of the funds of the Company to the fullest extent permitted by Bermuda law against all liabilities loss damage or expense (including but not limited to liabilities under contract, tort and statute or any applicable foreign law or regulation and all reasonable legal and other costs and expenses properly payable) incurred or suffered by him as such Director, Alternate Director, Officer, committee member or Resident Representative and the indemnity contained in this Bye-Law shall extend to any person acting as such Director, Alternate Director, Officer, committee member or Resident Representative in the reasonable belief that he has been so appointed or elected notwithstanding any defect in such appointment or election. |
| 140. | Every Director, Alternate Director, Officer, member of a committee constituted under Bye-Law 109, Resident Representative of the Company and their respective heirs, executors or administrators shall be indemnified out of the funds of the Company against all liabilities incurred by him as such Director, Alternate Director, Officer, member of a committee constituted under Bye-Law 109, Resident Representative in defending any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, in which judgment is given in his favour, or in which he is acquitted, or in connection with any application under the Companies Acts in which relief from liability is granted to him by the court. |
| 141. | To the extent that any Director, Alternate Director, Officer, member of a committee constituted under Bye-Law 109, Resident Representative of the Company or any of their respective heirs, executors or administrators is entitled to claim an indemnity pursuant to these Bye-Laws in respect of amounts |
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paid or discharged by him, the relative indemnity shall take effect as an obligation of the Company to reimburse the person making such payment or effecting such discharge.
| 142. | The Board may arrange for the Company to be insured in respect of all or any part of its liability under the provision of these Bye-laws and may also purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any Directors, Alternate Directors, Officers, person or member of a committee authorised under Bye-law 109, employees or Resident Representatives of the Company in respect of any liability that may be incurred by them or any of them howsoever arising in connection with their respective duties or supposed duties to the Company. This Bye-law shall not be construed as limiting the powers of the Board to effect such other insurance on behalf of the Company as it may deem appropriate. |
| 143. | Notwithstanding anything contained in the Principal Act, the Company may advance moneys to an Officer or Director for the costs, charges and expenses incurred by the Officer or Director in defending any civil or criminal proceedings against them on the condition that the Director or Officer shall repay the advance if any allegation of fraud or dishonesty is proved against them. |
| 144. | Each Member agrees to waive any claim or right of action he might have, whether individually or by or in the right of the Company, against any Director, Alternate Director, Officer of the Company, person or member of a committee authorised under Bye-law 109, Resident Representative of the Company or any of their respective heirs, executors or administrators on account of any action taken by any such person, or the failure of any such person to take any action in the performance of his duties, or supposed duties, to the Company or otherwise in relation thereto. |
| 145. | The restrictions on liability, indemnities and waivers provided for in Bye-laws 138 to 144 inclusive shall not extend to any matter which would render the same void pursuant to the Companies Acts. |
| 146. | The restrictions on liability, indemnities and waivers contained in Bye-laws 138 to 144 inclusive shall be in addition to any rights which any person concerned may otherwise be entitled by contract or as a matter of applicable Bermuda law. |
| Item 9. | Exhibits |
A list of exhibits included as part of this registration statement is set forth in the Exhibit Index which immediately precedes such exhibits and is incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 10. | Undertakings. |
| (a) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes: |
| (1) | To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: |
| (i) | To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; |
| (ii) | To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and |
| (iii) | To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement. |
Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or
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Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
| (2) | That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
| (3) | To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. |
| (4) | To file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A. of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 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, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 or Item 8.A of Form 20-F 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 this registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in this 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. |
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| (6) | That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities: |
The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
| (i) | Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; |
| (ii) | Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant; |
| (iii) | The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and |
| (iv) | Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser. |
| (b) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 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)-(g) | Not applicable. |
| (h) | Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
| (i) | Not applicable. |
| (j) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act. |
| (k) | Not applicable. |
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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 Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of London, in the United Kingdom, on the 31st day of March, 2023.
| | | Golar LNG Limited (Registrant) | ||||
| | | | | |||
| | | By | | | /s/ Eduardo Maranhão | |
| | | | | Eduardo Maranhão Chief Financial Officer Golar Management Ltd. | ||
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Karl Staubo, Eduardo Maranhão and Dexter Chan his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on March 31, 2023 in the capacities indicated.
Signature | | | Title |
| | | ||
/s/ Karl Fredrik Staubo | | | Chief Executive Officer |
Karl Fredrik Staubo | | | Golar Management AS (Principal Executive Officer of Golar LNG Limited) |
| | | ||
/s/ Eduardo Maranhão | | | Chief Financial Officer |
Eduardo Maranhão | | | Golar Management Ltd. (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer of Golar LNG Limited) |
| | | ||
/s/ Niels Stolt-Nielsen | | | Director |
Niels Stolt-Nielsen | | | |
| | | ||
/s/ Lori Wheeler Naess | | | Director |
Lori Wheeler Naess | | | |
| | | ||
/s/ Tor Olav Trøim | | | Director |
Tor Olav Trøim | | | |
| | | ||
/s/ Daniel Rabun | | | Director |
Daniel Rabun | | |
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Signature | | | Title |
| | | ||
/s/ Thorleif Egeli | | | Director |
Thorleif Egeli | | | |
| | | ||
/s/ Carl Steen | | | Director |
Carl Steen | | | |
| | | ||
/s/ Georgina Sousa | | | Director |
Georgina Sousa | | |
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AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of the aforementioned Registrant, has signed this Registration Statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware, on March 31, 2023.
PUGLISI & ASSOCIATES | | |||||
| | | | | |||
By: | | | /s/ Donald J. Puglisi | | ||
Name: | | | Donald J. Puglisi, Managing Director | | | |
Title: | | | Authorized Representative in the United States | | | |
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Exhibit Number | | | Description |
1.1 | | | Underwriting Agreement (for equity securities)* |
1.2 | | | Underwriting Agreement (for debt securities)* |
| | | Memorandum of Association of the Company, dated May 9, 2001, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 20-F, File No. 000-50113, filed on November 27, 2002 | |
| | | Amended and Restated Bye-laws of the Company, dated September 24, 2020, incorporated by reference as Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s report on Form 6-K, filed on November 30, 2020 | |
| | | Certificate of Incorporation, dated May 10, 2001, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.3 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 20-F, File No. 000-50113, filed on November 27, 2002 | |
| | | Certificate of Deposit of Memorandum of Increase of Share Capital of the Company, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.4 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 20-F, File No. 000-50113, filed on November 27, 2002 | |
| | | Certificate of Deposit of Memorandum of Increase of Share Capital of the Company, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.6 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, filed on April 30, 2015 | |
| | | Form of Common Share Certificate of the Company, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F, File No. 000-50113, filed on April 28, 2011 | |
4.2 | | | Form of Preferred Share Certificate* |
| | | Form of Senior Debt Securities Indenture | |
| | | Form of Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture | |
4.5 | | | Form of Warrant Agreement* |
4.6 | | | Form of Purchase Contract* |
4.7 | | | Form of Rights Agreement* |
4.8 | | | Form of Unit Agreement* |
| | | Opinion of MJM Limited, Bermuda counsel to the Company as to the validity of the common shares, preferred shares, debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts and units | |
| | | Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., U.S. counsel to the Company | |
| | | Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., with respect to certain tax matters | |
| | | Consent of MJM Limited (included in Exhibit 5.1) | |
23.2 | | | Consent of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5.2 and Exhibit 8.1) |
| | | Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, with respect to Golar LNG Limited | |
| | | Power of Attorney (contained in signature page) | |
25.1 | | | T-1 Statement of Eligibility (Senior Debt Securities Indenture)** |
25.2 | | | T-1 Statement of Eligibility (Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture)** |
| | | Filing Fee Table |
| * | To be filed either as an amendment or as an exhibit to a report filed pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 of the Registrant and incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement |
| ** | To be filed in accordance with Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. |
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