As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 27 , 2009
Registration No. 333-160299
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Amendment No. 2 to
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
CHINA NORTH EAST PETROLEUM HOLDINGS LIMITED
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Nevada | 1311 | 87-0638750 | ||
| (State or other jurisdiction of | (Primary Standard Industrial | (I.R.S. Employer | ||
| incorporation or organization) | Classification Code Number) | Identification Number) |
445 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10022
(212) 307-3568
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Wang Hong Jun
445 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10022
(212) 307-3568
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Mark E. Crone, Esq.
The Crone Law Group
101 Montgomery Street, Suite 1950
San Francisco, CA 94104
Tel No.: (415) 955-8900
Fax No.: (415) 955-8910
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement as determined by the Registrant.
If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. o
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. x
If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and lit the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
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. o
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) 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. o
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, please check the following box. o
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer o | Accelerated filer o | Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company x |
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of each Class of Security being Registered | Amount being Registered | Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Security (1) | Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price (2) | Amount of Registration Fee |
| Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share(2) | (3)(4) | (3) | (3) | (3) |
| Common Stock Purchase Rights(2) | (3)(4) | (3) | (3) | (3) |
| Warrants (2) | (3)(4) | (3) | (3) | (3) |
| Debt Securities | (3)(4) | (3) | (3) | (3) |
| Units | (3)(4) | (3) | (3) | (3) |
| Total | $40,000,000 | 100% | $40,000,000 | $2,232(5) |
(1) This registration statement includes $40,000,000 of securities which may be issued by the registrant from time to time in indeterminate amounts and at indeterminate times. Securities registered hereunder may be sold separately, together or as units with other securities registered hereunder.
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
(3) Not required to be included in accordance with General Instruction II.D. of Form S-3 under the Securities Act.
(4) Subject to footnote (1), there is also being registered hereunder such indeterminate amount of securities (including shares or other classes of the registrant’s stock that may be issued upon reclassification of unissued, authorized stock of the registrant) as may be issued in exchange for or upon conversion of, as the case may be, the other securities registered hereunder. No separate consideration will be received for any securities registered hereunder that are issued in exchange for, or upon conversion of, as the case may be, such other securities.
(5) Previously paid.
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment that specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
| Prospectus | Subject to Completion, Dated August 27 , 2009 |
CHINA NORTH EAST PETROLEUM HOLDINGS LIMITED
$40,000,000
Common Stock
Common Stock Purchase Rights
Warrants
Debt Securities
Units
We may offer and sell, from time to time in one or more offerings, any combination of common stock, common stock purchase rights, warrants, debt securities, or units having an aggregate initial offering price not exceeding $40,000,000. When we decide to sell a particular class or series of securities, we will provide specific terms of the offered securities in a prospectus supplement.
We will provide specific terms of the offerings of our securities in supplements to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, as well as the documents incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus, carefully before you invest.
This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell our securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement relating to the offered securities.
Our common stock is traded on the NYSE AMEX LLC under the symbol “NEP.” Each prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to any listing on the NYSE AMEX LLC or any other securities exchange of the securities covered by the prospectus supplement.
These securities may be sold directly by us, through dealers or agents designated from time to time, to or through underwriters or through a combination of these methods. See “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus. We may also describe the plan of distribution for any particular offering of our securities in a prospectus supplement. If any agents, underwriters or dealers are involved in the sale of any securities in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, we will disclose their names and the nature of our arrangements with them in a prospectus supplement. The net proceeds we expect to receive from any such sale will also be included in a prospectus supplement.
Investing in our securities involves various risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 2 for more information on these risks. Additional risks will be described in the related prospectus supplement related to a potential offer under the heading “Risk Factors”. You should review that section of the related prospectus supplement for a discussion of matters that investors in such securities should consider.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities, or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this Prospectus is __________, 2009
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and the related prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to give you information different from that contained in this prospectus, the related prospectus supplement or such incorporated documents. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front cover of this prospectus, regardless of when this prospectus is delivered or when any sale of our securities occurs. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may offer from time to time securities having an aggregate initial offering price of $40,000,000. Each time we offer securities, we will prepare and file with the SEC a prospectus supplement that describes the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities we offer. The prospectus supplement also may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or the documents incorporated herein by reference. You should read carefully both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described below under the caption “Where You Can Find More Information.”
This prospectus does not contain all the information provided in the registration statement we filed with the SEC. For further information about us or our securities offered hereby, you should refer to that registration statement, which you can obtain from the SEC as described below under “Where You Can Find More Information.”
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or a 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. This prospectus is not an offer to sell securities, and it is not soliciting an offer to buy securities, in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, as well as information we have previously filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference, is accurate as of the date of those documents only. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
We may sell securities through underwriters or dealers, through agents, directly to purchasers or through a combination of these methods. We and our agents reserve the sole right to accept or reject in whole or in part any proposed purchase of securities. The prospectus supplement, which we will prepare and file with the SEC each time we offer securities, will set forth the names of any underwriters, agents or others involved in the sale of securities, and any applicable fee, commission or discount arrangements with them. See “Plan of Distribution.”
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
As used in this prospectus, “we”, “us”, “our”, “NEP” or “our company” refers to China North East Petroleum Holdings Limited. and all of its subsidiaries and affiliated companies. References to the “Commission” refers to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
ABOUT OUR COMPANY
We are engaged in the exploration and production of crude oil in Northern China. We have an arrangement with the Jilin Refinery of PetroChina Group to sell our crude oil production for use in the China marketplace. We currently operate 247 producing wells located in four oilfields in Northern China and have plans for additional drilling projects.
In particular, through two of our subsidiaries, Song Yuan City Yu Qiao Oil and Gas Development Co. Ltd. (“Yu Qiao”) and Chang Ling Longde Oil and Gas Development Co. Ltd. (“LongDe”), we have entered into binding sales agreements with the PetroChina Group, whereby we sell our crude oil production for use in the China marketplace.
We currently operate 4 oilfields located in Northern China, which include:
Details of Oil and Gas Properties and Activities
| Field | Acreage | Producing wells # | Proven Reserves (bbls) |
| Qian112 | 5,115 | 219 | 5,292,591 |
| Da34 | 2,298 | 7 | 13,240 |
| Gu31 | 1,779 | 7 | 95,729 |
| He301 | 2,471 | 14 | 52,232 |
| Total | 11,663 | 247 | 5,453.792 |
As of June 1, 2009, we had approximately 257 employees.
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Our common stock is listed on NYSE AMEX LLC under the symbol “NEP.”
Our principal executive office is located at 445 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022, and our telephone number there is: (212) 307-3568.
RISK FACTORS
Investing in our securities involves risk. The prospectus supplement applicable to a particular offering of securities will contain a discussion of the risks applicable to an investment in the Company and to the particular types of securities that we are offering under that prospectus supplement. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks described under “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, or any updates in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, together with all of the other information appearing in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, in light of your particular investment objectives and financial circumstances. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. The trading price of our securities could decline due to any of these risks, and you may lose all or part of your investment.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement, including the documents that we incorporate by reference, may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements include those that express plans, anticipation, intent, contingency, goals, targets or future development and/or otherwise are not statements of historical fact. Any forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and projections about future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties known and unknown that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements.
In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology, such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimates,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “may,” “should”, “could” or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. Accordingly, these statements involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in them. Any forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the risk factors described herein and those included in any accompanying prospectus supplement or in any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
You should read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents that we reference herein and therein and have filed as exhibits to the registration statement, of which this prospectus is part, completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we concurrently expect. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and any document incorporated herein by reference is accurate as of its date only. Because the risk factors referred to above, as well as the risk factors referred to on page 2 of this prospectus and incorporated herein by reference, could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict which factors will arise. In addition, we cannot assess the impact of each factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. We qualify all of the information presented in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and any document incorporated herein by reference, and particularly our forward-looking statements, by these cautionary statements.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Except as otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities covered by this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions of new technologies or businesses, and investments. Additional information on the use of net proceeds from an offering of securities covered by this prospectus may be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the specific offering.
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THE SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER
The descriptions of the securities contained in this prospectus, together with any applicable prospectus supplement, summarize all the material terms and provisions of the various types of securities that we may offer. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular offering the specific terms of the securities offered by that prospectus supplement. If we indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, the terms of the securities may differ from the terms we have summarized below. We will also include in the prospectus supplement information, where applicable, about material United States federal income tax considerations relating to the securities, and the securities exchange, if any, on which the securities will be listed.
We may sell from time to time, in one or more offerings:
| · | shares of our common stock; |
| · | common stock purchase rights; |
| · | warrants to purchase common stock; |
| · | debt securities, in one or more series; and/or |
| · | units consisting of one or more of the foregoing. |
This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
General
The following description of our common stock together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the common stock that we may offer under this prospectus but is not complete. For the complete terms of our common stock, please refer to our articles of incorporation, which may be amended from time to time and our amended and restated bylaws, as amended from time to time. The Nevada Revised Statutes may also affect the terms of these securities. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any future common stock that we may offer, we will describe the specific terms of any series of these securities in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we so indicate in a prospectus supplement, the terms of any common stock we offer under that prospectus supplement may differ from the terms we describe below.
Our authorized capital stock consists of one hundred fifty million (150,000,000) shares of common stock, $0.001 par value. The authorized and unissued shares of common stock are available for issuance without further action by our shareholders, unless such action is required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange on which our securities may be listed. Unless approval of our shareholders is so required, our board of directors will not seek shareholder approval for the issuance and sale of our common stock.
Common Stock
As of June 9, 2009, 20,904,080 shares of Common Stock are currently issued and outstanding. The Company has authorized 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock for issuance under the Company’s 2006 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan (the “Plan”). As of June 9, 2009, 1,190,000 shares of Common Stock are reserved for issuance upon exercise of options granted under the Plan or to be granted by the Company pursuant to the Plan.
Voting, Dividend and Other Rights. Each outstanding share of common stock entitles the holder to one vote on all matters presented to the shareholders for a vote. Holders of shares of common stock have no cumulative voting, preemptive, subscription or conversion rights. All shares of common stock to be issued pursuant to this registration statement will be duly authorized, fully paid and non-assessable. Our Board of Directors determines if and when distributions may be paid out of legally available funds to the holders. To date, we have not declared any dividends with respect to our common stock. Our declaration of any cash dividends in the future will depend on our Board of Directors’ determination as to whether, in light of our earnings, financial position, cash requirements and other relevant factors existing at the time, it appears advisable to do so. We do not anticipate paying cash dividends on the common stock in the foreseeable future.
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Rights Upon Liquidation. Upon liquidation, subject to the right of any holders of the preferred stock to receive preferential distributions, each outstanding share of common stock may participate pro rata in the assets remaining after payment of, or adequate provision for, all our known debts and liabilities.
Majority Voting. The holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock constitute a quorum at any meeting of the shareholders. A plurality of the votes cast at a meeting of shareholders elects our directors. The common stock does not have cumulative voting rights. Therefore, the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock can elect all of our directors. In general, a majority of the votes cast at a meeting of shareholders must authorize shareholder actions other than the election of directors. Most amendments to our articles of incorporation require the vote of the holders of a majority of all outstanding voting shares.
Warrants
As of June 9, 2009, the following warrants were outstanding:
Warrants to purchase up to 3,960,000 shares of the Common Stock at a current exercise price equal to $2.35 per share, on or prior to February 28, 2013. Pursuant to the terms of such warrants issued on February 28, 2008, the exercise price is subject to adjustment in the event of stock split, combination or the like of the Company’s Common Stock and certain other adjustments.
Warrants to purchase up to 100,000 shares of Common Stock at any time on or prior to January 1, 2013 at an exercise price of $2.15 per share. Pursuant to the terms of such warrants approved for issuance by the Company’s Board of Directors on February 6, 2008, the exercise price is subject to adjustment in the event of stock split, combination or the like of the Company’s Common Stock.
Warrants to purchase up to 250,000 shares of the Common Stock at an initial exercise price equal to $2.00 per share and warrants to purchase up to 250,000 shares of Common Stock at an initial exercise price of $2.35 per share, on or prior to March 5, 2013. Pursuant to the terms of such warrants issued on March 5, 2009, the exercise price is subject to adjustment in the event of stock split, combination or the like of the Common Stock and certain other adjustments.
Warrants to purchase up to 50,000 shares of Common Stock at any time on or prior to April 29, 2013 at an exercise price of $2.65. Pursuant to the terms of such warrants issued on April 29, 2009, the exercise price is subject to adjustment in the event of stock split, combination or the like of the Common Stock and certain other adjustments.
Nevada Anti-Takeover Law and Certain Charter and Bylaw Provisions
We are subject to the provisions of the Nevada private corporation law, which are anti-takeover provisions. In general, the provisions of Sections 78.411-444 prohibit a publicly held Nevada corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years following the date the person became an interested stockholder, unless (with certain exceptions) the "business combination" or the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder is approved in a prescribed manner. Generally, a "business combination" includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Generally, an "interested stockholder" is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns or within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status, did own, 10% or more of a corporation's voting stock. The existence of this provision may have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions not approved in advance by the board of directors, including discouraging attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares of common stock held by stockholders.
These provisions are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of the board and in the policies formulated by the board and to discourage some types of transactions that may involve actual or threatened change of control of our company. These provisions are designed to reduce our vulnerability to an unsolicited proposal for a takeover that does not contemplate the acquisition of all of our outstanding shares or an unsolicited proposal for the potential restructuring or sale of all or a part of our company. However, these provisions could discourage potential acquisition proposals and could delay or prevent a change in control of the Company. They may also have the effect of preventing changes in our management.
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Our certificate of incorporation and our Bylaws contain certain provisions that could have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another party from acquiring control of us. These provisions may discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions also may encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our Board of Directors. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our potential ability to negotiate with an unfriendly or unsolicited acquirer outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging a proposal to acquire us because negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.
The provisions of Nevada law and the provisions of our certificate of incorporation and Bylaws, as amended, could have the effect of discouraging others from attempting hostile takeovers and, as a consequence, they may also inhibit temporary fluctuations in the market price of our common stock that often result from actual or rumored hostile takeover attempts. These provisions may also have the effect of preventing changes in our management. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish transactions that stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.
Liability and Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Our amended and restated by laws provide that we shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by us) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys fees), judgment, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful. No indemnification shall, however, be provided to any such indemnitee for acts or omissions of the indemnitee finally adjudged to be intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, for conduct of the indemnitee finally adjudged to be liable for gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of such person’s duty to the Company unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine, upon application, that despite circumstances of case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as such court shall deem proper.
We have an insurance policy that insures our directors and officers, within the limits and subject to the limitations of the policy, against certain expenses in connection with the defense of actions, suits or proceedings, and certain liabilities that might be imposed as a result of such actions, suits or proceedings, to which they are parties by reason of being or having been our directors or officers.
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK PURCHASE RIGHTS
We may issue rights to purchase our common stock. The rights may or may not be transferable by the persons purchasing or receiving the rights. In connection with any rights offering, we may enter into a standby underwriting or other arrangement with one or more underwriters or other persons pursuant to which such underwriters or other persons would purchase any offered securities remaining unsubscribed for after such rights offering. Each series of rights will be issued under a separate rights agent agreement to be entered into between us and one or more banks, trust companies or other financial institutions, as rights agent, that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement. The rights agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the rights and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of rights certificates or beneficial owners of rights.
The prospectus supplement relating to any rights that we offer will include specific terms relating to the offering, including, among other matters:
| · | the date of determining the security holders entitled to the rights distribution; |
| · | the aggregate number of rights issued and the aggregate number of shares of common stock purchasable upon exercise of the rights; |
| · | the exercise price; |
| · | the conditions to completion of the rights offering; |
| · | the date on which the right to exercise the rights will commence and the date on which the rights will expire; and |
| · | any applicable federal income tax considerations. |
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Each right would entitle the holder of the rights to purchase for cash the principal amount of shares of common stock at the exercise price set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Rights may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for the rights provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised rights will become void.
If less than all of the rights issued in any rights offering are exercised, we may offer any unsubscribed securities directly to persons other than our security holders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby arrangements, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer under this prospectus and any related warrant agreement and warrant certificate. While the terms summarized below will apply generally to any warrants that we may offer, we will describe the specific terms of any series of warrants in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we indicate in the prospectus supplement, the terms of any warrants offered under that prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. Specific warrant agreements will contain additional important terms and provisions and will be incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement which includes this prospectus.
General
We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock in one or more series. We may issue warrants independently or together with common stock and/or debt securities, and the warrants may be attached to or separate from these securities.
We will evidence each series of warrants by warrant certificates that we may issue under a separate agreement. We may enter into the warrant agreement with a warrant agent. Each warrant agent may be a bank that we select which has its principal office in the United States and a combined capital and surplus of at least $200,000,000. We may also choose to act as our own warrant agent. We will indicate the name and address of any such warrant agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of warrants.
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of warrants, including:
| · | the offering price and aggregate number of warrants offered; |
| · | if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security or each principal amount of such security; |
| · | if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable; |
| · | the number or amount of shares of common stock purchasable upon the exercise of one warrant and the price at which these shares may be purchased upon such exercise; |
| · | the manner of exercise of the warrants, including any cashless exercise rights; |
| · | the warrant agreement under which the warrants will be issued; |
| · | the effect of any merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of our business on the warrant agreement and the warrants; |
| · | anti-dilution provisions of the warrants, if any; |
| · | the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants; |
| · | any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price or number of securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants; |
| · | the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire or, if the warrants are not continuously exercisable during that period, the specific date or dates on which the warrants will be exercisable; |
| · | the manner in which the warrant agreement and warrants may be modified; |
| · | the identities of the warrant agent and any calculation or other agent for the warrants; |
| · | federal income tax consequences of holding or exercising the warrants; |
| · | any securities exchange or quotation system on which the warrants or any securities deliverable upon exercise of the warrants may be listed or quoted; and |
| · | any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of or restrictions on the warrants. |
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Before exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the common stock purchasable upon such exercise, including the right to receive dividends, if any, or, payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or to exercise voting rights, if any.
Exercise of Warrants
Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase common stock at the exercise price that we describe in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants at any time up to 5:00 P.M. eastern time on the expiration date that we set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.
Holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants by delivering the warrant certificate representing the warrants to be exercised together with specified information, and paying the required exercise price by the methods provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will set forth on the reverse side of the warrant certificate, and in the applicable prospectus supplement, the information that the holder of the warrant will be required to deliver to the warrant agent.
Upon receipt of the required payment and the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will issue and deliver the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If fewer than all of the warrants represented by the warrant certificate are exercised, then we will issue a new warrant certificate for the remaining amount of warrants.
Enforceability of Rights By Holders of Warrants
Any warrant agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable warrant agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any warrant. A single bank or trust company may act as warrant agent for more than one issue of warrants. A warrant agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable warrant agreement or warrant, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a warrant may, without the consent of the related warrant agent or the holder of any other warrant, enforce by appropriate legal action the holder’s right to exercise, and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of, its warrants in accordance with their terms.
Warrant Agreement Will Not Be Qualified Under Trust Indenture Act
No warrant agreement will be qualified as an indenture, and no warrant agent will be required to qualify as a trustee, under the Trust Indenture Act. Therefore, holders of warrants issued under a warrant agreement will not have the protection of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to their warrants.
Governing Law
Each warrant agreement and any warrants issued under the warrant agreements will be governed by New York law.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
As used in this prospectus, debt securities means the debentures, notes, bonds and other evidences of indebtedness that we may issue from time to time. The debt securities will either be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. Senior debt securities will be issued under a senior indenture between us and the senior trustee named in the applicable prospectus supplement, and subordinated debt securities will be issued under a subordinated indenture between us and the subordinated trustee named in the applicable prospectus supplement. This prospectus sometimes refers to any senior indenture and any subordinated indenture collectively as the “Indentures.”
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The statements and descriptions in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement regarding provisions of the Indentures and debt securities are summaries thereof, do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the Indentures (and any amendments or supplements we may enter into from time to time which are permitted under each Indenture) and the debt securities, including the definitions therein of certain terms.
General
Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be direct unsecured obligations of the Company’s Senior debt securities will rank equally with any of our other senior and unsubordinated debt. Subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to any senior indebtedness.
The Indentures do not limit the aggregate principal amount of debt securities that we may issue and provide that we may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more series, in each case with the same or various maturities, at par or at a discount. Unless indicated in a prospectus supplement, we may “reopen,” or issue additional debt securities of, a particular series without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of such series outstanding at the time of the issuance. Any such additional debt securities, together with all other outstanding debt securities of that series, will constitute a single series of debt securities under the applicable Indenture.
Each prospectus supplement will describe the terms relating to the specific series of debt securities being offered. These terms will include some or all of the following:
| · | the title of debt securities and whether they are subordinated debt securities or senior debt securities; |
| · | any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities; |
| · | the ability to issue additional debt securities of the same series; |
| · | the price or prices at which we will sell the debt securities; |
| · | the maturity date or dates of the debt securities; |
| · | the rate or rates of interest, if any, which may be fixed or variable, at which the debt securities will bear interest, or the method of determining such rate or rates, if any; |
| · | the date or dates from which any interest will accrue or the method by which such date or dates will be determined; |
| · | the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of any such deferral period, including the maximum consecutive period during which interest payment periods may be extended; |
| · | the dates on which we will pay interest on the debt securities and the regular record date for determining who is entitled to the interest payable on any interest payment date; |
| · | whether the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the debt securities may be determined with reference to any index, formula or other method, such as one or more currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices, and the manner of determining the amount of such payments; |
| · | the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the debt securities will be payable, where any securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange or conversion, as applicable, and notices and demands may be delivered to or upon us pursuant to the Indenture; |
| · | if we possess the option to do so, the periods within which and the prices at which we may redeem the debt securities, in whole or in part, pursuant to optional redemption provisions, and the other terms and conditions of any such provisions; |
| · | our obligation, if any, to redeem, repay or purchase debt securities by making periodic payments to a sinking fund or through an analogous provision or at the option of holders of the debt securities, and the period or periods within which and the price or prices at which we will redeem, repay or purchase the debt securities, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation, and the other terms and conditions of such obligation; |
| · | the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued, if other than denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000; |
| · | the portion, or methods of determining the portion, of the principal amount of the debt securities which we must pay upon the acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities in connection with an Event of Default (as described below), if other than the full principal amount; |
| · | the currency, currencies or currency unit in which we will pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the debt securities, if not United States dollars; |
| · | provisions, if any, granting special rights to holders of the debt securities upon the occurrence of specified events; |
| · | any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default (as described below) or our covenants with respect to the applicable series of debt securities, and whether or not such Events of Default or covenants are consistent with those contained in the applicable Indenture; |
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| · | any limitation on our ability to incur debt, redeem stock, sell our assets or other restrictions; |
| · | the application, if any, of the terms of the Indenture relating to defeasance and covenant defeasance (which terms are described below) to the debt securities; |
| · | whether the subordination provisions summarized below or different subordination provisions will apply to the debt securities; |
| · | the terms, if any, upon which the holders may convert or exchange the debt securities into or for our common stock or other securities or property; |
| · | whether any of the debt securities will be issued in global form and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which global debt securities may be exchanged for certificated debt securities; |
| · | any change in the right of the trustee or the requisite holders of debt securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable because of an Event of Default; |
| · | the depositary for global or certificated debt securities; |
| · | any special tax implications of the debt securities; |
| · | any trustees, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars, or other agents with respect to the debt securities; |
| · | any other terms of the debt securities not inconsistent with the provisions of the Indentures, as amended or supplemented; |
| · | to whom any interest on any debt security shall be payable, if other than the person in whose name the security is registered, on the record date for such interest, the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary global debt security will be paid if other than in the manner provided in the applicable Indenture; |
| · | if the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities of the series is to be payable in one or more currencies or currency units other than as stated, the currency, currencies or currency units in which it shall be paid and the periods within and terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made and the amounts payable (or the manner in which such amount shall be determined); |
| · | the portion of the principal amount of any securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities pursuant to the applicable Indenture if other than the entire principal amount; and |
| · | if the principal amount payable at the stated maturity of any debt security of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the stated maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such securities as of any such date for any purpose, including the principal amount thereof which shall be due and payable upon any maturity other than the stated maturity or which shall be deemed to be outstanding as of any date prior to the stated maturity (or, in any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal amount shall be determined). |
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not be listed on any securities exchange.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, debt securities will be issued in fully-registered form without coupons.
Debt securities may be sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount, bearing no interest or interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is below market rates. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the federal income tax consequences and special considerations applicable to any such debt securities. The debt securities may also be issued as indexed securities or securities denominated in foreign currencies, currency units or composite currencies, as described in more detail in the prospectus supplement relating to any of the particular debt securities. The prospectus supplement relating to specific debt securities will also describe any special considerations and certain additional tax considerations applicable to such debt securities.
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Subordination
The prospectus supplement relating to any offering of subordinated debt securities will describe the specific subordination provisions. However, unless otherwise noted in the prospectus supplement, subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to any existing Senior Indebtedness. Under the subordinated indenture, “Senior Indebtedness” may mean all amounts due on obligations in connection with any of the following, whether outstanding at the date of execution of the subordinated indenture, or thereafter incurred or created:
| · | the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest due on our indebtedness for borrowed money and indebtedness evidenced by securities, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments issued by us; |
| · | all of our capital lease obligations; |
| · | any of our obligations as lessee under leases required to be capitalized on the balance sheet of the lessee under generally accepted accounting principles; |
| · | all of our obligations for the reimbursement on any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance, security purchase facility or similar credit transaction; |
| · | all of our obligations in respect of interest rate swap, cap or other agreements, interest rate future or options contracts, currency swap agreements, currency future or option contracts and other similar agreements; |
| · | all obligations of the types referred to above of other persons for the payment of which we are responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise; and |
| · | all obligations of the types referred to above of other persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of ours (whether or not such obligation is assumed by us). |
However, Senior Indebtedness will not include:
| · | any indebtedness which expressly provides that such indebtedness shall not be senior in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities, or that such indebtedness shall be subordinated to any other of our indebtedness, unless such indebtedness expressly provides that such indebtedness shall be senior in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities; |
| · | any of our indebtedness in respect of the subordinated debt securities; |
| · | any of our indebtedness to any subsidiary. |
Senior Indebtedness shall continue to be Senior Indebtedness and be entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of such Senior Indebtedness.
Unless otherwise noted in the prospectus supplement, if we default in the payment of any principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Senior Indebtedness when it becomes due and payable, whether at maturity or at a date fixed for prepayment or by declaration or otherwise, then, unless and until such default is cured or waived or ceases to exist, we will make no direct or indirect payment (in cash, property, securities, by set-off or otherwise) in respect of the principal of or interest on the subordinated debt securities or in respect of any redemption, retirement, purchase or other requisition of any of the subordinated debt securities.
In the event of the acceleration of the maturity of any subordinated debt securities, the holders of all senior debt securities outstanding at the time of such acceleration, subject to any security interest, will first be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due on the senior debt securities before the holders of the subordinated debt securities will be entitled to receive any payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest on the subordinated debt securities.
If any of the following events occurs, we will pay in full all Senior Indebtedness before we make any payment or distribution under the subordinated debt securities, whether in cash, securities or other property, to any holder of subordinated debt securities:
| · | any dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization of the Company whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency or receivership; |
| · | any general assignment by us for the benefit of creditors; or |
| · | any other marshaling of our assets or liabilities. |
In such event, any payment or distribution under the subordinated debt securities, whether in cash, securities or other property, which would otherwise (but for the subordination provisions) be payable or deliverable in respect of the subordinated debt securities, will be paid or delivered directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders until all Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full. If any payment or distribution under the subordinated debt securities is received by the trustee of any subordinated debt securities in contravention of any of the terms of the subordinated indenture and before all the Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full, such payment or distribution or security will be received in trust for the benefit of, and paid over or delivered and transferred to, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness at the time outstanding in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay all such Senior Indebtedness in full.
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The subordinated indenture will not limit the issuance of additional Senior Indebtedness.
Consolidation, Merger, Sale of Assets and Other Transactions
Unless an accompanying prospectus supplement states otherwise, we may not merge with or into or consolidate with another corporation or sell, assign, transfer, lease or convey all or substantially all of our properties and assets to, any other corporation other than a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of ours, and no corporation may merge with or into or consolidate with us or, except for any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of ours, sell, assign, transfer, lease or convey all or substantially all of its properties and assets to us, unless:
| · | either we are the surviving corporation, or the corporation formed by or surviving such merger or consolidation or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease or conveyance has been made, if other than us, has expressly assumed by supplemental indenture all of our obligations under the debt securities and the Indentures; |
| · | immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. |
Events of Default, Notice and Waiver
Unless an accompanying prospectus supplement states otherwise, the following shall constitute “Events of Default” under the Indentures with respect to each series of debt securities:
| · | our failure to pay any interest on any debt security of such series when due and payable, continued for 30 days; |
| · | our failure to pay principal (or premium, if any) on any debt security of such series when due, regardless of whether such payment became due because of maturity, redemption, acceleration or otherwise, or is required by any sinking fund established with respect to such series; |
| · | our failure to observe or perform any other covenant or agreement with respect to such debt securities for 90 days after we receive notice of such failure; |
| · | certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company; or |
| · | any other Event of Default provided with respect to securities of that series. |
If an Event of Default with respect to any debt securities of any series outstanding under either of the Indentures shall occur and be continuing, the trustee under such Indenture or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series outstanding may declare, by notice as provided in the applicable Indenture, the principal amount (or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the debt securities of that series) of all the debt securities of that series outstanding to be due and payable immediately; provided that, in the case of an Event of Default involving certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, acceleration is automatic; and, provided further, that after such acceleration, but before a judgment or decree based on acceleration, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration if all Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of accelerated principal, have been cured or waived. Upon the acceleration of the maturity of original issue discount securities, an amount less than the principal amount thereof will become due and payable. Reference is made to the prospectus supplement relating to any original issue discount securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of maturity thereof.
Any past default under any Indenture with respect to debt securities of any series, and any Event of Default arising therefrom, may be waived by the holders of a majority in principal amount of all debt securities of such series outstanding under such Indenture, except in the case of (i) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any debt securities of such series or (ii) default in respect of a covenant or provision that cannot be amended or modified without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of such series affected.
The trustee is required within 90 days after the occurrence of an Event of Default (that is known to the trustee and is continuing), with respect to the debt securities of any series (without regard to any grace period or notice requirements), to give to the holders of the debt securities of such series notice of such default.
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The trustee, subject to its duties during default to act with the required standard of care, may require indemnification by the holders of the debt securities of any series with respect to which a default has occurred before proceeding to exercise any right or power under the applicable Indenture at the request of the holders of the debt securities of such series. Subject to such right of indemnification and to certain other limitations, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series under either Indenture may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of such series, provided that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with the applicable Indenture and the trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.
No holder of a debt security of any series may institute any action against us under either Indenture (except actions for payment of overdue principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on such debt security or for the conversion or exchange of such debt security in accordance with its terms), unless (i) the holder has given to the trustee written notice of an Event of Default and of the continuance thereof with respect to the debt securities of such series specifying an Event of Default, as required under the applicable Indenture; (ii) the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series then outstanding under such Indenture shall have requested the trustee to institute such action and offered to the trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request; (iii) the trustee shall not have instituted such action within 60 days of such request and (iv) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the trustee during such 60-day period by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of that series.
We are required to furnish annually to the trustee statements as to our compliance with all conditions and covenants under each Indenture.
Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
We may discharge or defease our obligations under the Indentures as set forth below, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We may discharge certain obligations to holders of any series of debt securities issued under either Indenture that have either become due and payable or are by their terms due and payable within one year (or scheduled for redemption within one year) by irrevocably depositing with the trustee money in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such debt securities, for principal and any premium and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of debt securities which have become due and payable) or to the stated maturity or redemption date, as the case may be, and we have paid all other sums payable under the Indenture.
If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may elect either to (i) defease and be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to the debt securities of or within any series (except as otherwise provided in the relevant Indenture) (“defeasance”) or (ii) be released from our obligations with respect to certain covenants applicable to the debt securities of or within any series (“covenant defeasance”), upon the deposit with the relevant Indenture trustee, in trust for such purpose, of money and/or government obligations which through the payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on such debt securities to maturity or redemption, as the case may be, and any mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments thereon. As a condition to defeasance or covenant defeasance, we must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of such debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred. Such opinion of counsel, in the case of defeasance under clause (i) above, must refer to and be based upon a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in applicable federal income tax law occurring after the date of the relevant Indenture. In addition, in the case of either defeasance or covenant defeasance, we must deliver to the trustee an officers’ certificate to the effect that the relevant debt securities exchange(s) have informed us that neither such debt securities nor any other debt securities of the same series, if then listed on any securities exchange, will be delisted as a result of such deposit.
We may exercise our defeasance option with respect to such debt securities notwithstanding our prior exercise of our covenant defeasance option.
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Modification and Waiver
We and the applicable trustee may supplement any Indenture for certain purposes that would not materially adversely affect the interests or rights of the holders of debt securities of a series without the consent of those holders. We and the applicable trustee may also modify any Indenture or any supplemental indenture in a manner that affects the interests or rights of the holders of debt securities with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each affected series issued under the Indenture. However, any Indenture will require the consent of each holder of debt securities that would be affected by any modification that would:
| · | change the fixed maturity of any debt securities of any series, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof; |
| · | reduce the amount of principal of an original issue discount debt security or any other debt security payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof; |
| · | change the currency in which any debt security or any premium or interest is payable; |
| · | impair the right to enforce any payment on or with respect to any debt security; |
| · | adversely change the right to convert or exchange, including decreasing the conversion rate or increasing the conversion price of, any debt security (if applicable); |
| · | reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of any series, the consent of whose holders is required for modification or amendment of the Indenture or for waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the Indenture or for waiver of certain defaults; or |
| · | modify any of the above provisions. |
Each Indenture will permit the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series issued under the Indenture is affected by the modification or amendment to waive our compliance with certain covenants contained in the Indentures.
Payment and Paying Agents
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, payment of interest on a debt security on any interest payment date will be made to the person in whose name a debt security is registered at the close of business on the record date for the interest. Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks, brokers or other financial institutions for information on how they will receive payments.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, principal, interest and premium on the debt securities of a particular series will be payable at the office of such paying agent or paying agents as we may designate for such purpose from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at our option, payment of any interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address appears in the security register.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, a paying agent designated by us will act as paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series. All paying agents initially designated by us for the debt securities of a particular series will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may at any time designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agent or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.
All moneys paid by us to a paying agent for the payment of the principal, interest or premium on any debt security that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, interest or premium has become due and payable will be repaid to us upon request, and the holder of such debt security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof.
Denominations, Registrations and Transfer
Unless an accompanying prospectus supplement states otherwise, debt securities will be represented by one or more global certificates registered in the name of a nominee for The Depository Trust Company, or DTC. In such case, each holder’s beneficial interest in the global securities will be shown on the records of DTC and transfers of beneficial interests will only be effected through DTC’s records.
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A holder of debt securities may only exchange a beneficial interest in a global security for certificated securities registered in the holder’s name if:
| · | DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue serving as the depositary for the relevant global securities or DTC ceases to maintain certain qualifications under the Securities Exchange Act and no successor depositary has been appointed for 90 days; or |
| · | we determine, in our sole discretion, that the global security shall be exchangeable. |
If debt securities are issued in certificated form, they will only be issued in the minimum denomination specified in the accompanying prospectus supplement and integral multiples of such denomination. Transfers and exchanges of such debt securities will only be permitted in such minimum denomination. Transfers of debt securities in certificated form may be registered at the trustee’s corporate office or at the offices of any paying agent appointed by us under the applicable Indenture. Exchanges of debt securities for an equal aggregate principal amount of debt securities in different denominations may also be made at such locations. Holders will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or exchange debt securities, but holders may be required to pay for any tax or other governmental charge associated with the exchange or transfer. The transfer or exchange will only be made if the security registrar is satisfied with the holder’s proof of ownership.
Governing Law
Unless an accompanying prospectus supplement states otherwise, the Indentures and debt securities will be governed by New York law.
Trustee
The trustee or trustees under any Indenture will be named in any applicable prospectus supplement.
Conversion or Exchange Rights
The prospectus supplement will describe the terms, if any, on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock or debt securities. These terms will include provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option. These provisions may allow or require the number of shares of our common stock or other securities to be received by the holders of such series of debt securities to be adjusted in certain circumstances.
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
We may issue units comprised of one or more of the other securities described in this prospectus in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder, with the rights and obligations of a holder, of each security included in the unit. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date or upon the occurrence of a specified event or occurrence.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe:
| · | the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately; |
| · | any unit agreement under which the units will be issued; |
| · | any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units; and |
| · | whether the units will be issued in fully registered or global form. |
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus to or through underwriters, through dealers, through agents, or directly to one or more purchasers or through a combination of these methods. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the offering of the securities, including:
| · | the name or names of any underwriters, if, and if required, any dealers or agents; |
| · | the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds we will receive from the sale; |
| · | any underwriting discounts and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation; |
| · | any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and |
| · | any securities exchange or market on which the securities may be listed or traded. |
We may distribute the securities from time to time in one or more transactions at:
| · | a fixed price or prices, which may be changed; |
| · | market prices prevailing at the time of sale; |
| · | prices related to such prevailing market prices; or |
| · | negotiated prices. |
Only underwriters named in the prospectus supplement are underwriters of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement.
If underwriters are used in an offering, we will execute an underwriting agreement with such underwriters and will specify the name of each underwriter and the terms of the transaction (including any underwriting discounts and other terms constituting compensation of the underwriters and any dealers) in a prospectus supplement. The securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or directly by one or more investment banking firms or others, as designated. If an underwriting syndicate is used, the managing underwriter(s) will be specified on the cover of the prospectus supplement. If underwriters are used in the sale, the offered securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own accounts and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time. Unless otherwise set forth in the prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the offered securities will be subject to conditions precedent, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the offered securities, if any are purchased.
We may grant to the underwriters options to purchase additional securities to cover over-allotments, if any, at the public offering price, with additional underwriting commissions or discounts, as may be set forth in a related prospectus supplement. The terms of any over-allotment option will be set forth in the prospectus supplement for those securities.
If we use a dealer in the sale of the securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, we will sell the securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale. The names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction will be specified in a prospectus supplement.
We may sell the securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. We will name any agent involved in the offering and sale of securities and we will describe any commissions we will pay the agent in the prospectus supplement. Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, any agent will act on a best-efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
We may authorize agents or underwriters to solicit offers by institutional investors to purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. We will describe the conditions to these contracts and the commissions we must pay for solicitation of these contracts in the prospectus supplement.
In connection with the sale of the securities, underwriters, dealers or agents may receive compensation from us or from purchasers of the securities for whom they act as agents, in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and those dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities, and any institutional investors or others that purchase securities directly for the purpose of resale or distribution, may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts or commissions received by them from us and any profit on the resale of the common stock by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.
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We may provide agents, underwriters and other purchasers with indemnification against particular civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribution with respect to payments that the agents, underwriters or other purchasers may make with respect to such liabilities. Agents and underwriters may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.
To facilitate the public offering of a series of securities, persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the market price of the securities. This may include over-allotments or short sales of the securities, which involves the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than have been sold to them by us. In those circumstances, such persons would cover such over-allotments or short positions by purchasing in the open market or by exercising the over-allotment option granted to those persons. In addition, those persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the securities by bidding for or purchasing securities in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to underwriters or dealers participating in any such offering may be reclaimed if securities sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. Such transactions, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time. We make no representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above, if implemented, may have on the price of our securities.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, any common stock sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement will be eligible for listing on the NYSE AMEX, subject to official notice of issuance. Any underwriters to whom securities are sold by us for public offering and sale may make a market in the securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice.
In order to comply with the securities laws of some states, if applicable, the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus will be sold in those states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states securities may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and complied with.
In compliance with guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, the maximum consideration or discount to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker dealer may not exceed 8% of the aggregate amount of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.
LEGAL MATTERS
The legality of the issuance of the securities offered in this prospectus will be passed upon for us by the Crone Law Group, San Francisco, California. The Crone Law Group holds an option to purchase 100,000 shares of common stock at an initial exercise price of $2.15 per share.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2008 incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K have been audited by Jimmy C.H. Cheung & Co., an independent certified public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference, and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC for the securities we are offering by this prospectus. This prospectus does not include all of the information contained in the registration statement. You should refer to the registration statement and its exhibits for additional information.
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We are required to file annual and quarterly reports, special reports, proxy statements, and other information with the SEC. You can read our SEC filings, including the registration statement, on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You also may read and copy any document we file with the SEC at its public reference facility at:
Public Reference Room
100 F Street N.E.
Washington, DC 20549
Please call the SEC at 1-800-732-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference facilities.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission are incorporated by reference in this prospectus:
| · | Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, filed March 30, 2009; |
| · | Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009, filed May 15, 2009 and Amendment No. 1 to Form 10-Q filed on July 23, 2009 ; |
| · | Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009, filed August 14, 2009; |
| · | Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 6, 2009; |
| · | Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 30, 2008; and |
| · | The description of our common stock contained in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A12B filed with the SEC on June 10, 2009 and as amended on June 29, 2009. |
All documents subsequently filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered herein have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be part of this prospectus from the respective dates of filing of such documents. Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes hereof or of the related prospectus supplement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which is also incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in the prospectus but not delivered with the prospectus. You may request a copy of these filings, excluding the exhibits to such filings which we have not specifically incorporated by reference in such filings, at no cost, by writing us at the following address: 445 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022 and our telephone number is (212) 307-3568
DISCLOSURE OF COMMISSION POSITION OF INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES
The Company's directors and executive officers are indemnified as provided by the Nevada Revised Statutes and the Company's Bylaws. These provisions state that the Company's directors may cause the Company to indemnify a director or former director against all costs, charges and expenses, including an amount paid to settle an action or satisfy a judgment, actually and reasonably incurred by him as a result of him acting as a director. The indemnification of costs can include an amount paid to settle an action or satisfy a judgment. Such indemnification is at the discretion of the Company's board of directors and is subject to the Securities and Exchange Commission's policy regarding indemnification.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Company 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.
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$40,000,000
CHINA NORTH EAST PETROLEUM HOLDINGS LIMITED
Common Stock
Common Stock Purchase Rights
Warrants
Debt Securities
Units
PROSPECTUS
, 2009
We have not authorized any dealer, salesperson or other person to give any information or represent anything not contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You must not rely on any unauthorized information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus does not offer to sell any shares in any jurisdiction where it is unlawful. Neither the delivery of this prospectus, nor any sale made hereunder, shall create any implication that the information in this prospectus is correct after the date hereof.
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PART II INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The following table sets forth an estimate of the fees and expenses relating to the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered hereby, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, all of which shall be borne by the Company. All of such fees and expenses, except for the SEC Registration Fee, are estimated:
| SEC Registration Fee | $ | 2,232 | ||
| Transfer agent’s fees and expenses | 3,000 | * | ||
| Printing and engraving expenses | 10,000 | * | ||
| Accounting fees and expenses | 5,000 | * | ||
| Legal fees and expenses (including blue sky services and expenses) | 50,000 | * | ||
| Miscellaneous | 10,000 | * | ||
| Total | $ | 80,232 | * | |
* Estimated
Item 15. Indemnification of Officers and Director
The only statute, charter provision, bylaw, contract, or other arrangement under which any controlling person, director or officer of the Company is insured or indemnified in any manner against any liability which he may incur in his capacity as such, is as follows:
| 1. | Article IX of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registration Statement. |
| 2. | Article VIII of the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, filed as Exhibit 3.3 to the Registration Statement. |
| 3. | Nevada Revised Statutes, Chapter 78. |
The general effect of the foregoing is to indemnify a controlling person, officer or director from liability, thereby making the Company responsible for any expenses or damages incurred by such control person, officer or director in any action brought against them based on their conduct in such capacity, provided they did not engage in fraud or criminal activity.
Item 16. Exhibits
| Exhibit | ||
Number | Description of Document | |
| 1.1* | Form of underwriting agreement with respect to debt securities, common stock, common stock purchase rights and warrants. | |
| 3.1 | Articles of Incorporation are incorporated herein by reference from Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB filed with the SEC on March 28, 2001. | |
| 3.2 | Certificate of Amendments to Articles of Incorporation is incorporated herein by reference from Registrant’s Information Statement on Form 14C filed with the SEC on May 26, 2004. | |
| 3.3 | Amended and Restated By-laws is incorporated herein by reference from Registrant’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 30, 2008. | |
| 4.1 | Form of Senior Indenture, between China North East Petroleum Holdings Limited and one or more trustees to be named. | |
| 4.2* | Form of debt securities, if any. | |
| 4.3* | Form of warrant agreement and warrant certificate, if any. | |
| 4.4* | Form of unit agreement and unit certificate, if any. |
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| 4.5* | Form of Common Stock Purchase Right | |
| 4.6 | Form of Subordinated Indenture, between China North East Petroleum Holdings Limited and one or more trustees to be named. | |
| 5.1 | Opinion of the Crone Law Group as to the legality of the securities being registered. | |
| 23.1 | Consent of the Crone Law Group (included in Exhibit 5.1). | |
| 23.2 | Consent of Jimmy C.H. Cheung & Co. | |
| 24.1** | Power of Attorney (included on signature pages to the registration statement). | |
| 25.1* | Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of a trustee acceptable to the registrant, as trustee under the Indenture. |
| * | To the extent applicable, to be filed by a post-effective amendment or as an exhibit to a document filed under the Securities Exchange Act, as amended, and incorporated by reference herein. |
| ** | Previously filed. |
Item 17. Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement. Provided, however, that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) above do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form F-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statements or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is a part of the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall 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.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
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(1) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(2) 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.
(d) 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.
(e) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that: (i) for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of the registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall of 1933 be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the time it was declared effective; and (ii) for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus 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.
(f) If and when applicable, 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 Act.
(g) 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.
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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 the requirements for filing this Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Songyuan, People’s Republic of China, on the 27 th day of August, 2009.
CHINA NORTH EAST PETROLEUM HOLDINGS LIMITED | |||
| By: | /s/ Wang Hongjun | ||
| Wang Hongjun | |||
President and Chairman of the Board | |||
KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Wang Hongjun and Zhang Yang, or either of them, as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, 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 in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date | |||
/s/ Wang Hongjun | President and Chairman of the Board (Principal Executive Officer) | August 27 , 2009 | |||
| Wang Hongjun | |||||
/s/ Zhang Yang | Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | August 27 , 2009 | |||
| Zhang Yang | |||||
* | Director | August 27 , 2009 | |||
| Yu Liguo | |||||
* | Director | August 27 , 2009 | |||
| Li Jing Fu | |||||
* | Director | August 27 , 2009 | |||
| Robert Bruce | |||||
* | Director | August 27 , 2009 | |||
| Edward Rule | |||||
* By: | /s/ Wang Hongjun | |||
Wang Hongjun, as attorney-in-fact | ||||
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