424B3
Table of Contents

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration No. 333-230524

 

PROSPECTUS

38,461,539 Class A Common Shares

Offered by Selling Security-holders

 

 

LOGO

Seaspan Corporation

 

 

The selling security-holders identified in this prospectus may offer and resell up to 38,461,539 Class A common shares, or common shares, par value $0.01 per share. For more information about the selling security-holders and the related transactions, see the section entitled “Selling Security-holders” on page 8 of this prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of these common shares by the selling security-holders.

The selling security-holders identified in this prospectus, or their donees, pledgees, transferees or other successors-in-interest, may from time to time offer to sell the common shares at various times and in various types of transactions, including sales in the open market, sales in negotiated transactions and sales by a combination of these methods. The selling security-holders may sell the common shares to or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, who may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. For additional information on the methods of sale that may be used by the selling security-holders, please see “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page 23 of this prospectus.

You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in any of our securities.

Our common shares trade on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SSW.”

 

 

         Investing in these securities involves risks. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 5 of this prospectus and other risk factors contained in any applicable prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

The date of this prospectus is April 2, 2019.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

About This Prospectus

     1  

Seaspan Corporation

     1  

Where You Can Find More Information

     2  

Incorporation of Documents by Reference

     3  

Forward-Looking Statements

     4  

Risk Factors

     5  

Use of Proceeds

     6  

Capitalization

     7  

Selling Security-holders

     8  

Description of Capital Stock

     11  

Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations

     15  

Material Non-United States Tax Considerations

     21  

Plan of Distribution

     24  

Enforceability of Civil Liabilities

     28  

Legal Matters

     29  

Experts

     29  

Expenses

     29  

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone else to give you different information. If anyone provides you with additional, different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not offering these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus, as well as the information we file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus, is accurate as of any date other than its respective date. We will disclose material changes in our affairs in an amendment to this prospectus, a prospectus supplement, a free writing prospectus or a future filing with the SEC incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this process, the selling security-holders referred to in the prospectus and identified in any applicable supplements to this prospectus may offer and resell from time to time our common shares under this prospectus.

This prospectus does not cover the issuance of any of our common shares by us to the selling security-holders, and we will not receive any of the proceeds from any sale of common shares by the selling security-holders. Except for any underwriting discounts, selling commissions, transfer taxes and fees, which are to be paid by the selling security-holders, we have agreed to pay the expenses incurred in connection with the registration of the common shares owned by the selling security-holders covered by this prospectus.

The information in this prospectus is accurate as of its date. Any prospectus supplement may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus, and may also contain information about any material U.S. federal income tax and non-U.S. tax considerations relating to the securities covered by the prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Documents by Reference.”

Unless otherwise indicated, the term “selling security-holders” as used in this prospectus means the selling security-holders referred to in this prospectus and their donees, pledgees, transferees and other successors-in-interest. Unless otherwise indicated, references in this prospectus to “Seaspan,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” and similar terms refer to Seaspan Corporation and/or one or more of its subsidiaries, except that those terms, when used in this prospectus in connection with the common shares described herein, shall mean Seaspan Corporation. Unless otherwise indicated, all references in this prospectus to “dollars” and “$” are to, and amounts are presented in, U.S. dollars, and financial information presented in this prospectus is prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

SEASPAN CORPORATION

We are a leading independent charter owner and manager of containerships, which we charter primarily pursuant to long-term, fixed-rate time charters with major container liner companies. As of March 1, 2019, we operated a fleet of 112 containerships that have an average age of approximately six years, on a TEU weighted basis.

We primarily deploy our vessels on long-term, fixed-rate time charters to take advantage of the stable cash flow and high utilization rates that are typically associated with long-term time charters. As of March 1, 2019, the charters on the 112 vessels in our operating fleet had an average remaining term of approximately four years, on a TEU weighted basis, excluding the effect of charterers’ options to extend certain time charters.

We are a Marshall Islands corporation incorporated on May 3, 2005. We maintain our principal executive offices at Unit 2, 2nd Floor, Bupa Centre, 141 Connaught Road West, Hong Kong, China. Our telephone number is (852) 2540-1686. We maintain a website at www.seaspancorp.com. The information on our website is not part of this prospectus, and you should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein when making a decision whether to invest in our securities.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-3 regarding the securities covered by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information found in the registration statement. For further information regarding us and the securities offered in this prospectus, you may wish to review the full registration statement, including its exhibits. In addition, we file annual, quarterly and other reports with and furnish information to the SEC. Copies of this material are available on the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. You can also obtain information about us at the offices of The New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act, from, among other things, certain rules prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements, and our executive officers, directors and principal security-holders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, we are not required under the Exchange Act to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act, including the filing of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K. However, we intend to make available quarterly reports containing our unaudited interim financial information for the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year.

 

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INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus information that we file with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. Information that we later provide to the SEC, and which is deemed to be “filed” with the SEC, will automatically update information previously filed with the SEC, and may replace information included in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the documents listed below:

 

   

our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on March 26, 2019;

 

   

all subsequent Annual Reports on Form 20-F filed after effectiveness of the registration statement and prior to the time that all of the securities offered by this prospectus have been sold or de-registered;

 

   

Reports of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on January 15, 2019 and January 17, 2019;

 

   

any subsequent Reports of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement, and after effectiveness of the registration statement and prior to the time that all of the securities offered by this prospectus have been sold or de-registered, in each case, that we identify in such Reports as being incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part; and

 

   

the description of our Class A common shares contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on August 2, 2005, and amended on March 31, 2011, including any subsequent amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

These reports contain important information about us, our financial condition and our results of operations.

You may obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus from the SEC through its public reference facilities or its website at the addresses provided above. You also may request a copy of any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus (excluding any exhibits to those documents, unless the exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into this document), at no cost, by visiting our website at www.seaspancorp.com, or by writing or calling us at the following address:

Seaspan Corporation

Unit 2, 2nd Floor

Bupa Centre

141 Connaught Road West

Hong Kong

China

(852) 2540-1686

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement as well as the information we previously filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference, is accurate as of the dates on the front cover of those documents only.

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any prospectus supplements are forward-looking statements. In addition, we and our representatives may from time to time make other oral or written statements that are also forward-looking statements. Such statements include, in particular, statements about our plans, strategies, business prospects, changes and trends in our business, and the markets in which we operate. In some cases, you can identify the forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “forecast,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “propose,” “potential,” “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology.

Forward-looking statements are made based upon management’s current plans, expectations, estimates, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events affecting us. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those risks discussed in “Risk Factors” set forth in this prospectus and those risks discussed in other reports we file with the SEC and that are incorporated into this prospectus by reference, including, without limitation, our Annual Report on Form 20-F. The risks, uncertainties and assumptions involve known and unknown risks and are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control. We caution that forward-looking statements are not guarantees and that actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements.

We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such 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 all of these factors. In addition, we cannot assess the effect of each such factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to be materially different from those contained in any forward-looking statement.

 

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves risks. Before investing in our securities, you should carefully consider all of the information set forth in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein, and the risks discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in our latest Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC and any subsequent updates and other reports and documents we file with the SEC described in our Reports of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K, all of which are incorporated herein by reference and may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC in the future. Please see “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Documents by Reference.” If any of such risks were to occur, our business, financial condition, operating results or cash flows could be materially adversely affected. Please see “Forward-Looking Statements.”

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of common shares by the selling security-holders under this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement. Please see “Selling Security-holders.”

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our consolidated cash and cash equivalents and our capitalization as of December 31, 2018.

The information in this table should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

(Dollars in thousands)   

Actual

 

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 357,327  
  

 

 

 

Long-term debt:

  

Long-term debt (including current portion)(1)(2)

   $ 3,487,541  

Long-term obligations under capital lease (including current portion)(1)

     639,756  

Puttable preferred shares

  

Series D preferred shares, $0.01 par value; 1,986,449 shares issued and outstanding

     48,139  

Shareholders’ equity(3)(4)(5)

  

Share capital

  

Series D preferred shares, $0.01 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized; 7,017,313 shares issued and outstanding(6)

  

Series E preferred shares, $0.01 par value; 15,000,000 shares authorized; 5,415,937 shares issued and outstanding

  

Series G preferred shares, $0.01 par value; 15,000,000 shares authorized; 7,800,800 shares issued and outstanding

  

Series H preferred shares, $0.01 par value; 15,000,000 shares authorized; 9,025,105 shares issued and outstanding

  

Series I preferred shares, $0.01 par value; 6,000,000 shares authorized; 6,000,000 shares issued and outstanding

  

Class A common shares, $0.01 par value; 400,000,000 shares authorized; 176,835,837 shares issued and outstanding

     2,102  

Treasury shares (Class A common shares)

     (371

Additional paid-in capital

     3,126,457  

Deficit

     (645,638

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (22,571
  

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

     2,459,979  
  

 

 

 

Total capitalization

   $ 6,635,415  
  

 

 

 

 

(1)

Debt Issuance costs related to a recognized liability, including long-term obligations under capital lease, are presented as a deduction from the carrying amount of the debt liability in the consolidated balance sheet. As of December 31, 2018, $24.1 million and $7.9 million have been deducted from the carrying amount of long-term debt and long-term obligations under capital lease, respectively.

(2)

On January 15, 2019, we issued $250 million aggregate principal amount of 5.50% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “2026 Notes”) to certain affiliates of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited (“Fairfax Affiliates”).

(3)

On January 15, 2019, we issued 38,461,539 common shares to certain Fairfax Affiliates for gross proceeds of $250.0 million in connection with the exercise of warrants which were issued to such Fairfax Affiliates on January 15, 2019.

(4)

On July 16, 2018, in consideration for certain Fairfax Affiliates exercising certain warrants to acquire our common shares, we issued additional seven-year warrants to purchase 25,000,000 of our common shares to certain Fairfax Affiliates, which warrants remain outstanding.

(5)

Does not include our series A preferred shares, series B preferred shares, series C preferred shares, Series F preferred shares, Series R preferred shares, Class B common shares and Class C common shares, none of which are issued or outstanding.

(6)

Includes 1,986,449 puttable preferred shares.

 

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SELLING SECURITY-HOLDERS

This prospectus covers the offering for resale of up to 38,461,539 common shares by the selling security-holders identified below.

An aggregate of 38,461,539 common shares covered by this prospectus are owned by Allied World Assurance Company (Europe) dac, Allied World Assurance Company, AG, Allied World Surplus Lines Insurance Company, Allied World Assurance Company (U.S.) Inc., Odyssey Reinsurance Company, Greystone Insurance Company, Hudson Insurance Company, United States Fire Insurance Company, TIG Insurance Company, Allied World Assurance Company, Ltd, Hudson Specialty Insurance Company, RiverStone Insurance (UK) Limited, each of which is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited (“Fairfax”), and Fairfax.

We are registering under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, the common shares covered by this prospectus on behalf of the selling security-holders pursuant to rights granted to the selling security-holders under the terms of our previously disclosed registration rights agreement, dated January 15, 2019, by and among us and the investors party thereto.

The table below provides information about the ownership of the selling security-holders of our common shares and the maximum number of common shares that may be offered from time to time by each selling security-holder under this prospectus.

The selling security-holders identified below may currently hold or acquire at any time common shares in addition to those registered hereby. In addition, the selling security-holders identified below may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of some or all of their common shares in private placement transactions exempt from, or not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act or their common shares that have been registered pursuant to other registration statements. Accordingly, we cannot be certain as to the number or percentage of common shares that will be held by the selling security-holders upon termination of this offering. Information concerning the selling security-holders may change from time to time. Except as set forth below, none of the selling security-holders has, or within the past three years has had, any position, office or other material relationship with us or any of our predecessors or affiliates. For information on the methods of sale that may be used by the selling security-holders, please see “Plan of Distribution.”

 

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The information in the following table and the related notes is based on information filed with the SEC or supplied to us by the selling security-holders. We have not sought to verify such information. Any changed or new information given to us by the selling security-holders will be set forth in supplements to this prospectus or amendments to the registration statement of which the accompanying prospectus is a part, if and when necessary.

 

   

Common Shares
Beneficially Owned Prior
to Offering

   

Maximum Number of
Common Shares to be
Offered Hereby

   

Common Shares
Beneficially Owned
After Offering

 

Selling Security-holders

 

Number

   

Percent*

   

Number

   

Percent*

   

Number

   

Percent*

 

Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited(1)

    11,950,410       6     11,950,410           6            

Affiliates of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited:(2)

           

Allied World Assurance Company (Europe) dac(3)

    530,222       *     530,222       *            

Allied World Assurance Company, AG(3)

    2,120,890       1     2,120,890       1            

Allied World Surplus Lines Insurance Company(3)

    646,871       *     646,871       *            

Allied World Assurance Company (U.S.) Inc.(3)

    646,871       *     646,871       *            

Odyssey Reinsurance Company(3)

    3,181,336       1     3,181,336       1            

Greystone Insurance Company(3)

    2,120,890       1     2,120,890       1            

Hudson Insurance Company(3)

    1,590,668       1     1,590,668       1            

United States Fire Insurance Company(3)

    6,892,895       3     6,892,895       3            

TIG Insurance Company(3)

    1,272,534       1     1,272,534       1            

Allied World Assurance Company, Ltd

    4,061,505       2     4,061,505       2            

Hudson Specialty Insurance Company

    265,111       *     265,111       *            

RiverStone Insurance (UK) Limited

    3,181,336       1     3,181,336       1            

 

*

Based on a total of 215,544,057 common shares issued and outstanding on March 22, 2019.

**

Denotes stock ownership is less than 1%.

(1)

The address of Fairfax is 95 Wellington Street West, Suite 800, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5J 2N7. V. Prem Watsa, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the board of directors of Fairfax, controls The Sixty Two Investment Company Limited (“Sixty Two”), and The One One Zero Nine Holdco Limited (“Holdco”), and himself beneficially owns an additional 85,504 subordinate voting shares and exercises control or direction over an additional 2,100 subordinate voting shares of Fairfax. These shares, together with the shares owned directly by Sixty Two and Holdco, represent approximately 42.5% of the total votes attached to all classes of Fairfax shares (100% of the total votes attached to the multiple voting shares and 1.2% of the total votes attached to the subordinate voting shares).

(2)

The business address for the above-listed affiliates of Fairfax is c/o Hamblin Watsa Investment Counsel Ltd., 95 Wellington Street West, Suite 802, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5J 2N7.

(3)

Such affiliates of Fairfax are initial holders of our 2026 Notes, issued pursuant to a ninth supplemental indenture, as amended (“Ninth Supplemental Indenture”), dated January 15, 2019, among us, the guarantors party thereto, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (“Trustee”) to that certain indenture, dated October 17, 2010 between us and the Trustee (“Base Indenture”). Odyssey Reinsurance Company and United States Fire Insurance Company, each an affiliate of Fairfax, are also initial holders of or 5.50% senior notes due 2025 (“2025 Notes”), issued pursuant to a second supplemental indenture, dated February 14, 2018, among us, the guarantors party thereto, and the Trustee (“Second Supplemental Indenture”) to the Base Indenture. Pursuant to the Second Supplemental Indenture and the Ninth Supplemental Indenture (together, “Supplemental Indentures”), the initial holders of the 2025 Notes and the 2026 Notes have the right to designate (i) two members to our board of directors if at least $125 million aggregate principal amount of the 2025 Notes remain outstanding, and (ii) one member to our board of directors if less than $125 million aggregate principal amount of the 2025 Notes remain outstanding but greater than $50 million aggregate principal amount of the 2025 Notes remain

 

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  outstanding, on the terms and conditions set forth in the Supplemental Indentures; provided, however, that in no event shall the rights under the Supplemental Indentures allow the initial holders of the 2025 Notes and/or the 2026 Notes to designate more than two members to our board of directors if the threshold described in clause (i) above is reached, or to designate more than one member to our board of directors if the threshold in clause (ii) above is reached. Pursuant to the Second Supplemental Indenture, the holders of the 2025 Notes designated Stephen Wallace and Lawrence Chin to our board of directors, and such designates were duly appointed to our board of directors effective April 27, 2018.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

Authorized Capital

Under our articles of incorporation, our authorized shares consist of 400,000,000 Class A common shares, par value $0.01 per share, 25,000,000 Class B common shares, par value $0.01 per share, 100 Class C common shares, par value $0.01 per share, and 150,000,000 shares of preferred shares, par value $0.01 per share. As of December 31, 2018, there were issued and outstanding 176,871,891 Class A common shares, no Class B common shares, no Class C common shares, no series A preferred shares, no series B preferred shares, no series C preferred shares, 7,017,313 series D preferred shares, 5,415,937 series E preferred shares, no series F preferred shares, 7,800,800 series G preferred shares, 9,025,105 series H preferred shares, 6,000,000 series I preferred shares and no series R preferred shares.

Common Shares

Our Class A common shares are our only outstanding class of common shares.

Dividends

Under our articles of incorporation, our common shareholders may receive quarterly dividends. Declaration and payment of any dividend is subject to the discretion of our board of directors. The time and amount of dividends will depend upon our financial condition, our operations, our cash requirements and availability, debt repayment obligations, capital expenditure needs, restrictions in our debt instruments and our preferred shares, industry trends, the provisions of Marshall Islands law affecting the payment of distributions to shareholders and other factors. The Marshall Islands Business Corporations Act (“BCA”) generally prohibits the payment of dividends other than from paid-in capital in excess of par value and our earnings or while we are insolvent or would be rendered insolvent on paying the dividend.

Voting

Our common shares each have one vote. A majority of the common shares constitutes a quorum at meetings of the shareholders.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Certain Provisions of Our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

Certain provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws, which are summarized in the following paragraphs, may have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, defer or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that a shareholder might consider in its best interest, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares held by shareholders.

Removal of Directors; Vacancies

Our articles of incorporation and bylaws provide that directors may be removed with cause upon the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. In addition, our articles of incorporation and bylaws also provide that any vacancies on our board of directors and newly created directorships will be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors, although less than a quorum.

No Cumulative Voting

The BCA provides that shareholders are not entitled to the right to cumulate votes in the election of directors unless our articles of incorporation provides otherwise. Our articles of incorporation prohibit cumulative voting.

 

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Calling of Special Meetings of Shareholders

Our bylaws provide that special meetings of our shareholders may be called only by the chairman of our board of directors, by written notice to the board of directors by any two members of the executive committee, by resolution of our board of directors, or if applicable, by the longest serving co-chairman of our board of directors.

Advance Notice Requirements for Shareholder Proposals and Director Nominations

Our bylaws provide that shareholders seeking to nominate candidates for election as directors or to bring business before an annual meeting of shareholders must provide timely notice of their proposal in writing to the corporate secretary.

Generally, to be timely, a shareholder’s notice must be received at our principal executive offices not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary date of the date on which we first mailed our proxy materials for the previous year’s annual meeting. Our bylaws also specify requirements as to the form and content of a shareholder’s notice. These provisions may impede shareholders’ ability to bring matters before an annual meeting of shareholders or make nominations for directors at an annual meeting of shareholders.

Amendments to Our Bylaws

Our articles of incorporation and bylaws grant our board of directors the authority to amend and repeal our bylaws without a shareholder vote in any manner not inconsistent with the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and our articles of incorporation. Shareholders may amend our bylaws by a vote of not less than 66-2/3% of the shares entitled to vote.

Business Combinations

Our articles of incorporation contain provisions that prohibit us from engaging in a business combination with an interested shareholder for a period of three years following the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested shareholder, unless, in addition to any other approval that may be required by applicable law:

 

   

prior to the date of the transaction that resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder, our board of directors approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder;

 

   

upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder, the interested shareholder owned at least 85% of our voting shares outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding those shares owned (i) by persons who are directors and officers, and (ii) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer;

 

   

after the date of the transaction that resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder, the business combination is approved by our board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of shareholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of our outstanding voting shares that are not owned by the interested shareholder;

 

   

the shareholder became an interested shareholder prior to the completion of our initial public offering; or

 

   

the interested shareholder is Gerry Wang, Graham Porter, Dennis Washington, Kyle Washington or any of their affiliates, or any person that purchases shares from any of those individuals or any of their

 

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affiliates, provided, the person that purchased such shares does not own more than 1% of our outstanding shares at the time of such acquisition or acquire more than an additional 1% of our outstanding shares other than from those individuals or any of their affiliates.

Generally, a “business combination” includes any merger or consolidation of us or any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of ours with (a) the interested shareholder or any of its affiliates or (b) with any corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or other entity if the merger or consolidation is caused by the interested shareholder. Generally, an “interested shareholder” is any person or entity that (a) owns 15% or more of our outstanding voting shares, (b) is an affiliate or associate of us and was the owner of 15% or more of our outstanding voting shares at any time within the three-year period immediately prior to the date on which it is sought to be determined whether such person is an interested shareholder or (c) the affiliates and associates of any person listed in (a) or (b), except that any person who owns 15% or more of our outstanding voting shares as a result of action taken solely by us shall not be an interested shareholder unless such person acquires additional voting shares, except as a result of further action by us, not caused, directly or indirectly, by such person.

Dissenters’ Rights of Appraisal and Payment

Under the BCA, our shareholders have the right to dissent from various corporate actions, including any merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets not made in the usual course of our business, and receive payment of the fair value of their shares. In the event of any further amendment of our articles of incorporation, a shareholder also has the right to dissent and receive payment for his or her shares if the amendment alters certain rights in respect of those shares. The dissenting shareholder must follow the procedures set forth in the BCA to receive payment. In the event that we and any dissenting shareholder fail to agree on a price for the shares, the BCA procedures involve, among other things, the institution of proceedings in the high court of the Republic of the Marshall Islands or in any appropriate court in any jurisdiction in which our common shares are primarily traded on a local or national securities exchange.

Shareholders’ Derivative Actions

Under the BCA, any of our shareholders may bring an action in our name to procure a judgment in our favor, also known as a derivative action, provided that the shareholder bringing the action is a holder of common shares both at the time the derivative action is commenced and at the time of the transaction to which the action relates.

Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors

The BCA authorizes corporations to limit or eliminate the personal liability of directors and officers to corporations and their shareholders for monetary damages for breaches of directors’ fiduciary duties. Our articles of incorporation include a provision that eliminates the personal liability of directors or officers for monetary damages for actions taken as a director or officer to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Our articles of incorporation provide that we must indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized by law. We are also expressly authorized to advance certain expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements and court costs) to our directors and offices and carry directors’ and officers’ insurance providing indemnification for our directors, officers and certain employees for some liabilities. We believe that these indemnification provisions and insurance are useful to attract and retain qualified directors and executive officers.

The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in our articles of incorporation may discourage shareholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions may also have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though

such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our shareholders. In addition, your investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.

 

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Exchange Listing

Our common shares are listed on The New York Stock Exchange, where they trade under the symbol “SSW.”

Transfer Agent and Registrar

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC serves as registrar and transfer agent for our common shares.

Preferred Shares and Convertible Preferred Shares

Our articles of incorporation authorize our board of directors to establish one or more series of preferred shares and to determine, with respect to any series of preferred shares, the terms and rights of that series, including, among other things:

 

   

the designation of the series;

 

   

the number of shares in the series;

 

   

the dividend terms and conditions of the series;

 

   

any redemption rights of, or sinking fund for, the series;

 

   

the amounts payable on shares of the series in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the affairs of our company;

 

   

whether the shares of the series will be convertible into shares of any other class or series, or any other security, of our company or any other corporation, and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which the conversion may be made;

 

   

restrictions on the issuance of shares of the same series or of any other class or series; and

 

   

the voting rights, if any, of the holders of the series.

 

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MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following is a discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to prospective holders of our shares and, unless otherwise noted in the following discussion, is the opinion of White & Case LLP, our U.S. counsel, insofar as it relates to matters of U.S. federal income tax law and legal conclusions with respect to those matters. The opinion of our counsel is dependent on the accuracy of representations made by us to them, including descriptions of our operations contained herein.

This discussion is based upon the provisions of the Code, applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, legislative history, judicial authority and administrative interpretations, as of the date of this prospectus, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect, or are subject to different interpretations. Changes in these authorities may cause the U.S. federal income tax considerations to vary substantially from those described below.

This discussion applies only to beneficial owners of our common shares that own the shares as “capital assets” (generally, for investment purposes) and does not comment on all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be important to certain shareholders in light of their particular circumstances, such as shareholders subject to special tax rules (e.g., financial institutions, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, insurance companies, traders in securities that have elected the mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities, holders whose “functional currency” is not the U.S. dollar, holders who own, directly, indirectly or constructively, 10% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of our stock, persons liable for alternative minimum tax, broker-dealers, tax-exempt organizations, or former citizens or long-term residents of the United States) or shareholders that will hold our common shares as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion, constructive sale or other integrated transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes, all of whom may be subject to U.S. federal income tax rules that differ significantly from those summarized below. If a partnership or other entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our common shares, the tax treatment of its partners generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partners in partnerships holding our common shares should consult their own tax advisors to determine the appropriate tax treatment of the partnership’s ownership of our common shares.

No ruling has been requested from the IRS regarding any matter affecting us or our shareholders. Instead, we will rely on the opinion of White & Case LLP. An opinion of counsel represents only that counsel’s legal judgment and does not bind the IRS or the courts. Accordingly, the opinion and statements made herein may not be sustained by a court if contested by the IRS.

This discussion does not address any U.S. estate, gift or alternative minimum tax considerations or tax considerations arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. jurisdiction. Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, state, local, non-U.S. and other tax consequences of owning and disposing of our common shares.

U.S. Federal Income Taxation of U.S. Holders

As used herein, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of our common shares that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes: (a) a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien, or a U.S. Individual Holder; (b) a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation, that was created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia; (c) an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or (d) a trust that either is subject to the supervision of a court within the United States and has one or more U.S. persons with authority to control all of its substantial decisions or has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.

Distributions on Our Common Shares

Subject to the discussion below of passive foreign investment companies (“PFICs”), any distributions made by us with respect to our common shares to a U.S. Holder generally will constitute dividends, which may be

 

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taxable as ordinary income or “qualified dividend income” as described in more detail below, to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits allocated to the U.S. Holder’s common shares, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits allocated to the U.S. Holder’s common shares will be treated first as a nontaxable return of capital to the extent of the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in our common shares and thereafter as capital gain, which will be either long-term or short-term capital gain depending upon whether the U.S. Holder has held the common shares for more than one year. U.S. Holders that are corporations generally will not be entitled to claim a dividends received deduction with respect to any distributions they receive from us. For purposes of computing allowable foreign tax credits for U.S. federal income tax purposes, dividends received with respect to our common shares will be treated as foreign source income and generally will be treated as “passive category income.”

Under current law, subject to holding-period requirements and certain other limitations, dividends received with respect to our common shares by a U.S. Holder who is an individual, trust or estate, or a Non-Corporate U.S. Holder, generally will be treated as qualified dividend income that is taxable to such Non-Corporate U.S. Holder at preferential capital gain tax rates (provided we are not classified as a PFIC for the taxable year during which the dividend is paid or the immediately preceding taxable year).

Sale, Exchange or Other Disposition of Our Common Shares

Subject to the discussion of PFICs, below, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss upon a sale, exchange or other disposition of our common shares in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized by the U.S. Holder from such sale, exchange or other disposition and the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in such common shares.

Gain or loss recognized upon a sale, exchange or other disposition of our common shares generally will be treated as (a) long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period is greater than one year at the time of the sale, exchange or other disposition, or short-term capital gain or loss otherwise and (b) U.S. source income or loss, as applicable, for foreign tax credit purposes. Non-Corporate U.S. Holders may be eligible for preferential rates of U.S. federal income tax in respect of long-term capital gains. A U.S. Holder’s ability to deduct capital losses is subject to certain limitations.

Consequences of CFC Classification

If CFC Shareholders (generally, U.S. Holders who each own, directly, indirectly or constructively, 10% or more of our shares by vote or value) own directly, indirectly or constructively more than 50% of either the total combined voting power of all classes of our outstanding shares entitled to vote or the total value of all of our outstanding shares, we generally would be treated as a controlled foreign corporation, or a CFC. We were treated as a CFC in 2015 and 2016 and we believe that we will be treated as a CFC in 2018. It is unclear whether we would be treated as a CFC in future years.

CFC Shareholders are subject to certain burdensome U.S. federal income tax and administrative requirements but generally are not also subject to the requirements generally applicable to shareholders of a PFIC (as discussed below). U.S. persons who own or may obtain a substantial interest in us should consult their tax advisors with respect to the implications of being treated as a CFC Shareholder and the effect of changes to the rules governing CFC Shareholders made by the recently enacted legislation commonly known as the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.”

The U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. Holders who are not CFC Shareholders would not change if we are a CFC.

 

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PFIC Status and Significant Tax Consequences

Special and adverse U.S. federal income tax rules apply to a U.S. Holder that holds stock in a non-U.S. entity treated as a corporation and classified as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In general, we will be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year in which either (a) at least 75% of our gross income (including the gross income of certain of our subsidiaries) consists of passive income or (b) at least 50% of the average value of our assets (including the assets of certain of our subsidiaries) is attributable to assets that produce, or are held for the production of, passive income. For purposes of these tests, passive income includes dividends, interest, gains from the sale or exchange of investment property and rents and royalties (other than rents and royalties that are received from unrelated parties in connection with the active conduct of a trade or business) but does not include income derived from the performance of services.

There are legal uncertainties involved in determining whether the income derived from our time chartering activities constitutes rental income or income derived from the performance of services, including legal uncertainties arising from the decision in Tidewater Inc. v. United States, 565 F.3d 299 (5th Cir. 2009), which held that income derived from certain time chartering activities should be treated as rental income rather than services income for purposes of a foreign sales corporation provision of the Code. However, the IRS stated in an Action on Decision (AOD 2010-01) that it disagrees with, and will not acquiesce to, the way that the rental versus services framework was applied to the facts in the Tidewater decision, and in its discussion stated that the time charters at issue in Tidewater would be treated as producing services income for PFIC purposes. The IRS’s statement with respect to Tidewater cannot be relied upon or otherwise cited as precedent by taxpayers.

Consequently, in the absence of any binding legal authority specifically relating to the statutory provisions governing PFICs, there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court would not follow the Tidewater decision in interpreting the PFIC provisions of the Code. Nevertheless, based on the current composition of our assets and operations (and that of our subsidiaries), we intend to take the position that we are not now and have never been a PFIC, and our counsel, White & Case LLP, is of the opinion that we should not be a PFIC based on applicable law, including the Code, legislative history, published revenue rulings and court decisions, and representations we have made to them regarding the composition of our assets, the source of our income and the nature of our activities and other operations following this offering, including:

 

   

all time charters we have entered into are similar in all material respects to those we have provided to White & Case LLP;

 

   

the income from our chartering activities with China Shipping Container Lines (Asia) Co., Ltd., or CSCL Asia, COSCO Shipping Lines Co., Ltd., or COSCON, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., or MOL, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd., or K-Line, and Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp., or Yang Ming Marine, will be greater than 25% of our total gross income at all relevant times;

 

   

the gross value of our vessels chartered to CSCL Asia, COSCON, MOL, K-Line and Yang Ming Marine will exceed the gross value of all other assets we own at all relevant times;

 

   

the estimated useful life of each of our vessels subject to a time charter will be 30 years from the date of delivery under the charter; and

 

   

the total payments due to us under the charters are substantially in excess of the bareboat charter rate for comparable vessels in effect at the time the time charters were executed.

An opinion of counsel represents only that counsel’s best legal judgment and does not bind the IRS or the courts. Accordingly, the opinion of White & Case LLP may not be sustained by a court if contested by the IRS.

Further, although we intend to conduct our affairs in a manner to avoid being classified as a PFIC with respect to any taxable year, there can be no assurance that the nature of our operations, and therefore the composition of our income and assets, will remain the same in the future. Moreover, the market value of our

 

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stock may be treated as reflecting the value of our assets at any given time. Therefore, a decline in the market value of our stock (which is not within our control) may impact the determination of whether we are a PFIC. Because our status as a PFIC for any taxable year will not be determinable until after the end of the taxable year, there can be no assurance that we will not be considered a PFIC for the current or any future taxable year.

As discussed more fully below, if we were to be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year, a U.S. Holder generally would be subject to one of three different U.S. income tax regimes, depending on whether the U.S. Holder makes certain elections.

Taxation of U.S. Holders Making a Timely QEF Election

If we were classified as a PFIC for a taxable year, a U.S. Holder making a timely election to treat us as a “Qualified Electing Fund” for U.S. tax purposes, or a QEF Election, would be required to report its pro rata share of our ordinary earnings and our net capital gain, if any, for our taxable year that ends with or within the U.S. Holder’s taxable year regardless of whether the U.S. Holder received distributions from us in that year. Such income inclusions would not be eligible for the preferential tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income. The U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in our common shares would be increased to reflect taxed but undistributed earnings and profits, and distributions of earnings and profits that had previously been taxed would not be taxed again when distributed but would result in a corresponding reduction in the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in our common shares. The U.S. Holder generally would recognize capital gain or loss on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our common shares. A U.S. Holder would not, however, be entitled to a deduction for its pro-rata share of any losses that we incurred with respect to any year.

A U.S. Holder would make a QEF Election with respect to any year that we are a PFIC by filing IRS Form 8621 with its U.S. federal income tax return and complying with all other applicable filing requirements. However, a U.S. Holder’s QEF Election will not be effective unless we annually provide the U.S. Holder with certain information concerning our income and gain, calculated in accordance with the Code, to be included with the U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax return. We have not provided our U.S. Holders with such information in prior taxable years and do not intend to provide such information in the current taxable year. Accordingly, you will not be able to make an effective QEF Election at this time. If, contrary to our expectations, we determine that we are or expect to be a PFIC for any taxable year, we will provide U.S. Holders with the information necessary to make an effective QEF Election with respect to our common shares.

Taxation of U.S. Holders Making a “Mark-to-Market” Election

Alternatively, if we were to be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year and, as we believe, our common shares are treated as “marketable stock,” then a U.S. Holder would be allowed to make a “mark-to-market” election with respect to our common shares, provided the U.S. Holder completes and files IRS Form 8621 in accordance with the relevant instructions. If that election is made, the U.S. Holder generally would include as ordinary income in each taxable year the excess, if any, of the fair market value of our common shares at the end of the taxable year over the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in our common shares. The U.S. Holder also would be permitted an ordinary loss in respect of the excess, if any, of the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in our common shares over the fair market value thereof at the end of the taxable year (but only to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election). The U.S. Holder’s tax basis in our common shares would be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss recognized. Gain realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our common shares would be treated as ordinary income, and any loss realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our common shares would be treated as ordinary loss to the extent that such loss does not exceed the net mark-to-market gains previously included in income by the U.S. Holder. Because the mark-to-market election only applies to marketable stock, however, it would not apply to a U.S. Holder’s indirect interest in any of our subsidiaries that were also determined to be PFICs.

 

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Taxation of U.S. Holders Not Making a Timely QEF Election or Mark-to-Market Election

Finally, if we were to be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year and if a U.S. Holder did not make either a QEF Election or a mark-to-market election for that year, the U.S. Holder would be subject to special rules resulting in increased tax liability with respect to (a) any excess distribution (i.e., the portion of any distributions received by the U.S. Holder on our common shares in a taxable year in excess of 125% of the average annual distributions received by the U.S. Holder in the three preceding taxable years, or, if shorter, the U.S. Holder’s holding period for our common shares) and (b) any gain realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our common shares. Under these special rules:

 

   

the excess distribution or gain would be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s aggregate holding period for our common shares;

 

   

the amount allocated to the current taxable year and any taxable year prior to the year we were first treated as a PFIC with respect to the U.S. Holder would be taxed as ordinary income in the current taxable year;

 

   

the amount allocated to each other taxable year would be subject to tax at the highest rate of tax in effect for the applicable class of taxpayers for that year; and

 

   

an interest charge for the deemed deferral benefit would be imposed with respect to the resulting tax attributable to each such other taxable year.

Additionally, for each year during which (a) a U.S. Holder owns common shares, (b) we are a PFIC and (c) the total value of all PFIC stock that such U.S. Holder directly or indirectly owns exceeds certain thresholds, such U.S. Holder will be required to file IRS Form 8621 with its annual U.S. federal income tax return to report its ownership of our common shares. In addition, if a U.S. Individual Holder is an individual who dies while owning our common shares, such U.S. Individual Holder’s successor generally would not receive a step-up in tax basis with respect to such shares.

U.S. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the PFIC rules, including the PFIC annual reporting requirement, as well as the applicability, availability and advisability of, and procedure for, making QEF Elections, mark-to-market elections and other available elections with respect to us, and the U.S. federal income tax consequences of making such elections.

Medicare Tax on Net Investment Income

Certain Non-Corporate U.S. Holders currently are subject to a 3.8% tax on certain investment income, including dividends and gain from the sale or other disposition of our common shares. Non-Corporate U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the effect, if any, of this tax on their ownership and disposition of our common shares.

U.S. Return Disclosure Requirements for U.S. Individual Holders

Generally, U.S. Individual Holders that hold certain specified foreign financial assets, including stock in a foreign corporation that is not held in an account maintained by a financial institution, with an aggregate value in excess of $50,000 on the last day of a taxable year, or $75,000 at any time during that taxable year, may be required to report such assets on IRS Form 8938 with their tax return for that taxable year. This reporting requirement does not apply to U.S. Individual Holders who report their ownership of our shares under the PFIC annual reporting rules described above. Penalties apply for failure to properly complete and file IRS Form 8938. Investors are encouraged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the possible application of this disclosure requirement to their investment in our common shares.

 

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U.S. Federal Income Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders

A beneficial owner of our common shares (other than a partnership or an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that is not a U.S. Holder is referred to herein as a non-U.S. Holder.

Distributions on Our Common Shares

In general, a non-U.S. Holder is not subject to U.S. federal income tax on distributions received from us with respect to our common shares unless the distributions are effectively connected with the non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a permanent establishment that the non-U.S. Holder maintains in the United States). If a non-U.S. Holder is engaged in a U.S. trade or business and the distribution is deemed to be effectively connected to that trade or business, the non-U.S. Holder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on that distribution in the same manner as if it were a U.S. Holder.

Sale, Exchange or Other Disposition of Our Common Shares

In general, a non-U.S. Holder is not subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain resulting from the disposition of our common shares unless (a) such gain is effectively connected with the non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment that the non-U.S. Holder maintains in the United States) or (b) the non-U.S. Holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year in which those shares are disposed of (and certain other requirements are met). If a non-U.S. Holder is engaged in a U.S. trade or business and the disposition of common shares is deemed to be effectively connected to that trade or business, the non-U.S. Holder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the resulting gain in the same manner as if it were a U.S. Holder.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

In general, payments of distributions with respect to, or the proceeds of a disposition of, our common shares to a Non-Corporate U.S. Holder will be subject to information reporting requirements. These payments to a Non-Corporate U.S. Holder also may be subject to backup withholding if the Non-Corporate U.S. Holder:

 

   

fails to timely provide an accurate taxpayer identification number;

 

   

is notified by the IRS that it has failed to report all interest or distributions required to be shown on its U.S. federal income tax returns; or

 

   

in certain circumstances, fails to comply with applicable certification requirements.

Non-U.S. Holders may be required to establish their exemption from information reporting and backup withholding on payments made to them within the United States by certifying their status on an IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E, W-8ECI or W-8IMY, as applicable.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, a holder generally may obtain a credit for any amount withheld against its liability for U.S. federal income tax (and obtain a refund of any amounts withheld in excess of such liability) by accurately completing and timely filing a U.S. federal income tax return with the IRS.

 

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MATERIAL NON-UNITED STATES TAX CONSIDERATIONS

Material Marshall Islands Tax Considerations

The following discussion is the opinion of Reeder & Simpson, P.C., our counsel as to matters of the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the current laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands applicable to persons who do not reside in, maintain offices in or engage in business in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Because we do not, and we do not expect that we will, conduct business or operations in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and because all documentation related to this offering will be executed outside of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, under current Marshall Islands law you will not be subject to Marshall Islands taxation or withholding on distributions, including upon a return of capital, we make to you as a shareholder. In addition, you will not be subject to Marshall Islands stamp, capital gains or other taxes on the purchase, ownership or disposition of shares and you will not be required by the Republic of the Marshall Islands to file a tax return relating to the shares.

Each prospective shareholder is urged to consult its tax counsel or other advisor with regard to the legal and tax consequences, under the laws of pertinent jurisdictions, including the Marshall Islands, of its investment in us. Further, it is the responsibility of each shareholder to file all state, local and non-U.S., as well as U.S. federal tax returns that may be required of it.

Material Canadian Federal Income Tax Considerations

The following discussion is the opinion of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, our Canadian tax counsel, as to the material Canadian federal income tax consequences under the Income Tax Act (Canada), or the Canada Tax Act, as of the date of this prospectus, that we believe are relevant to prospective shareholders who may purchase common shares from the selling security-holders, where such prospective shareholders are, at all relevant times, for the purposes of the Canada Tax Act and the Canada-United States Tax Convention 1980, or the Canada-U.S. Treaty, resident only in the United States, who are “qualifying persons” for purposes of the Canada-U.S. Treaty and who deal at arm’s length with us and the selling security-holders, or U.S. Resident Holders. This discussion may not apply to United States limited liability companies or to insurers; accordingly, such holders should consult their own tax advisors. The opinion of our counsel is dependent on the accuracy of representations made by us to them, including descriptions of our operations contained herein.

This discussion is based upon the current provisions of the Canada Tax Act and the regulations thereunder in force as of the date of the prospectus, all specific proposals to amend the Canada Tax Act or the regulations thereunder that have been publicly announced by, or on behalf of, the Minister of Finance (Canada) prior to the date hereof (the Tax Proposals), the current provisions of the Canada-U.S. Treaty, and our understanding of the published administrative policies and assessing practices of the Canada Revenue Agency. This discussion assumes that the Tax Proposals will be enacted as currently proposed, but no assurance can be given that this will be the case. This discussion is not exhaustive of all possible Canadian federal income tax considerations and, except for the Tax Proposals, does not take into account or anticipate any changes in law or in the administrative or assessing policies and practices of the Canada Revenue Agency, whether by legislative, governmental or judicial action, nor does it take into account provincial, territorial or foreign tax considerations.

Subject to the assumptions below, under the Canada Tax Act, no taxes on income (including taxable capital gains and withholding tax on dividends) are payable by U.S. Resident Holders in respect of the acquisition, holding, disposition or redemption of our shares. This opinion is based upon the assumptions that we are not, and are not deemed for any purpose of the Canada Tax Act to be, a resident of Canada and such U.S. Resident Holders do not have, and have not had, for the purposes of the Canada-U.S. Treaty, a permanent establishment in Canada to which such shares pertain and, in addition, do not use or hold and are not deemed or considered to use or hold such shares in the course of carrying on a business in Canada. This opinion also assumes that the

 

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common shares are “treaty-exempt property” for purposes of the Canada Tax Act. Based on the Canada Tax Act as currently enacted, we will not be resident in Canada in a particular taxation year if our principal business in that year is “international shipping,” all or substantially all of our gross revenue for that year consists of gross revenue from “international shipping,” and we were not granted articles of continuance in Canada before the end of that year. International shipping is defined generally as the operation of ships that are owned or leased by an operator and that are used primarily in transporting passengers or goods in international traffic and includes the chartering of ships, provided that one or more persons related to the operator (if the operator and each such person is a corporation), or persons or partnerships affiliated with the operator (in any other case), has complete possession, control and command of the ship. The leasing of a ship by a lessor to a lessee that has complete possession, control and command of the ship is excluded from the international shipping definition, unless the lessor or a corporation, trust or partnership affiliated with the lessor has an eligible interest in the lessee.

The definition of “international shipping” was introduced following industry consultation, with the intent of providing shipping companies with flexibility in the manner in which they structure their intra-group chartering contracts. Based on our operations and our understanding of the foregoing intention of the definition of “international shipping,” we do not believe that we are, nor do we expect to be, resident in Canada for purposes of the Canada Tax Act, and we intend that our affairs will be conducted and operated in a manner such that we do not become a resident of Canada for any purpose under the Canada Tax Act. However, if we were or become resident in Canada, we would be or become subject under the Canada Tax Act to Canadian income tax on our worldwide income and our non-Canadian resident shareholders would be or become subject to Canadian withholding tax on dividends paid in respect of our shares. Generally, a corporation that is not resident in Canada will be taxable in Canada on income it earns from carrying on a business in Canada and on gains from the disposition of property used in a business carried on in Canada. However, there are specific statutory exemptions under the Canada Tax Act that provide that income earned in Canada by a non-resident corporation from international shipping, and gains realized from the disposition of ships used principally in international traffic, are not included in the non-resident corporation’s income for Canadian tax purposes where the corporation’s country of residence grants substantially similar relief to a Canadian resident. A Canadian resident corporation that carries on an international shipping business, as described herein, in a Relevant Jurisdiction is exempt from income tax under the current laws of that Relevant Jurisdiction; and for these purposes, a “Relevant Jurisdiction” is defined as each jurisdiction in which we are, or are deemed for purposes of the Canada Tax Act, to be resident.

Subject to the below assumption, we expect that we will qualify for these statutory exemptions under the Canada Tax Act. Based on our operations, we do not believe that we are, nor do we expect to be, carrying on a business in Canada for purposes of the Canada Tax Act other than a business that would provide us with these statutory exemptions from Canadian income tax. These statutory exemptions are contingent upon reciprocal treatment being provided under the laws of each Relevant Jurisdiction. If in the future as a non-resident of Canada, we are carrying on a business in Canada that is not exempt from Canadian income tax, or these statutory exemptions are not accessible due to changes in laws or otherwise, we would be subject to Canadian income tax on our non-exempt income earned in Canada which could reduce our earnings available for distribution to shareholders.

Please see “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Taxation of the Company—Canadian Taxation” in our 2018 Annual Report for a further discussion, separate from this opinion, of the tax consequences of us becoming a resident of Canada.

This discussion is general in nature only and is not intended to be, nor should it be considered to be, legal or tax advice to any particular shareholder and no representation with respect to the consequences to any particular shareholder is made.

 

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Each prospective shareholder is urged to consult its tax counsel or other advisor with regard to the legal and tax consequences, under the laws of pertinent jurisdictions, including Canada, of its investment in us. Further, it is the responsibility of each shareholder to file all state, local and non-U.S., as well as U.S. federal tax returns that may be required of it.

Material Hong Kong Tax Considerations

The following discussion is the opinion of DLA Piper Hong Kong, our Hong Kong tax counsel, as to the expected material Hong Kong profits tax considerations, as of the date of this prospectus, applicable to US shareholders in respect of the acquisition, holding, disposition or redemption of the shares of Seaspan Corporation. This discussion is based upon the provisions of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112) (“IRO”) and the Stamp Duty Ordinance (Cap. 117) (“SDO”), as of the date of this prospectus, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect, and subject to different interpretations by the Inland Revenue Department of Hong Kong (the “IRD”). Changes to the IRO, SDO or other relevant authorities may cause the Hong Kong profits tax considerations to vary substantially from those described below.

The following discussion is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all of the Hong Kong tax considerations applicable to US shareholders.

Tax on Dividends

Hong Kong does not impose withholding tax or otherwise in respect of dividends paid by Seaspan Corporation.

Capital Gain Tax

Hong Kong does not tax capital gains.

Profits Tax

Except for certain income which is deemed to be Hong Kong sourced, profits tax is only chargeable in Hong Kong at the then prevailing profits tax rate if the following conditions are fulfilled:-

 

  i.

a person carries on trade, profession or business in Hong Kong;

 

  ii.

profits (excluding profits arising from the sale of capital assets) are generated from such trade, profession or business; and

 

  iii.

such profits are considered to be arising in or derived from Hong Kong .

Gains arising from the acquisition, holding, disposition or redemption of the shares of Seaspan Corporation effected outside of Hong Kong (e.g. on the New York Stock Exchange or the Registrar of Seaspan Corporation), should not be subject to Hong Kong profits tax.

Stamp Duty

No Hong Kong stamp duty is payable on the purchase and sale of the shares of Seaspan Corporation, which is not considered as Hong Kong stock even though it is registered under Part XVI of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622).

 

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

The securities being offered by this prospectus may be sold:

 

   

through agents;

 

   

to or through one or more underwriters on a firm commitment or agency basis;

 

   

through put or call option transactions relating to the securities;

 

   

through broker-dealers (acting as agent or principal);

 

   

directly to purchasers, through a specific bidding or auction process, on a negotiated basis or otherwise;

 

   

through any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law; or

 

   

through a combination of any such methods of sale.

At any time a particular offer of the securities covered by this prospectus is made, a revised prospectus or prospectus supplement, if required, will be distributed which will set forth the aggregate amount of securities covered by this prospectus being offered and the terms of the offering, including the name or names of any underwriters, dealers, brokers or agents, any discounts, commissions, concessions and other items constituting compensation from us and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers. In that event, such prospectus supplement, and, if necessary, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement on Form F-3 of which this prospectus is a part, will be filed with the SEC to reflect the disclosure of additional information with respect to the distribution of the securities covered by this prospectus. In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if applicable, the securities sold under this prospectus may only be sold through registered or licensed broker-dealers. In addition, in some states the securities may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from registration or qualification requirements is available and is complied with.

Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

The distribution of securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions, including block transactions and transactions on the New York Stock Exchange or any other organized market where the securities may be traded. The securities may be sold at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices relating to the prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The consideration may be cash or another form negotiated by the parties. Agents, underwriters or broker-dealers may be paid compensation for offering and selling the securities. That compensation may be in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions to be received from us or from the purchasers of the securities. Any dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and compensation received by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts. If any such dealers or agents were deemed to be underwriters, they may be subject to statutory liabilities under the Securities Act.

Agents may from time to time solicit offers to purchase the securities. If required, we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities and set forth any compensation payable to the agent. Unless otherwise indicated in any applicable prospectus supplement, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment. Any agent selling the securities covered by this prospectus may be deemed to be an underwriter, as that term is defined in the Securities Act, of the securities.

 

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If underwriters are used in a sale, securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or under delayed delivery contracts or other contractual commitments. Securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. If an underwriter or underwriters are used in the sale of securities, an underwriting agreement will be executed with the underwriter or underwriters, as well as any other underwriter or underwriters, with respect to a particular underwritten offering of securities, and will set forth the terms of the transactions, including compensation of the underwriters and dealers and the public offering price, if applicable. The prospectus and, to the extent required, any applicable prospectus supplement will be used by the underwriters to resell the securities.

If a dealer is used in the sale of the securities, the selling security-holders or an underwriter will sell the securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale. To the extent required, we will set forth in any applicable prospectus supplement the name of the dealer and the terms of the transactions.

The selling security-holders may directly solicit offers to purchase the securities and may make sales of securities directly to institutional investors or others. These persons may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resale of the securities. To the extent required, any applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any such sales, including the terms of any bidding or auction process, if used.

Agents, underwriters and dealers may be entitled under agreements which may be entered into with us or the selling security-holders to indemnification by us against specified liabilities, including liabilities incurred under the Securities Act, or to contribution by us or the selling security-holders to payments they may be required to make in respect of such liabilities. If required, any applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms and conditions of the indemnification or contribution. Some of the agents, underwriters or dealers, or their affiliates may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us or our subsidiaries.

Under the securities laws of some jurisdictions, the securities offered by this prospectus may be sold in those jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.

Any person participating in the distribution of securities registered under the registration statement that includes this prospectus will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and the applicable SEC rules and regulations, including, among others, Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of our securities by that person. Furthermore, Regulation M may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of our securities to engage in market-making activities with respect to our securities. These restrictions may affect the marketability of our securities and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to our securities.

Certain persons participating in an offering may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions and penalty bids that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the offered securities. These activities may maintain the price of the offered securities at levels above those that might otherwise prevail in the open market, including by entering stabilizing bids, effecting syndicate covering transactions or imposing penalty bids, each of which is described below.

 

   

A stabilizing bid means the placing of any bid, or the effecting of any purchase, for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of a security.

 

   

A syndicate covering transaction means the placing of any bid on behalf of the underwriting syndicate or the effecting of any purchase to reduce a short position created in connection with the offering.

 

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A penalty bid means an arrangement that permits the managing underwriter to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member in connection with the offering when offered securities originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in syndicate covering transactions.

These transactions may be effected on an exchange or automated quotation system, if the securities are listed on that exchange or admitted for trading on that automated quotation system, or in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

If so indicated in any applicable prospectus supplement, we will authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers from certain types of institutions to purchase offered securities from the selling security-holders at the public offering price set forth in such prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. Such contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in such prospectus supplement and such prospectus supplement will set forth the commission payable for solicitation of such contracts.

In addition, common shares may be issued upon conversion of or in exchange for debt securities or other securities.

Any underwriters to whom offered securities are sold for public offering and sale may make a market in such offered securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. The offered securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. No assurance can be given that there will be a market for the offered securities.

Any securities that qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 or Regulation S under the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 or Regulation S rather than pursuant to this prospectus.

To the extent that the selling security-holders make sales to or through one or more underwriters or agents in at-the-market offerings, the selling security-holders will do so pursuant to the terms of a distribution agreement between the selling security-holders and the underwriters or agents. If the selling security-holders engage in at-the-market sales pursuant to a distribution agreement, the selling security-holders will sell common shares to or through one or more underwriters or agents, which may act on an agency basis or on a principal basis. During the term of any such agreement, the selling security-holders may sell common shares on a daily basis in exchange transactions or otherwise as agreed with the underwriters or agents. The distribution agreement will provide that any common shares sold will be sold at prices related to the then-prevailing market prices for our common shares. Therefore, exact figures regarding proceeds that will be raised or commissions to be paid cannot be determined at this time. Pursuant to the terms of the distribution agreement, the selling security-holders also may agree to sell, and the relevant underwriters or agents may agree to solicit offers to purchase, blocks of common shares. To the extent required, the terms of each such distribution agreement will be set forth in more detail in any applicable prospectus supplement to this prospectus.

In the event that any underwriter or agent acts as principal, or broker-dealer acts as underwriter, it may engage in certain transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of our securities. To the extent required, any such activities will be described in any applicable prospectus supplement relating to the transaction.

Offers to purchase the securities offered by this prospectus may be solicited, and sales of the securities may be made, by the selling security-holders directly to institutional investors or others, who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any re-sales of the securities. To the extent required, the terms of any offer made in this manner will be included in any applicable prospectus supplement relating to the offer.

In connection with offerings made through underwriters or agents, the selling security-holders may enter into agreements with such underwriters or agents pursuant to which the selling security-holders receive our

 

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outstanding securities in consideration for the securities being offered to the public for cash. In connection with these arrangements, the underwriters or agents may also sell securities covered by this prospectus to hedge their positions in these outstanding securities, including in short sale transactions. If so, the underwriters or agents may use the securities received from the selling security-holders under these arrangements to close out any related open borrowings of securities.

The selling security-holders may enter into derivative transactions with third parties or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If any applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, such third parties (or affiliates of such third parties) may sell securities covered by this prospectus and such applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, such third parties (or affiliates of such third parties) may use securities pledged by the selling security-holders or borrowed from the selling security-holders or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of shares, and may use securities received from the selling security-holders in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of shares. The third parties (or affiliates of such third parties) in such sale transactions will be underwriters and, if not identified in this prospectus, to the extent required, will be identified in any applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment).

The selling security-holders may loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities using this prospectus. Such financial institution or third party may transfer its short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a simultaneous offering of other securities offered by this prospectus.

 

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ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES

We are a Marshall Islands corporation, and our principal executive offices are located outside of the United States in Hong Kong. A majority of our directors and officers and some of the experts named in this prospectus reside outside of the United States. In addition, a substantial portion of our assets and the assets of our directors, officers and experts are located outside of the United States. As a result, you may have difficulty serving legal process within the United States upon us or any of these persons. You may also have difficulty enforcing, both in and outside the United States, judgments you may obtain in U.S. courts against us or those persons in any action, including actions based upon the civil liability provisions of U.S. federal or state securities laws.

In addition, the courts of the Marshall Islands or Hong Kong may not (a) enter judgments in original actions brought in those courts predicated on U.S. federal or state securities laws or (b) recognize or enforce against us or any of our officers, directors or experts judgments of courts of the United States predicated on U.S. federal or state securities laws. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

Unless otherwise stated in an applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the common shares and certain other legal matters with respect to the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands will be passed upon for us by Dennis J. Reeder, Reeder & Simpson, P.C. Certain other legal matters will be passed upon for us by White & Case LLP, New York, New York, by Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, Vancouver, British Columbia and by DLA Piper Hong Kong. White & Case LLP and Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP may rely on the opinions of Dennis J. Reeder, Reeder & Simpson, P.C. for all matters of Marshall Islands law.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Seaspan Corporation as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2018, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, have been audited by KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, and have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, which reports are also incorporated herein by reference, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

The audit report covering the consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2018, refers to a change in the method of accounting for acquisitions in the year ended December 31, 2018 due to the adoption of Accounting Standards Update 2017-01, “Clarifying the Definition of a Business”.

The consolidated financial statements of Greater China Intermodal Investments LLC as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2018 have been audited by KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, and have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, which report is also incorporated herein by reference, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

EXPENSES

The following table sets forth costs and expenses, other than any underwriting discounts and commissions, we expect to incur in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities covered by this prospectus. All amounts are estimated except the SEC registration fee.

 

SEC registration fee

   $ 37,432  

Legal fees and expenses

     50,000  

Accounting fees and expenses

     15,000  

Miscellaneous

     10,000  
  

 

 

 

Total(1)

   $ 112,432  

 

(1)

Does not include any fees or expenses in connection with any subsequent underwritten offering and any prospectus supplements prepared in connection therewith.

 

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LOGO

 

Seaspan Corporation

38,461,539 Class A Common Shares

Offered by Selling Security-holders

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

April 2, 2019